Remember when...

Ronald McDonald used to have a whole posse?

Did you ever wonder what happened to them?

Well, while sitting in a now-generic playplace of a McDonald's not long ago, I decided that I would find out. So, here's the deal.

McDonaldland started in 1971, when Ronald and the other characters would play around the Filet of Fish Lake and Apple Pie Trees, and pick hamburgers out of the Hamburger Patch during their commercials. This continued until they were sued in 1977. As a result of the lawsuit, many of the characters and much of the magic of McDonaldland was phased out.

From the 1980's to 2007, the friends that remained were Ronald, Grimace, Hamburgler, and the Fry Kids. Birdie the Early Bird and the McNugget Buddies (My mom still has these! Hayley loves them!) would come along later. This bunch of friends also had a seven part video series, available for purchase only at the Golden Arches.

In 2007, with obesity being a growing problem, McDonald's pledged to stop advertising to kids under 12, and advertise healthier alternatives. Goodbye, McDonaldland gang!

So, now you know. Now you can sleep at night. You're welcome.