Founder Of Fast Food Chain, Billy Ingram
Selling Hamburgers By The Sack
My first and last encounter with White Castle was in the 1980s, after a night of too much partying. As I recall the place was packed at 2am. From our side of the plexiglass barrier I recall sliders cooking on small countertop griddles. I recall the onion chips were crispy and delicious.
In 1921 with $700 and an idea, E.W. “Billy” Ingram (illustration ) started a family hamburger empire with White Castle and its famous sliders. Ingram sold five-cent, small, square hamburgers so easy to eat, they were dubbed Sliders and sold by the sack. He unveiled the tagline, “Selling ‘em by the Sack.”
In 1947, Cincinnati White Castle operator Earl Howell introduced the idea of adding five holes to the patty, helping it to cook faster and add more flavor. White Castle secured a patent for the idea.
In 1957, Fast Food Magazine declared Billy Ingram the Granddaddy of the Hamburger and credited him with the creation of the fast food industry.
In 1961, White Castle became the very first fast food hamburger chain to sell over 1 billion burgers.
I love the following fact. In 1977, Sliders made a cameo appearance in the movie Saturday Night Fever.
Source, @whitecastle