When McDonald's was just a tiny BBQ joint: Black and white pictures of the first burger restaurant before it went on to take over the world (and a hamburger was just 15 cents)

Before the Golden Arches set up shop in Anytown, U.S.A. and invaded lands afar, McDonald's was just a corner BBQ joint serving up burgers for 15 cents. Retro photos of the first McDonald's in San Bernardino, California from 1940 show the early days of the fast food joint that was a gathering place for Southern Californians looking for some simple All-American fare.The restaurant would go on to become the largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants in the world - serving an estimated 68 million hungry people in 119 countries everyday. 

Quaint: Before the Golden Arches set up shop in Anytown, U.S.A. and invaded lands afar, McDonald's was just a corner BBQ joint serving up burgers for 15 cents

Where it all began: Retro photos of the first McDonald's in San Bernardino, California from 1940 shows the early days of the fast food joint that was a gathering place for Southern Californians looking for the simple All-American fare


Brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald came up with the idea for a barbecue spot, they named 'The Airdrome,' and originally set up shop near the airport in Monrovia, California in 1937.
But in 1940, the brothers moved the joint to San Bernardino, located 40 miles to the east, and eventually gave it the name 'McDonalds.'As astute businessmen, the McDonalds realized that of all their menu offerings, the most popular choices with customers was burgers, french fries, milkshakes and apple pie.

If you feed them, they will come: As astute businessmen, the McDonald brothers realized that of all their menu offerings, the most popular choices with customers was their burgers, french fries, milkshakes and apple pie

Popular: Southern Californians flocked to the burger joint to get a fast-food fix

So, the men decided to pare down their offerings and their menu was slimmed down to only include those staples. The McDonalds also devised a more efficient modus operandi for their kitchen, setting up an assembly line to turn out burgers more quickly - dubbed the 'Speedee Service System.'The success of the California restaurant caught the attention of businessman Ray Kroc, who in the 1950s joined the brothers to develop the franchise arm of the business. Eventually Mr Kroc purchased the company from the McDonalds and took the helm at the fast food chain to turn it into the multibillion dollar empire that it is today.

Where it all began: The McDonalds devised a more efficient modus operandi for their kitchen, setting up an assembly line to turn out their burgers more quickly - dubbed the 'Speedee Service System'

The price is right: The success of the California restaurant caught the attention of businessman Ray Kroc, who in the 1950s joined the brothers to develop the franchise arm of the business

The mastermind: Ray Kroc (pictured in May 1977) eventually purchased the company from the McDonalds and took the helm at the fast food chain to turn it into the multibillion dollar empire that it is today