ICONS- ASSIGNMENT 2-1

        The three icons that I have chosen to elaborate on are, Michael Jackson, McDonalds, and Soul Train.

        On May 16, 1983 during the Mowtown 25 television special, “Yesterday, Today and Forever”, on NBC Michael Jackson debuted the iconic left-handed rhinestone glove.  This is where he performed the iconic “Moonwalk” moves too. (Julian’s Auctions, 2009).  This was during his first live performance of the hit single, “Billie Jean”.  This changed the force of music, and dance, and catapulted Michael Jackson to the stardom status that that is still is. (Julian’s Auctions, 2009).  The jeweled glove sold to someone in Hong Kong for $350,000.00 in 2009. 

       When I think of MJ, I think of someone who will always be imitated, but never be able         to be duplicated.     He was one of a kind, and I will always love and miss him.  I think of that little boy who never got to be the child that he longed to be.    I think of that person who was a perfectionist.  He was someone who loved to love, and he gave even more than that.  He was truly a giver, in fact, the biggest giver of charities.  He made it a point to remember some of them in will.   I smile, and in I my heart feel sad for him, his children, and his family.  He has truly gone too soon.   I grew up with him, so it was like I lost a close family member also.  

                                      

                  What the average person probably does not know is that in 1937 two brothers, Richard and Maurice (Dick and Mac) McDonald opened their first restaurant in Arcadia, CA and called it the Airdrome. (World’s First McDonalds).  In 1940 the brothers opened McDonalds Barbeque in San Bernadino, CA. (World’s First McDonalds).  Hamburger became their big money maker. (World’s First McDonalds).  In December 1948 the very first McDonalds restaurant opened and the main focus was speed, price and volume. (World’s First McDonalds).  They first franchised in 1954 and the first franchise restaurant was opened in Des Plaines, IL. (World’s First McDonalds).  In 1961, McDonalds sold out to Ray Kroc who franchised the restaurants for $2.7 million, but the brothers kept the San Bernardino location, and called it “Big M”, it closed in 1970. (World’s First McDonalds).  The restaurant managed to sell its 100 millionth burger in 1958. (World’s First McDonalds).  The Golden Arches became the logo in 1961, Ronald McDonald debuted in 1966, and the Big Mac was created in 1966. (World’s First McDonalds).

                    McDonalds is the restaurant that has the fries that my 7yr old absolutely loves.  He will not eat any others from any fast food restaurant.  This is the place that we could only go for special occasions when I was a child.  I loved it too.  I think it is probably one of the most familiar restaurants to the human race.   McDonalds is easily identifiable by its artifacts, the Golden Arches and Ronald McDonald.

     

                     The final icon I chose is Soul Train.  Soul Train debuted on air in Chicago in 1970 by Don Cornelius, who produced the first episode in 1969. (Soul Train: The First 25 Years).  “Sears and Roebuck gave him the funding to put the show on the air in exchange for the right to use the Soul Train name in promoting a line of record players that they were selling at the time.” (Soul Train: The First 25 Years).  The show finally picked up their biggest sponsor, the Johnson Company; their cosmetics lined included Ultra Sheen and Afro Sheen hair care products. (Soul Train: The First 25 Years).  Soul Train was erroneously considered to be a show for African Americans, but there have been many white artists to grace the stage. (Soul Train: The First 25 Years).  Don Cornelius has an iconic saying when closing the show, “Love, Peace, and Soul”.  This phrase is the biggest artifact of Soul Train and still remains symbolic of the show.

                   When I think of Soul Train, I think of the Afro.  Everyone on the show sported an Afro.  They were all lengths, textures and colors.  The high waist pants were the fad then too.  The dancers were great.  This is where we learned the latest dance crazes, and styles out in California and on the west coast.  The best and brightest, and upcoming artists were show cased.  The hottest new releases were performed by the artist.  This was up close and personal.  The audience could ask the questions that everyone wanted to know.   I loved it!