Rising more than 50-feet in the air is the original McDonald's mascot, "Speedee." With a wink and a smile, the cheery neon chef points to the third franchised McDonald's building, and what is now the oldest surviving McDonald's. On the same property is a small museum with nifty artifacts like cups, toys and original menus. The vintage arched building is located a few miles southeast of Los Angeles in the city of Downey.Speaking of fast food, Downey is also home to the first global pseudo-Mexican junk food icon, Taco Bell. Spain, UK and India: Taco Bell is coming soon...
8 comments:
What fun! I never even knew they had a different mascot before Ronald. The building looks more like a 50s diner than a McDo (our nickname for it here in the Philippines, pronounced with a hard O). I like how the arch pierces the roof.
I love this post! And so would my kids! It's cool to see Speedee on an actual surviving sign! I would love to see this oldest surviving McDonald's and the museum on property....someday....if we ever venture out to California to take the kids to Disneyland or something of that sort...then maybe we'd visit!
What a shot! What memories! Wow, JT, this is fab.
I've been there! Isn't that the coolest?!
Super photo!
Did you know Downey has more intersecting jet travel above them then any other L.A. burb? I don't know if you'll find it any longer, but at one time Downey had an original design for it's Marie Calendar restaurant. The one with the split rail siding and white crazy daisys. Oh not to mention the "Close to You" and We've only Just Begun" apartments owned by the Carpenter family. I love Downey. Scott Ward before he was hired to run the Pasadena Armory, ran the Downey Museum of Art. Tis True
`adjacent: Speaking of the Carpenter's, tomorrow's post is all about their home. I didn't know about Marie Calendars. Downey has a lot of good stuff. I love that word, "Stuff."
There is a replica (or maybe one of the originals, I don't know) of this style McDonalds Building in Murray, Utah.
No giant Speedy sign tho.
Ahhh nostalgia... gotta love it.
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