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© History Oasis
McDonald's (1963-present)
Ronald McDonald debuted in 1963 when weatherman Willard Scott portrayed him after Bozo the Clown ended. The character originally wore a paper cup nose and a food tray hat. Ronald McDonald ranks second to Santa Claus in recognition among American children. Chinese children call him "Uncle McDonald."
KFC (1950s-present)
Colonel Sanders was KFC's founder, Harland Sanders, in mascot form. The Colonel wore his signature white suit and goatee as a living mascot. Sanders called KFC's gravy "wallpaper paste" after selling the company. Celebrity impersonators replaced Sanders after his death in 1980.
Wendy's (1969-present)
Wendy's mascot, Wendy, was named after founder Dave Thomas's 8-year-old daughter, Melinda "Wendy" Thomas. The girl posed in pigtails for the original logo photograph. Thomas later regretted the decision, saying it pressured his daughter. One South Carolina location displays Wendy with black hair due to local red signage restrictions.
Burger King (1955-present)
The Burger King mascot started as a friendly cartoon character in 1955. The mascot was transformed in 2004 using a vintage plastic head found on eBay. The silent, plastic-faced King became notorious for "stalking" customers in advertisements. Critics consider the King the creepiest fast food mascot ever.
Jack in the Box (1994-present)
Jack Box replaced the original clown mascot that was blown up in a 1980 commercial. The character returned in 1994 as a suited CEO with a ping-pong ball head after an E.coli crisis. Jack Box's backstory supposedly includes a wife named Cricket, a Ball State University education, and family genetics explaining his head shape.
Taco Bell (1997-2000)
The Taco Bell Chihuahua was a female dog named Gidget, voiced by male actor Carlos Alazraqui. The dog became famous for the "¡Yo quiero Taco Bell!" slogan. Gidget even appeared in a Godzilla movie tie-in commercial. The campaign ended after sales declined despite popularity, and when Taco Bell lost a lawsuit over concept ownership.
McDonald's (1972-present)
Grimace originally appeared as "Evil Grimace," with four arms, who stole milkshakes. McDonald's redesigned the character as friendly after he scared children. Grimace was part of the McDonaldland universe that was successfully sued for copying H.R. Pufnstuf. But the character made a comeback for his 50th birthday in 2023.
McDonald's (1971-present)
The Hamburglar is a striped prison suit villain who steals hamburgers while shouting "Robble robble!" The character was part of the original McDonaldland cast of characters. McDonald's later softened the Hamburglar from a true villain to a mischievous character. The Hamburglar has emerged in recent years as a popular Halloween costume choice.
Little Caesars (1971-present)
The Little Caesars mascot was drawn on a napkin in 1959 by friend Don Silverstein. The Roman toga-wearing character has used the "Pizza! Pizza!" slogan since 1979. The mascot's striped throat lines remain an internet mystery. Most recently, the 2017 logo update hid "LC" letters in the toga design.
Chuck E. Cheese (1977-present)
Chuck E. Cheese was born when Atari founder Nolan Bushnell bought the wrong costume, thinking it was a coyote when it was actually a rat. The character's official backstory makes him an orphan from St. Marinara's who doesn't know his birthday. Chuck E. changed from rat to mouse in 1993 and received a rockstar makeover in 2012.
Big Boy Restaurants (1936-present)
Big Boy was named after 6-year-old Richard Woodruff, who walked into Bob's Pantry. A Warner Bros. animator sketched the boy's caricature for the mascot. Early Big Boy statues reached 16 feet tall. The character had a comic book series that ran for 39 years with 466 issues.
Chick-fil-A (1995-present)
The Chick-fil-A Cows replaced the original chicken mascot "Doodles" with billboards reading "Eat Mor Chikin." The campaign continues to present a dark concept where farm animals advocate for murdering other farm animals. Critics call the campaign "creepy." Doodles remains hidden in the current logo design.
Domino's (1986-1995)
The Noid was a claymation character designed to ruin pizza deliveries while promoting Domino's 30-minute guarantee. Domino's retired the mascot after 1989 when Kenneth Noid took employees hostage, believing the ads targeted him personally. The Noid made a brief comeback for the 25th anniversary in 2021.
A&W (1974-present)
Rooty is a 7-foot brown bear in an orange sweater designed by the same company that made Disneyland costumes. The costume cost $25,000 in 1974. LinkedIn deleted Rooty's profile in 2013 for being fictional. A 2023 controversy over the bear's lack of pants led to a joke about wearing jeans.
Subway (2000-2015)
Jared Fogle lost 245 pounds eating Subway sandwiches and was featured in a Men's Health article. The spokesman appeared in over 300 commercials for 15 years. Subway attributed one-third of its growth to Fogle's campaigns. His career ended abruptly with a 2015 arrest on exploitation charges.
Dunkin' Donuts (1982-1997)
Fred the Baker was portrayed by actor Michael Vale with the famous "Time to make the donuts" catchphrase. The character emphasized freshness by showing early morning dedication. Fred's phrase entered the American vernacular. The baker represented brand reliability and quality commitment.
Arby's (2003-2014)
The Arby's Oven Mitt was a red and white kitchen mitt with a mouth, voiced by Tom Arnold. The mascot promoted fresh roast beef with the "Good Mood Food" fast food slogan. The mitt had a love-hate relationship with viewers but achieved effective brand recognition. The simple design proved to be a memorable marketing approach.
Carvel (1977-present)
Fudgie the Whale started as a Father's Day whale-shaped cake. The character inspired merchandise and nostalgic childhood memories. Fudgie was part of Carvel's character lineup, including Cookie Puss. The whale represents celebration and special occasion ice cream treats.
Dairy Queen (1972-1990s)
Curly Top was an anthropomorphic soft-serve cone mascot replacing earlier characters like Curly the Clown. The character literally embodied Dairy Queen's signature product. Curly Top was popular at grand openings and special events. The mascot reinforced brand association with quality ice cream.
Hardee's (1963-1980s)
Happy Star was one of the earlier fast food mascots, predating many famous characters. The Star promised to save customers from "boring, monotonous" meals. Happy Star emphasized Hardee's role as an exciting dining destination. According to his LinkedIn profile, the Star is "fun to hang out with."
Blimpie (1986-2000s)
Blimpie Bear was a friendly bear in a white shirt and striped shorts who started as a cartoon before becoming a live mascot. The bear appeared in print ads and restaurant events. Blimpie Bear represented a family-friendly submarine sandwich experience. The simple animal mascot approach proved effective.
Marco's Pizza (1983-present)
Chef Marco is a caricature of founder Pasquale "Pat" Giammarco created from a trademark filing. The always-smiling character represents authentic Italian heritage. Chef Marco communicates traditional recipes and quality ingredients. The mascot continues to help customers feel an authentic Italian dining experience.
Nathan's Famous (1972-present)
Frankster is a hot dog character first mentioned in the 1972 Daily News who returned in a 1992 redesign. The mascot is famous for appearances at the annual Coney Island hot dog-eating contest. Frankster embodies competitive spirit and American summer traditions.
Quiznos (2004-2005)
The Spongmonkeys were bizarre rodent-like creatures from the viral "We Like the Moon" video. The characters sang about Quiznos subs in polarizing commercials. The creatures' love-or-hate reception generated massive discussion. The short-lived but unforgettable campaign demonstrated the power of weird advertising.
Whataburger (1999-present)
Whataguy is a Texas-based mascot appearing on kids' meals and game sites. The character serves as an ambassador for the Whataburger Feeding Student Success program. Whataguy represents community involvement and student achievement. The mascot embodies Texas spirit: friendly, approachable, and community-minded.
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