The Truth About Why Ronald McDonald Disappeared

If you're a fan of both vintage commercials and meat-themed nightmares, then you know that the Ronald McDonald of old seemed exceedingly more likely to make other people disappear than to disappear himself. His commercial debut introduces him in a dark room, sitting with his head turned away. Suddenly a clown with a cup for a nose and a food tray for a hat pops out of the disappearing darkness like a Jack the Ripper-in-the-box. As part of his pitch, he creepily informs viewers that he "[likes] to do everything boys and girls like to do."

A 1963 commercial goes in a more horrifying direction as a rollerskating Ronald magically wills burgers into existence and uses them to bribe a small boy into dismissing his mom's warnings not to talk to strangers. It ends with them leaving together. Alone. From there, Ronald probably reveals his true form — a giant spider — and gleefully eats the trusting child like a Mac Jr. burger. If McDonald's was looking for a clown mascot that was both enduring and endearing, this clearly wasn't it. Or at least he was the wrong kind of "It."

Ronald McMurderface was eventually replaced by the happy, red-haired Ronald who dressed like sunshine and befriended a giant purple gumdrop named Grimace. However, after years of looking wholesome and hopefully not devouring children around the world, he seemingly vanished from advertising materials.