Speaking of McDs, I went there last night to meet up with someone and DIDN'T even order anything! How crazy am I? I am so hungry now I could die to get my hands on a Double Cheeseburger setto!

That's called loitering Steph. I'd report you to the Big Mac Cop if they hadn't fired him in the early 90's. Perhaps your aching belly is punishment enough.

Are you familiar with Captain Crook? As a wedding gift, my friend gave me matching McDonald's glasses and plates from 1973 and the early 80s. Captain Crook (who I'd never heard of before) is a featured character. I wonder why they phased him out. I don't remember him being around in the 80s... Did he work together with Hamburglar and Evil Grimace in too many crimes? That is, he's the only one who got life in prison while Hamburglar got off and Evil Grimace was rehabilitated so is no longer evil.
Here's a picture of some creepy McDonaldland toys, including the Cap'n:
http://home.att.net/~planetgarp/mcdon.html
You can read another hypothesis as to the sad end here: http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2002/12/14/164534/33
My favorite McDonaldland character will always be the upstanding Mayor McCheese, however.

Wow! Thanks Malia, great info! McDonald's has been slowly eliminating non-cute characters over the years I guess to make them more appealing to kids. The hamburglar wasn't eliminated but they gave him a drastic makeover, and lets not forget the addition of that annoying Birdie character.