Birth of American Fast Food



Participants

Timeline

Y/M/D Description Place
1837/00/00 New York's Delmonico's Restaurant issues the first printed American menu and lists "hamburger steak" as one of the priciest items for 10 cents.
1921/00/00 In Wichita, Kansas, E W Engram and Walter Anderson open the first fast food chain (lost), selecting the name 'White Castle' because 'White' conjures the image of purity and 'Castle' strength.
1927/08/06 Billy Ingram opens White Castle No 3 in Indianapolis. The white enamel-glazed brick building with battlements, buttresses and a corner tower. Indianapolis White Castle No 3, Indianapolis
1933/06/00 Oscar Weber Bilby opens a hamburger stand in the heart of Brookside, Tulsa. Weber's Superior Root Beer Drive-In, Tulsa, OK
1935/00/00 The four Powers brothers Leo, Clell, Harold 'Jim' and Dale build their first hamburger stand in Dearborn, Michigan. Powers Hamburgers, Fort Wayne
1936/09/27 A movable, prefabricated White Castle restaurant is erected at 616 Washington Avenue SE. Inspired by the Chicago Water Tower, the steel structure was manufactured by Porcelain Steel Buildings, a subsidiary of White Castle. White Castle Building No 8, Minneapolis
1939/00/00 Paramount Modular Concepts builds the "Diner of the Future" for the NY World's Fair. The diner features a circular counter with 13 stools that surround a small kitchen where one employee can take orders, fill drinks and cook the food within an easy reach. White Manna, Jersey City, Jersey City
1948/10/00 McDonald's Bar-B-Q closes, reopens as the McDonald's prototype serving hamburgers, cheeseburgers, potato chips, coffee, soft drinks and apple pie. Site of 1st McDonald's, San Bernardino
1948/10/22 Harry Snyder opens In-N-Out, California's first drive-thru hamburger stand at Francisquito and Garvey in Baldwin Park. Harry visits the meat and produce markets for fresh ingredients and wife Esther does the accounting at their home around the corner. Los Angeles County,
1948/12/00 Working in his garage at night after long days of cooking burgers, Harry Snyder introduces his unique two-way speaker box allowing customers to order and receive their meals without leaving their cars. Los Angeles County,
1950/00/00 In the late 1940s or early 1950s, The 21 Club begins serving gourmet burgers at the exorbitant price of $2.75, compared with McDonald's price of 15 cents. 21 Club, NYC, New York City
1954/00/00 Burger King co-founder James McLamore introduces the Whopper, a flame-grilled 4 oz (110 g) beef patty, sesame seed bun, mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, pickles, ketchup and sliced onion selling 37 cents.
1954/00/00 Ray Kroc, Multimixer salesman, visits the McDonalds brothers restaurant. Site of 1st McDonald's, San Bernardino

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