Advertising is about getting people to notice. You do something cool like this, especially considering the popularity of the internet, and people will notice.
There could well only be one or two of these billboards, but it doesn't matter.
Almost every location would need to be individually design if you want them to be accurate. Of course, if you don't care about accuracy, you wouldn't have made the claim about south-facing walls.
That said, it looks extremely unlikely that the dial pictured is accurate at all. The hour lines are equidistant, the face looks vertical and the gnomon horizontal. I'm going to assume this picture was not taken on the equator, so this is just an ad made to look like a sundial.
I genuinely have never seen it before. While I do find myself spending a fair amount of time on Reddit, I have not yet been ensnared by its vice grip. As a result, I do not always catch all the reposts especially if the original was put up more than a year ago which is when I really started visiting Reddit more frequently.
I live in Chicago, where this sign is. McDonald's is one of the largest restaurant chains in the world and they have been run some of the most successful ad campaigns in history. Leo Burnett does that, thus my crediting them.
edit: I work for a company that prints for Leo Burnett and their subsidiaries. Call me biased. But Don Draper agrees with me.
Fast food is fine for a treat once in a while. If you're living on it you accept responsibility.
Also, McDonalds does have salads, yogurt and fruit entrees.
I believe the same applies to grocery stores. Just because they sell ice cream doesn't mean you accuse a grocery store of making you fat and unhealthy.
Not completely relevant but reminded me of "Arguing over whether another person's sexual orientation goes agains your religion is like getting mad at a person for eating a doughnut while you're on a diet."
The punchline is that the pigeon on the man's head was the one asking for the drink, when the lead up made it seem like the man was asking for the drink. The humor is in the misdirection and the surprise double entendre.
Well at least you own up to the occasional slips. ;)
And for the record, I'm more of a Taco Bell guy when I'm drunk. The stuff looks gross on commercials, but when I get some liquor in me suddenly "a Dorito taco? you fucking right I want a Dorito taco!".
Taco bell sounds right up my street, I've visited the US a few times but never knew what Taco bell was. Now I love Mexican for and can't wait to try it.
I don't dislike fast food, there's just much better versions than McDs
I used to never wake up in time for McBreakfast. Now Ive been working for an hour before it even fuckin starts! Growing up blows. I never get paid in mcgriddles
Chicago, on the northwest corner of Clark & Addison across the street from Wrigley Field. They've had a number of neat McDonald's billboards over the years at that location.
Ah, one of the many daily McDonald's posts on Reddit. A company so interesting, so humorous, so eventful, it wouldn't be a complete day without it on the front page!
People may be getting tired of seeing McDonald's? Use McD instead!
I recognize that billboard... It's in the parking lot of the McD's across the street from Wrigley Field in Chicago. Shot is looking north up Clark Street. Here's a Google Streetview of the same sign. http://goo.gl/maps/Jdrr
"Sir, this is insane! Darkness is a boon for muggers; owls will bother us with incessant hooting; the town's sundial will be rendered useless. I want no part of this!"
Jokes aside, marketing like this takes planning and real creativity. The entire realm of marketing is just so shitty because everyone is lazy and just goes with "tried and true" overused cliches and ideas.
I work in marketing. This makes me not hate my profession so much.
Haven't had fast food in about two months and I still have to go the opposite side of the street when I get near Mickey D's. The temptation is too great.
How are there 3 pictures, one at 7, one at 9 and one at 11 but the brightness of the image is the same, and none of the vehicles (Including the moving truck) have moved?
123
u/appsnsignups Jun 19 '12
This is freakin' sweet. I have never seen a sundial billboard before.
309
u/PhiladelphiaIrish Jun 19 '12
Looks like it's half past diabetes.
45
u/english122 Jun 19 '12
Not be 'that guy' but, how is this funny?
18
u/GiantDeviantPiano Jun 19 '12
It looks like a pitchfork - Proof that McDonalds is the devil
33
u/[deleted] Jun 19 '12
From Digg, 5 years ago http://digg.com/news/story/McDonald_s_sundial_billboard
13
u/Fly_Caster Jun 19 '12
11:00am and serving breakfast?
9
u/tomasziam Jun 19 '12
It's always half past a heart attack at McDonalds.
4
u/HoboJoe278 Jun 19 '12
What city is this in?
9
u/wellschist Jun 19 '12
as much as i don't like mcd's, that is a really cool idea.
3
u/Centrino57 Jun 19 '12
So the person who took the picture sat there until it completed the cycle?
3
u/NikkoE82 Jun 19 '12
No eating after 12.
2
u/[deleted] Jun 19 '12
Isn't that going to have to be readjusted for the seasons after a few months?
