Vintage Fast Food Chains
Instructions: Test your memory of the fast food restaurants that shaped American dining from the 1940s through the 1980s!
- 1.
Which fast food chain, founded in 1940 by brothers Richard and Maurice, originally started as a barbecue restaurant in San Bernardino, California?
AWendy'sBMcDonald'sCBurger KingDJack in the Box - 2.
What was the original name of Burger King when it opened in 1953?
AInsta-Burger KingBKing BurgerCWhopper HouseDFlame Burger - 3.
Which fast food chain introduced the first modern drive-through window in 1975?
ABurger KingBMcDonald'sCJack in the BoxDWendy's - 4.
Howard Johnson's restaurants were famous for offering how many flavors of ice cream?
A21B31C28D12 - 5.
Which fast food restaurant chain used the slogan 'Where's the beef?' in a famous 1984 TV commercial?
ABurger KingBRoy RogersCHardee'sDWendy's - 6.
What was the name of the mascot for the Big Boy restaurant chain?
ALittle ChefBBig Boy BobCBob's Big BoyDChubby Charlie - 7.
Which fried chicken chain was founded by a 65-year-old Harland Sanders using his $105 Social Security check?
AChurch's ChickenBChick-fil-ACPopeyesDKentucky Fried Chicken - 8.
What was the name of the drive-in restaurant chain famous for carhops on roller skates?
ADog n SudsBSonic Drive-InCSteak 'n ShakeDA&W - 9.
Which pizza chain was the first to offer home delivery, starting in 1960?
APizza HutBLittle CaesarsCPapa John'sDDomino's - 10.
What did McDonald's famously sell its hamburgers for when it first opened with its Speedee Service System?
A5 centsB10 centsC15 centsD25 cents - 11.
Which fast food chain introduced the concept of a 'value meal' combining a burger, fries, and drink in the 1960s?
AMcDonald'sBWendy'sCBurger KingDJack in the Box - 12.
What was the name of the root beer stand chain founded in 1919 that became one of America's first franchise restaurants?
AMug Root Beer StandBBarq's Drive-InCA&WDDog n Suds - 13.
Which taco chain was founded by Glen Bell in 1962 in Downey, California?
ATaco BellBTaco BuenoCDel TacoDTaco John's - 14.
What was the signature item at White Castle, one of America's oldest fast food chains founded in 1921?
AChicken sandwichesBQuarter-pound burgersCSmall square hamburgers called 'sliders'DHot dogs - 15.
Which restaurant chain was known for its orange-roofed buildings and became the largest food chain in America in the 1960s and early 1970s?
ADenny'sBHoward Johnson'sCPerkinsDFriendly's
Answer Key
McDonald's was founded by the McDonald brothers in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant before being transformed into a hamburger stand in 1948.
Burger King was originally called Insta-Burger King when it opened in Jacksonville, Florida in 1953. It was renamed Burger King in 1959.
Wendy's is credited with introducing the first modern drive-through window in 1975 at their location in Oklahoma City.
Howard Johnson's was famous for its 28 flavors of ice cream, which helped make it the largest restaurant chain in America during the 1960s.
Wendy's aired the iconic 'Where's the beef?' commercial in 1984 featuring Clara Peller. The phrase became a national catchphrase.
Bob's Big Boy featured a chubby boy mascot in checkered overalls holding a large hamburger. The character was created in 1936 by Bob Wian.
Colonel Harland Sanders used his first Social Security check to help fund his Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise business in 1952, at age 65.
Sonic Drive-In, founded in 1953 in Shawnee, Oklahoma, became famous for its carhops who delivered food to your car, often on roller skates.
Domino's Pizza, founded in 1960, pioneered the pizza delivery model and built their entire brand around fast home delivery.
McDonald's sold their hamburgers for 15 cents when they launched the Speedee Service System in 1948, offering fast, affordable food.
McDonald's pioneered the value meal concept in the 1960s, bundling a burger, fries, and drink together at a discounted price.
A&W Root Beer was founded in 1919 by Roy Allen and Frank Wright. It became one of America's first franchise restaurant chains in 1925.
Taco Bell was founded by Glen Bell in 1962. Bell had previously operated a hot dog stand and several Mexican food restaurants before launching the chain.
White Castle, founded in 1921 in Wichita, Kansas, was famous for its small, square hamburgers nicknamed 'sliders' that were steam-grilled on a bed of onions.
Howard Johnson's, with its distinctive orange roof and weathervane, was the largest restaurant chain in America during the 1960s with over 1,000 locations.