Retroist McDonald’s Roast Beef Sandwich Podcast
It was put to a vote on Patreon and while it was close, in the end, a podcast about the McDonald’s Roast Beef Sandwich triumphed. I was surprised that this subject won the vote, but I am glad it did. I love talking about fast food and McDonald’s history is of great interest to me.
I begin by talking about how fast food was an important part of my childhood. Not just as an affordable treat for the entire family, but also as a way to bond with my Mother over stories of places she ate in her youth. Then I move onto the meat of the episode.
I discuss the history of roast beef sandwiches as fast food, the birth of the Filet-O-Fish & Big Mac, and finally the rise of Roast Beef at McDonald’s and its rapid fall. It might be silly, but I wonder how history might be different if Roast Beef had worked out. Would they have buried Arby’s? Would burgers still be the top food on the menu? We can only speculate.
This podcast will only appear in the feed given to Patreon Supporters. If you are interested in this show and voting on other Supporters-Only episodes, please check out the Retroist Patreon.
Show Notes
This is the first of the Supporter Only Podcast for Patreon Supporters. I am posting it here to help boost awareness of what is happening over there. Regular episodes will continue, but extra shows and content are also being posted there.
I would suggest two books if you want to learn more about McDonald’s, McDonald’s: Behind The Arches and Grinding It Out: The Making of McDonald’s.
Here is the commercial for the Roast Beef Sandwich from 1968.
I edited out some stuff about the Tepidarium. My understanding of it was a little messy, but I am learning and will probably do a Bonus Track on it.
For some reason, I love that an accountant sunk this sandwich.
I tried to find any info about Arby’s reaction at the time to the rise and fall of the sandwich, but couldn’t find anything.
I fused a fun little bit of audio from Peachy that I have been wanting to use as a very short bumper.
I did try and do an English accent but it was not so good. I am not good at accents. I can’t even do a good New Jersey accent anymore and I used to have a very thick accent. It occasionally pops up a little, but nothing like it was.
Go Roast Beef Squad!