In 1948, McDonald’s introduced the “Speedee Service System.”  The system is considered to be the foundation of fast food service in America.  McDonald’s was not the first to introduce the fast food restaurant, but can easily be considered the most successful.

On this day, May 4th, in 1961, McDonald’s fire for a U.S. trademark on the term, “McDonald’s.” In their application, the name McDonald’s was described as a, “drive-in restaurant service.” The patent was approved and continues to be renewed to this day.  McDonald’s went on to patent another of its important symbols, the double arches, in September of the same year.

McDonald’s experienced some of its largest commercial growth in the 1960s.  With the use of national advertising campaigns and the introduction of their child-friendly mascot Ronald McDonald, McDonald’s became America’s most famous fast food restaurant.