Tears of a Clown
ON APRIL 21, the McDonald's corporation ran the full-page, "We miss you, Jim" ad (at left) in the New York Times as tribute to its fallen CEO, 60-year-old Jim Cantalupo, who died on April 19 of a heart attack while attending McDonald's Worldwide Owner/Operator Convention in Orlando. Cantalupo, widely credited with turning the fast-food giant around during his 15-month reign, bit the burger just as he would have wanted itin the presence of thousands of McDonald's owner/operators.
We are pleased to announce that this ad, created by Leo Burnett Worldwide, has surpassed Tampax's "A leak can attract unwanted attention" ad (above right: that's a menstrual scuba diver and shark, facing off underwater) as the frontrunner in 2004's New York Press "Is it real? Or is it AdBusters?" Award. Your nominees are welcome at pagetwo@nypress.com.
In somewhat-related burger news, Irwin Kruger has been named Entrepreneur of the Year by Nation's Restaurant News. Kruger, who opened New York City's first McDonald's restaurant in 1973, is the proud co-owner of the Mickey D's monstrosity at 42nd St. and Broadway. Mr. Kruger's cardiac health is not known, and as of press time, Leo Burnett Worldwide has not yet been commissioned to make a "We love you, Irwin" advertisement.