Don'tcha know it...I fell asleep during the bit that Spock flies into V'ger in the space suit.

To this day, I have a 50-50 chance of making it through that part awake.

I hadn't thought of Burger Chef in years. The next town over had one growing up, then that was supplanted by Rax, and I'm not sure what's in its place now.

My clearest memory of Burger Chef, apart from it having really, really great hamburgers (to my 8 year-old pallette, at any rate) is that their Kids' Meal prize was usually whatever random thing they probably found lying around some warehouse or back alley. I have very clear memories of getting a small package of strawberry Lifesavers as the "toy" once. Sure, I wolfed them right down anyway, but I couldn't help but think the system there was out-of-whack all the same.

Anybody remember Krystal Hamburgers, and H.Salt Fish & Chips?
Thye were around when I was a kid, but I haven't seen either one in years.

Krystal is still around, Hugh, throughout much of the south. Around these parts (midwest near Cincinnati) we have pretty much the same restaraunt but it's called White Castle. Never heard of H.Salt.

I remember a McD's burger being .15, a cheeseburger .20, and a bag of fries .15.
I also remember a Big Mac being .69. And there were only two of them in our area. Now you can't swing a dead cat without hitting one.

Krystal lover here. We still have them.

H Salt is right down the street from me.

I miss Pioneer Chicken.

Krystals aren't bad, but they aren't Sliders®. White Castle rocks. It is the only place other than my dad's house I am guaranteed to go by when I go to Ohio.

White Castle-belly bombers we call them. They taste so good going in, but, maybe its the onions or something but wow! going out can be a problem

Also, White Castle is open all night, so many a drunken fight I witnessed at the Castle during college. (Not participated in-I don't drink)

Plus you eat like 8 of them at a time. Buy em buy the sack!

While drunk is the only way to eat them, Rob! I can handle them once or twice a year sober I guess, sometimes they just sound GREAT. Since becoming a parent, I don't get out as much as I used to, but on the rare occassions, a stop at White Castle is often the final place before going home. Another difference, today I'm smart enough to have a designated driver.

I remember the 59-79-99 menu, as sung by Little Richard:

Taco Bell done it again my friend!
Taco Bell done it again!!!

Fifty Nine, Seventy Nine, Ninety Nine
Taco, Taco Supreme, Nacho Supreme
Three New Menus

Taco Bell done it again!
Woooooooow!

And then there was the cup commercial for Taco Bell as rapped by Young M.C. (the guy who did Bust a Move and that's it):

Hello, I'm Young M.C.
I got a story to tell
I just got a free cup from Taco Bell
And MTV makes the whole thing fun
Buy a giant-size Taco and you'll get one
Four cups in all, so don't stand still
And if you got an empty cup you get a free refill
Go to Taco Bell and you'll see it's true
They got these four cups, they're just for you
Taco Bell only has them for a limited time
That's why I'm coming to you with this limited rhyme
To get these cups you gotta place your order
So take my advice, you better run for the border!

Two things there - there used to be such a thing as a giant-size Taco, and fast food places and convenience stores used to let you bring in old cups to get free or cheap refills. They don't anymore for sanitary reasons. Though I think some still do it for coffee.

I'm tempted to make a Brontoburger reference.

In 1965 we had a new concept introduced in Elizabeth, NJ. It was called "fast food". Nobody had a clue what that meant.
Then 'Wetson's' opened. (Local, regional, or national? ... I've no clue.)
Burgers in the traditional size and shape that tasted like White Castle's.
15 cents for a Burger, or Fries, or Lg drink.
Heaven!

I also remember when the employees at McD's cared about their appearance and dressed and carried themselves with some self respect.

Wow Brian, you must be really old!

Is that before or after eyebrow rings?

For me the history of fast food must be tied to the characters used to advertise the chains. Anybody remember this Burger King?



I can remember drawing on placemats that had his picture all over them, so I know I was around when he was still being used. Plus I remember being confused when all of a sudden they were scaring us with that creepy, hippy, red-headed magician king who... well, if ever a food character meant us all harm, I'm sure it was him. (And not the Frito Bandito, as is popularly supposed.)

But look at this! Just found the follwing at TV Acres:

Earlier in the Burger King franchise history, there was a Burger King Kingdom (a la "McDonaldLand"). It was populated with a number of interesting characters (phased out in the 1980s) that included the Burger King, of course; Sir Shakes-A-Lot (who wore a milkshake container for a hat and constantly craved milkshakes to drink); The Burger Thing (a living hamburger mounted in a picture frame who liked to sing); The Wizard of Fries (a robot with a head filled with French fries); and The Duke Of Doubt (a villainous guy who doubted the Burger King's magical abilities - "That's impossible to do!"). Once, seeing that the Burger King could create food from thin air, the Duke of Doubt asks "Make me a shake." The King happily obliges by turning the Duke into a giant milkshake. The ad campaign slogan was "Magic makes it special when you're with Burger King."

No memory of this myself, but I guess there was precedent for the Burger King having magic powers...

Burger King has made a huge mistake over the years not getting the Ronald McDonald and friends equivalent, I feel. Kids always wanted to go to McDonalds for that and the Happy Meals with the toys.

Burger king had a crappy crown.

We have one in Newark, NJ. Not sure if it's part of the franchise you're thinking about, but I've seen the name while patrolling.

I think the franchise is dead. We still have one here in Los Angeles. They still use the old sign but the menu is different and the chicken is just standard fare.

Pioneer was made distinctive by it's unique batter. I also remember they had a Cobbette carousel where the corn was constantly pushed though three inches of melted butter while waiting for purchase.

According to Wikipedia, Pioneer is defunct in the USA (with a few locations still using the name). But the chicken can be found at California Chicken locations in China.

"I'm the Marvelous Magical
Burger King
I can do most any thing!
Now watch me while
I twist my ring........
like MAGIC, we're at Burger King!"

We used to change the last line to:
"Now watch me while I twist my Butt,
Like MAGIC, we're at Pizza Hut!"