User:Pedant/George Voorhees

George Voorhees was a late 20th Century American performer, who performed under various monickers as a clown. He was the original Ronald McDonald

In the early part of 1963 George Voorhees co-created (with Terry Teene) the original character of American advertising icon Ronald McDonald, including costume (featuring "french-fry bag pockets") and facial design, for a hired performance at a local Los Angeles, California area McDonald's restaurant. He was subsequently enjoined from performing as, or exhibiting the likeness of, Ronald Mcdonald in any form.

Shortly thereafter, Willard Scott (local radio personality who also played Bozo the Clown on television performed as Ronald McDonald on three separate television 'spots' - these were the first 3 television ads featuring the character, whose appearance was substantially similar to the original 'George Voorhees version'.

see: clown, clown face, code of non-infringement, McDonald's, monicker, Ronald McDonald, Terry Teene, trademark, intellectual property, Willard Scott