American entrepreneur and restaurateur Richard McDonald joined his elder brother, Maurice McDonald, to launch the path-breaking fast food company McDonald's. The brothers were raised in poverty and initially wished to make it big in the film-making business. They had even bought a theater but sold it due to lack of business. After the launch of the first McDonald's restaurant in San Bernardino, California, in 1940, the brothers introduced the assembly-line production of fast food and removed carhops, thus creating the Speedee Service System and reducing wait time for food significantly. The concept was a hit with customers. Richard had also worked with architect Stanley Meston to design the signature McDonald’s neon golden arches. With McDonald’s, the brothers invented the modern “fast food” system. Their business associate Ray Kroc later became their sole franchise agent and bought the company name and operating rights in 1961. Richard later married and lived a quiet life till his death at 89.
