With his trusty dog at his side, this freckle-faced, gap-toothed and barefoot kid in patched-up dungarees was the mascot of the Country Boy drive-in in Battle Creek, Michigan.

Toting a fishing rod and clutching a hamburger, this cute little hillbilly certainly looks like a happy customer.

The Country Boy drive-in was owned by Don Thompson, a former US Marine who served in the South Pacific during WWII.

The establishment served hamburgers costing from 35c to 50c and the most expensive item on this menu, which we believe is from the late 40s or early 50s, cost 99c.

Drive-in customers would blink lights for service.

Highly regarded locally, Mr Thompson and his family went on to own not only the drive-in but the Buckingham Inn, Green Garden Fruit Markets and other local establishments, providing work for hundreds of local people.

Battle Creek, Michigan, is also known as cereal city. John Harvey Kellogg and Will Keith Kellogg, who founded the Kellogg cereal company, were born here. Interesting fact: Americans eat roughly 2.7 billion boxes of cereal every year.

We’re not sure when the Country Boy drive-in closed. 

Courtesy Private Collection.