Creation of Ronald McDonald

Willard Scott, then host of a popular children’s show, helped celebrate the 1960s grand opening of the first McDonalds in Alexandria, Va., as Bozo the Clown. The McDonald’s people liked the character, so when Scott’s show went off the air, the chain of restaurants asked him to create a new clown identity. Scott put on a paper-cup nose and wore a carry-out tray for a hat as the original Ronald McDonald.