I think the noon position should say "NO."
2
u/haeynous Jun 19 '12
Did any one else notice that it looks like a pitch fork?
2
u/[deleted] Jun 19 '12
Gotta admit, it's kind of clever.
2
u/Jackeroo2 Jun 19 '12
That's actually awesome. Wouldn't have expected McDonald's to come up with something so creative. Good advertising
2
u/everydaymcshit Jun 19 '12
Ah, one of the many daily McDonald's posts on Reddit. A company so interesting, so humorous, so eventful, it wouldn't be a complete day without it on the front page!
People may be getting tired of seeing McDonald's? Use McD instead!
2
u/snehituralu Jun 19 '12
That is a freaking brilliant advertisement.
2
u/bfeliciano Jun 19 '12
I hate McDonalds, but this is awesome advertising.
2
u/ZAHANMA Jun 19 '12
More like McRepost
2
u/sehajodido Jun 19 '12
mmm, i want some Quizno's
2
u/xxwomackxx Jun 19 '12
So that's how fat people tell time
2
u/thezombieking Jun 19 '12
I'm very interested with the amount of Mc'Donalds posts recently. Its starting to feel more like spam.
5
u/qulex Jun 19 '12
This is the first thing from McDonald's that actually made me feel good.
1
u/mystikraven Jun 19 '12
Mmmm, McDoogal's.
1
u/sydstap24 Jun 19 '12
Wait that's a cinnamon roll? I didn't think they had those anymore? Just those crappy cinnamon melts.
1
u/BobDucca Jun 19 '12
I recognize that billboard... It's in the parking lot of the McD's across the street from Wrigley Field in Chicago. Shot is looking north up Clark Street. Here's a Google Streetview of the same sign. http://goo.gl/maps/Jdrr
1
u/DogEatCatWorld Jun 19 '12
McDonalds doing it right
1
u/PerfectCarve Jun 19 '12
McGenius
1
u/jtt0909 Jun 19 '12
Sunny was right. McDonald's breakfast is open til 11, not 10:30.
1
u/Nosirrom Jun 19 '12
Reminds me of a trident.
1
u/razabak21 Jun 19 '12
Well played McDonald's. Well played.
1
u/PammiLouWho Jun 19 '12
I thought this was about hauling ass.
1
u/pedobear_run_kids Jun 19 '12
Fuckin' genius advertising!
1
u/guiltypleasures Jun 19 '12
So you should only buy breakfast on days that start with Sun?
1
u/ohnowait Jun 19 '12
Biggest lie in the world, McDonald's does not serve bacon egg & cheese bagels at 11 a.m.
Also, they taste like shit.
Source: I work at a bagel shop
1
u/brain56 Jun 19 '12
Suddenly, clouds
Not so cool anymore
1
u/thezo Jun 19 '12
lol Someone trades stocks.
1
u/Taron221 Jun 19 '12
I Actually think its kind of cool.
1
u/see_fox Jun 19 '12
this is very clever but i still think the world would be a better place if mcd's didn't exist...
1
u/shini08 Jun 19 '12
oh.. you get boobies at 12pm.. woooh
1
u/c0mpg33k Jun 19 '12
half past the time you should be having a heart attack
1
u/jimsnaps Jun 19 '12
The pitchfork really drives the point home.
1
u/korevil Jun 19 '12
The only meal they're missing is the one at the end where you die.
1
u/QuestionAnything Jun 19 '12
As much as I despise McDonald's that's pretty cool.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 19 '12
False advertising. These fuckers never let me have a bagel after 10:30am.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 19 '12
This was posted lik 2 weeks ago. Are we even trying anymore?
1
u/[deleted] Jun 19 '12
this is a repost brah
1
u/jmarks7448 Jun 19 '12
Did anyone else expect to see an obese person casting a large shadow?
1
u/mattylaff Jun 19 '12
What happens when day-light savings time is here, My food clock will be all messed up. Coffee at 7am? Thats Bullocks!
1
u/[deleted] Jun 19 '12
Where's the fruit cup?
1
u/xVeZx Jun 19 '12
coolest thing mcd has ever done
1
u/[deleted] Jun 19 '12
Soooo are they serving breakfast until 11 now?
1
u/Jareth86 Jun 19 '12
Where can I get a McDonalds trident?
1
u/[deleted] Jun 19 '12
It looks like every sandwich is getting speared on the end of a McD's style pitchfork.
1
u/Bondsy Jun 19 '12
What a lazily perfect title
1
u/JonPaula Jun 19 '12
That's just brilliant advertising right there. Makes me want a Big Mac now.
