The advertising world introduced in 1963 that included Mayor McCheese was McDonaldland.
McDonaldland presented McDonald’s food and restaurant imagery as a colorful fictional setting populated by branded characters. Mayor McCheese, Grimace, the Hamburglar, and other figures appeared in commercials, packaging, and promotional materials connected to the restaurant chain.
The concept helped McDonald’s build a distinctive children’s brand universe rather than relying only on product advertising. Its characters were designed to make menu items and restaurant visits more memorable, especially for younger audiences.
McDonaldland should not be confused with the later Happy Meal brand or with Ronald McDonald himself. Ronald was a central character within McDonald’s advertising, while McDonaldland was the larger fictional setting in which many characters appeared.