Full episode available on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SilentGeneration

Many themes thus far discussed on Silent Generation are present in fast food culture: car-centrism, postwar decline, Americanism, and uniforms. This week the boys are joined by Mathieu (who goes by Sleepy on Discord) to talk about McDonald’s, CosMc’s, Taco Bell, In-N-Out Burger, Wendy’s, and Culver’s in detail. Chicago has four (in)famous McDonald’s locations that they pay particular attention to: Rock 'n' Roll McDonald's, CrackDonald’s, Jungle McDonald’s, and the McDonald's Global Menu Restaurant. Amongst other things they discuss the decline of fast food architecture from its Googie architecture highs, chains that are holding on for dear life like KewPee Hamburgers and Quizno’s, and their favorite discontinued menu items.

Links:

White Castle #16

Googie 101: A Space-Age Pop-Architecture Primer

Tokyo Toni 80 Pieces of Chicken

McDonald’s Broke My Heart from Malcolm Gladwell’s Revisionist History Podcast

Rock N Roll McDonalds by Wesley Willis

Why McDonald’s looks sleek and boring now

Nonstandard McDonalds

The site of the former “jungle Mcdonald’s” on Google Maps

The rise and fall of Wendy’s sun rooms

Breaking Points: We Were TRICKED By Red Lobster Endless Shrimp Excuse!

What Happened To Chipotle?

Artwork:

Art Deco McDonald’s from Nonstandard McDonald’s

Clifton Hill, Melbourne, Australia

Recorded on 6/9/2024