Carl Karcher, 90; entrepreneur turned hot dog stand into a fast-food empire

Los Angeles Times ^ | January 11, 2008 | Eric Malnic

[americanophile]

Carl Karcher, who parlayed a single hot dog pushcart into a chain of more than 1,000 fast-food restaurants bearing his name, died Friday. He was 90.

The affable, burly entrepreneur, known to millions as the jovial television pitchman for the Carl's Jr. chain, died of complications from Parkinson's-related pneumonia at St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton, according to Beth Mansfield, a spokeswoman for parent company CKE Restaurants. A stalwart Orange County Republican, Karcher worked tirelessly for the party and its candidates, still finding time for active and enthusiastic involvement in local causes, including United Way of Orange County, Orangewood Children's Home, the Roman Catholic Knights of Malta, Right to Life League and South Coast Repertory Theater.

The paneled library of his 6,500-square-foot home in Anaheim was adorned with photos of Karcher with the famous, powerful and influential, including Presidents Reagan and Nixon, Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, entertainer Bob Hope and Pope John Paul II.

[EveningStar]

TaЯd ping!

"Tard" refers to the ping list members and not to the subject of the thread!

List of Ping Lists

[stboz]

We won’t set foot in a Carl’s Jr. because of the sleaze factor. I don’t give a rip how good their burgers might be.

[MinorityRepublican]

What’s the difference between hardee’s and carl’s?

[EveningStar]

Tribute at the Orange County Register

[VOA]

He should have kept the company in the family and close to the
vest (like In n Out Burgers). Carl's commercials are disgusting
and aimed at the lowest denominators in our society. I haven't eaten
there in years.

Same here. (Well, partly because I got out of LA in 2005.)

I can only pray that some clerical error at In-n-Out Burger
World Headquarters results in an opening in Columbia, MO (my area).
And isn't discovered until it's too late to reverse the error!

[null and void]

Carl's commercials are disgusting and aimed at the lowest denominators in our society. I haven't eaten there in years.

I hear ya.

The Portobello Mushroom Six Dollar Burger lured me back to try it.

It was actually pretty good.

Still, I'm also reluctant to patronized them because of their ads.

[DoughtyOne]

My wife picks up Carl’s Jr about once every two weeks. I love their bacon western cheeseburgers. Mmmmm good.

I don’t like to see people pass on at all, but especially the productive ones.

So long Carl.

Here are some Carl’s Jr. commercials that folks may have enjoyed over the years.

YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=carl%27s+jr&search=Search

[B Knotts]

The old fries, or the mashed potato fries? I didn’t care for the latter.

Anyhow RIP Carl. A great man, and a classic example of a little guy making it big in America.

[mylife]

RIP Carl. Love that double western cheeseburger

[mylife]

Carls beats McDodo’s

[B Knotts]

The thing I miss is the California Roast Beef. I liked to have those from time to time. For those that don’t remember, it was just roast beef on a hamburger bun with an ortega chile and jack cheese.

[dragnet2]

I'm sure he was a great guy, but Carl's Jr. commercials sure are bad.

A typical Carl's Jr.Everyone has people sitting around chewing their food with their mouths open, dripping slop all over the floor...

What's up with that?

[null and void]

What doesn’t?

[mylife]

:0)

[Unknowing]

Ésta es América se comunica por favor en la lengua Inglesa.

Got to go out for a burger, it’s almost lunchtime.

[mylife]

Man! put some ortega chilies on that western cheese burger.
onion rings and BBQ sauce!

[mylife]

Muy Sabroso!

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Menu items are now similar only Carl’s Jr. has some Hardees doesn’t

[MinorityRepublican]

How about quality? I’ve gone in Hardee’s and their food was subpar.

[upsdriver]

Wow, I have never heard of him or his restaurants.