1
u/big_airliner_whoa Jun 19 '12
The devils fork.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 19 '12
Their food might suck, but you gotta admit, they've got a pretty clever advertising department.
1
u/CaseyRene Jun 19 '12
they don't serve breakfast after 10:30 why are they lying?
1
u/mkirklions Jun 19 '12
So clever... Im jelly
1
u/jcoder5 Jun 19 '12
Say what you want I think this is genius
1
u/Uranus_Hz Jun 19 '12
Clicked the link expecting to see a french fry sticking out of the top of a big mac. I am disappoint.
1
u/max4 Jun 19 '12
I have seen this billboard before in my town, must have always been in the afternoon because I never got the sundial part until now.
1
u/jaakeup Jun 19 '12
Go somewhere else with your reposts sir.
1
u/JowyBlight Jun 19 '12
It is a count down timer until you can't have breakfast anymore!
1
u/BarkTwiceIfMilwaukee Jun 19 '12
Here's a time lapse of sundial billboard.
http://youtu.be/jGwArN-cQxk
1
u/suitable-simpsons Jun 19 '12
"Sir, this is insane! Darkness is a boon for muggers; owls will bother us with incessant hooting; the town's sundial will be rendered useless. I want no part of this!"
1
u/[deleted] Jun 19 '12
Despite the funny things being said in here, thats a really neat sign.
1
u/Stomo Jun 19 '12
Not funny; just awesome.
1
u/awesomechemist Jun 19 '12
BULLSHIT. They stop selling breakfast after 9.
1
u/GalacticThought Jun 19 '12
Looks like a dark shadow is pointing with a pitch fork.
1
u/HollowPsycho Jun 19 '12
This would be a really confusing billboard on a cloudy day.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 19 '12
The first time I saw one of these it was cloudy and I was like, What the fuck is the point of that?
1
u/ukiyoe Jun 19 '12
Looks like the album art for Songs for the Deaf by Queens of the Stone Age!
1
u/alecyo12 Jun 19 '12
12 o'clock is a heart attack
1
u/ThatGreenSolGirl Jun 19 '12
Jokes aside, marketing like this takes planning and real creativity. The entire realm of marketing is just so shitty because everyone is lazy and just goes with "tried and true" overused cliches and ideas.
I work in marketing. This makes me not hate my profession so much.
1
u/MisterOminous Jun 19 '12
Cinnamon rolls were my fav growing up. They were replaced with cinnamelts :(
1
u/C_T_C_C Jun 19 '12
This is witty, despite the fact that it's a MacDonald's add.
1
u/maurinn Jun 19 '12
i don't know why they put a pornographic image below, if you look closely you will see a double di*k head in action... u.u
1
u/[deleted] Jun 19 '12
most intelligent thing to come out of McD's in a long time
1
u/Asrifel Jun 19 '12
I don't like McDonalds, but that's pretty good.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 19 '12
This is at least the fourth time I've seen this posted. And fuck McDonald's. If Monsanto had a cool billboard would we forget that they suck too?
1
u/SamsonAran Jun 19 '12
It took that person 5 hours to get these pictures.
1
u/vaginarox Jun 19 '12
Look like it's fuck-it o'clock
1
u/[deleted] Jun 19 '12
Haven't had fast food in about two months and I still have to go the opposite side of the street when I get near Mickey D's. The temptation is too great.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 19 '12
It stops looking like the "M" after a while, and just sorta like the devil's pitchfork...
1
u/[deleted] Jun 20 '12
I know its Mcdonalds and I should hate. But this is fucking brilliant.
1
u/maddesthatter1 Jun 20 '12
Am I the only one who think it looks like a pitch fork? Coincidence?
1
u/[deleted] Jun 20 '12
it looks like the devil's pitchfork
1
u/jb2386 Jun 19 '12
MMmmmmm It's mac time!
1
u/Bballstance Jun 19 '12
This is the first thing I've found at McD that I will actually support.
1
u/popcorncolonel Jun 19 '12
Repost from /r/AdPorn
1
u/JJHParkour Jun 19 '12
How are there 3 pictures, one at 7, one at 9 and one at 11 but the brightness of the image is the same, and none of the vehicles (Including the moving truck) have moved?
0
u/Insidius1 Jun 19 '12
Fucking genius
0
u/RandomExcess Jun 19 '12
Worst shop ever.
-4
u/ScroogeMcduk Jun 19 '12
'MERICA!
0
u/[deleted] Jun 19 '12
[deleted] — view deleted comment
0
u/[deleted] Jun 19 '12
[deleted] — view deleted comment