APRIL 2019 | denverlifemagazine.com 67
1921
The first White Castle restaurant opens,
serving its signature hamburger slid-
ers. Owner Walter Anderson is credited
with the inventions of the hamburger
bun and kitchen assembly line.1935
Humpty Dumpty Barrel Drive-in
restaurant owner Louis Ballast
submits a trademark for his inven-
tion of the cheeseburger in Denver.
You can visit a monument honor-
ing the birthplace of the cheese-
burger at 2776 N. Speer Blvd.1948
McDonald’s switches from serving bar-
becue to hamburgers and uses the model
created by White Castle. It will become
the largest fast-food chain in the world.1957
Americans get a taste of the first fast-
food gimmick burger with the debut
of the Burger King Whopper.1963
Restaurants get creative with mixing
textures and flavors. A&W boasts that
owner Dale Mulder is responsible
for the invention of the Bacon
Cheeseburger.1981
Paul Wenner pioneers his veggie-filled,
meatless alternative to the traditional
burger, “The Gardenburger.” Garden-
burger Inc. then becomes the largest
producer of meat-substitute burger
patties in the country.1991
Krusty the Clown’s famed restaurant,
Krusty Burger, first appears in an
episode of The Simpsons. Universal
Studios opens a real-life version of the
restaurant in 2013.1994
“This is a tasty burger!” Samuel L.
Jackson eats a Big Kahuna Burger in
Pulp Fiction.2004
Cult classic Harold & Kumar Go To
White Castle is released. The pair of
stoners embark on an adventure filled
with marijuana-induced hijinks in
an attempt to satisfy their late-night
burger cravings.2006
An Illinois ballpark begins selling
the Luther Burger at ballgames. The
burger, named after singer Luther
Vandross, features an Angus patty,
melted cheese, bacon, and two Krispy
Kreme donuts. The 1,000-calorie
meal is credited with increased ticket
sales, game attendance, and, we’re
guessing, cardiology patients.2013
The ramen burger, consisting of a
prime beef patty between two fried ra-
men buns, overthrows the cronut as
Brooklyn’s trendiest meal.2013
Dr. Mark Post debuts the first lab-
grown burger made from cow stem
cells. The burger originally cost
$325,000 to produce but is expected
to be available by 2021 for $5 dollars
per pound.2017
Controversy erupts as Google releases
a cheeseburger emoji for the Android.
Fans create side-by-side comparisons
to criticize the incorrect placement
of the cheese beneath the hamburger,
while applauding competitor Apple
for correctly putting the cheese on top
of the patty.2018
California-based chain In-N-Out
Burger announces its expansion into
Colorado Springs, with plans to open
in 2020.—Compiled by Jaclyn Walsh
Great Moments in Burger History
illustration by MATT WOOD