Consumer Time Capsule

In 1992, Barq's ran a Soviet Union "going out of business" promotion. They bought a warehouse full of soviet war medals, patches, buttons, flags etc and gave it all away to folks that bought their soda. This has to be a strong contender for the weirdest promo of all time.

The “McPhone” was, in fact, not a phone at all, but rather a phone-shaped water bottle - still very cool (1990)

The “McPhone” was, in fact, not a phone at all, but rather a phone-shaped water bottle - still very cool (1990)

The Garfield Happy Meal toys from 1989 are one of the most successful and iconic lines ever produced. To promote them, McDonald’s hung signs like this from their ceiling. Surf’s up!

Here's a stock photo depicting both 1989's Honey I Shrunk The Kids and 1988's Who Framed Roger Rabbit souvenir cups... further proof that nobody could design a collector cup quite like McDonald's

Nickelodeon was such a cultural phenomenon that the tv network got their own Happy Meal in 1993. Each colorful toy was designed to “help kids host their own game show at home.”

In 2000, several markets in Asia got a line of "McDonaldland Sip Mugs," including this one that's features a giant, molded Grimace face.

In 2000, several markets in Asia got a line of "McDonaldland Sip Mugs," including this one that's features a giant, molded Grimace face.

They're out there, but all in private collections, so you'd have to know where to look. They tend to be really expensive, too.

Stop posting things I need!

Since Target started spring-loading all of their cereal boxes, I never bought another one from them. They can just ban cereal all together and I wouldn’t even notice.

Check out this Southampton, PA McDonald's after a remodel in 1984. That Ronald stained glass piece is ridiculously cool.

Less times than you'd think, tbh

That's a really good point - I think the bacon may have been an add-on at some point, though and that's probably why it's clearly not depicted.

I love the ads, but they clearly didn't work

That video was a work of art. The internet did its job this week.

Supermarket circulars and coupon inserts are the greatest untapped resource for any of this kind of stuff. I have several thousand pages, but mostly from the early 2000s and beyond, unfortunately

Offering a bounty of $400 for one empty box. Hit me up!

…..WHHHAAATTTT?!?!?

A true CTC fan - quite a deep cut.

Today, McDonald's releases a deluxe burger called the "Big Arch" - is it a subtle nod to the ARCH DELUXE? Probably not, but I'd still like to think of it that way.

McDonald's really tested the limits of what qualifies as a Happy Meal toy with "Feeling Good" - Toothbrushes, a comb, a sponge, a soap dish... (1985)

Coneheads wasn’t going to be a big enough movie to get a look from McDonald’s or Burger King, but thankfully Subway stepped up the the plate with this incredible cup (1993)

How are more people not talking about this???

In 1999, McDonald’s tested a version of their Super Size Fries that was designed to fit in your cup holder. The photo doesn’t do it justice, but this thing is absolutely gigantic.

That's a fair point, but if you love this set, I bet you love Star Trek and that's guiding that stance. With the spaceships, they're objectively great on their own merits.

There was also a set with the Canadian flag, so I think the McDonaldland gang just kinda follows the money.

Yes, they did several vacuform sets through Clear Pack in the 80s, but this set of spaceships was the first.

The proton packs were a Hardee's toy. McDonald's didn't do anything for the Ghostbusters movies, only the Real Ghostbusters cartoon tv series.

This photo is a piece of fast food history - it's a reference shot from Clear Pack company used to sell McDonald's the Spaceship Happy Meals... imo, the first truly great set of Happy Meal toys. (1981)