Ronald McDonald: The Early Years

Back in the day, the good-natured clown with questionable eating habits was everywhere. And if you think Ronald McDonald is a little creepy now, you should have seen him in 1963, when the fast food mascot made his commercial debut.

One of the first actors to play Ronald was none other than Willard Scott. Scott would later go on to be a TV weatherman on NBC's "Today" show

original yahoo article

There's a link down at the very bottom of one of the first McDonald's commercials. I have to say...this version of Ronald McDonald is really far out. Still, I like it better than a clown in grease paint because he doesn't set off my coulrophobia so much as the modern one does.

OK that was interesting.
think i like first ronald best now