//file author: Brandon Tengan 10/27/02, UW CSE143 student, section JA 
//http://www.media.mcdonalds.com/secured/company/history/timeline
//McDonald's History Timeline, found online and edited from a webpage.
//SOME of the things i felt were interesting in the chronological history of McDonald's:1948-2000
1948
In December, Dick and Mac McDonald open the first McDonald’s drive-thru restaurant in San Bernardino, California.
1954
Ray A. Kroc, a Multimixer salesman from Oak Park, Illinois, visits Dick and Mac’s San Bernardino McDonald’s, his curiosity initially aroused by the large number of Multimixers they were buying.  Kroc becomes franchising agent for McDonald's.
1955
On April 15, Ray Kroc opens his first McDonald’s in Des Plaines, Illinois.  Kroc opens his second McDonald’s in Fresno, California.
1956
McDonald’s Corporation adds 12 restaurants.
1958
McDonald’s sells its 100 millionth hamburger.
1959
100th restaurant opens in Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin.
1960
The company celebrates its 5th anniversary, opening its 200th restaurant in Knoxville, Tennessee, and selling its 400 millionth hamburger.
1961
Ray Kroc buys out the McDonald brothers for $2.7 million.
1962
The first McDonald's restaurant that was built to accommodate indoor seating opened in Denver, Colorado in 1962.
1963
Ronald McDonald makes his debut in Washington, D.C.  The Filet-O-Fish sandwich becomes the first new menu addition since the original menu. Lou Groen, McDonald’s franchisee, creates the sandwich.
1964
At year end, there are 657 restaurants. The company’s gross sales hit $130 million.
1965
Television network advertising begins.
1966
Ronald McDonald appears in his first national television commercial.
1967
The first international McDonald’s restaurants open in Canada and Puerto Rico.
1968
McDonald’s opens in Hawaii.
1971
Hamburglar, Grimace, Mayor McCheese, Captain Crook, and the Professor join Ronald McDonald in McDonaldland.
1972
Large fries introduced.
1973
Quarter Pounder added to the national menu.  2,500th store opens in Hickory Hills, Illinois.
1974
The company sells its 15 billionth hamburger.  McDonald’s Cookies introduced.
1975
Egg McMuffin added to the national menu.  The first drive-thru is established in Sierra Vista, Arizona.
1976
McDonald’s sales surpass $3 billion.  The 20th billionth hamburger is sold.
1977
The first McDonald’s All American High School Basketball Team is organized.  Ray Kroc celebrates his 75th birthday.
1978
The 5,000th restaurant opens in Kanagawa, Japan.  The 25 billionth hamburger is served.
1979
Happy Meals are added to the national menu.
1980
The first floating McDonald’s is launched on the historic Mississippi riverfront in St. Louis, just south of the famous Gateway Arch.
1981
The first Ronald McDonald House outside the U.S. opens in Toronto, Canada. By the end of 1981.  McDonald’s renews its most successful campaign ever – "You Deserve a Break Today."
1982
McDonald’s declares its 6th stock split (3-for-2) on September 14, 1982.  Dividend per share rises by 32%.
1983
McDonald’s restaurants are now located in 32 countries around the world.
1984
Ray Kroc, Founder and Senior Chairman of the Board of McDonald’s, dies on January 14. The average sales volume for a McDonald’s restaurant is $1,264,000.
1985
On April 15, McDonald’s celebrates its 30th year of operation.  McDonald’s serves its 55 billionth hamburger.
1986
McDonald’s becomes the first fast food restaurant to provide the public with a complete food product ingredient listing.  On December 1, McDonald’s opens the first fast food restaurant in North Pole, Alaska. The restaurant is located on Santa Clause Lane.
1987
McDonald’s serves its 65 billionth hamburger.
1988
Year-end systemwide sales top $16 billion.  McDonald’s opens its 10,000th restaurant in Dale City, Virginia, on April 6.
1989
The Big Mac celebrates its 21st birthday.   In May, all U.S. restaurants begin serving the country-style McChicken sandwich.
1990
On January 31, the first McDonald’s restaurant in Moscow opens.  In May, McDonald’s introduces a new, national advertising theme, "Food, Folks, and Fun."   On July 18, McDonald’s announces a decision to cook french fries in 100% cholesterol-free vegetable oil.
1991
On October 31, United Airlines begins offering McDonald’s Friendly Skies Meals to kids.  McDonald’s introduces the McLean Deluxe sandwich which features a 91% fat-free beef patty.  McDonald’s nationally phases in recycled carry-out bags and recycled fiber napkins.
1992
On July 7, McDonald’s serves its 90 billionth hamburger.  McDonald’s opens in "Six Flags" theme park in St. Louis, Missouri.  McDonald’s food is now being served in two restaurant cars on the Swiss Federal Railroad. This marks McDonald’s first train operation.
1993
McDonald’s opens its doors inside a Wal*Mart store. The restaurant is approximately 1,250 square feet, and includes a limited menu of hamburgers, cheeseburgers, Quarter Pounders, french fries, Coca-Cola and diet Coke, and sausage biscuits. Big Mac celebrates its 25th anniversary.  On September 3, McDonald’s opens in its 67th country - Iceland.
1994
Annual sales reach $25.9 billion.  In June, McDonald’s stock splits for the 11th time.  McDonald’s opens in Bulgaria, Trinidad, New Caledonia, and Latvia, bringing the total number of countries McDonald’s does business in to 79.
1995
The Fajita Chicken Salad is introduced nationally.  The new advertising theme "Have You Had Your Break Today?" debuts.  McDonald’s celebrates its 40th anniversary.
1996
The Arch Deluxe is introduced in May and the Deluxe Line is launched in September.  McDonald’s signs a 10-year contract with The Walt Disney Company. McDonald’s will become Disney’s primary promotional partner in the restaurant industry, sharing exclusive marketing rights in more than 100 countries, and linking McDonald’s restaurants to Disney theatrical releases, theme parks and home video releases.
1997
"Did Somebody Say McDonald’s?" is introduced as the new advertising theme.  McDonald’s USA reorganizes into five divisions, providing more focused attention on serving our customers.
1998
Global sales reached $36 billion, a 10-year compound annual growth rate of 8 percent.  McDonald's celebrates the 30th anniversary of its flagship sandwich, the Big Mac. The Big Mac was invented by franchisee Jim Delligatti in Pittsburg 1968.
1999
McDonald's opens its 25,000th restaurant in Chicago's historic Bronzeville neighborhood -- a milestone unsurpassed by any globally branded retailer.  The 200th Ronald McDonald House opens in Budapest, Hungary.
2000
Systemwide sales exceed $40 billion. McDonald's customer visits exceed 16.5 billion. McDonald's acquires Boston Market. McDonald's welcomes the world to Sydney, Australia for 2000 Olympic Games.