Ali MacGraw, originally named Elizabeth Alice MacGraw, was born on April 1, 1939, in Pound Ridge, New York. She is renowned as an accomplished American actress, model, author, and advocate for animal rights.
Her most iconic performances in “Love Story” and “The Getaway” have defined MacGraw’s career, which has been a journey marked by both triumphs and personal challenges.
Raised in a household steeped in the arts, MacGraw’s passion for creativity was fostered by her parents, both esteemed artists. Following her education in art history at Wellesley College, she ventured into the fashion industry, contributing significantly at Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue.
MacGraw’s striking appearance and magnetic personality propelled her from the world of modeling to the realm of acting. Her debut on the silver screen came in 1968’s “A Lovely Way to Die”, but it was her role in “Goodbye, Columbus” (1969) that garnered her a Golden Globe award.
Her career skyrocketed in 1970 with the iconic film “Love Story”, which not only earned her an Academy Award nomination but also secured another Golden Globe, establishing her as a household name.
In 1969, MacGraw married film producer Robert Evans, and they welcomed their son, Josh. However, their marriage came to an end in 1972, the same year she starred in “The Getaway” and embarked on a relationship with Steve McQueen. They married in 1973, but their tumultuous union ultimately ended in divorce in 1978.
Following her earlier successes, MacGraw made notable returns to the screen in films like “Convoy” (1978) and the miniseries “The Winds of War” (1983). However, her focus shifted in the late 1980s when she relocated to Santa Fe, New Mexico. There, she immersed herself in personal development, embracing practices such as yoga, meditation, and becoming a staunch advocate for animal rights.
In 1991, MacGraw chronicled her Hollywood journey and path to self-discovery in her autobiography “Moving Pictures”.
Ali MacGraw’s enduring legacy is a testament to her artistic prowess, resilience, and capacity for reinvention. Her unforgettable performances on screen continue to captivate audiences, while her passionate advocacy for animal welfare and holistic living serves as an inspiration to many.
Today, MacGraw remains an enduring icon of American cinema and a cherished voice for compassion and mindfulness.
In-N-Out Stuns Fans with Controversial Announcement After 75 Years: A Bold Move of Genius
Few brands have the loyal following of In-N-Out Burger. If you live outside of California, it’s hard to really understand just how beIoved the brand is among its fans. If you live in California, it’s just a part of the experience. Until you leave, that is.
Most of that love comes from the fact that, as far as fast food goes, In-N-Out is about as good as it gets. Of course, a lot of its appeal also comes from the fact that the company’s 385 locations are located almost entirely in California and its neighboring states.
If, however, you live any further east of the Rockies, you’ve been out of luck. If that’s you, your only opportunity has been to find one when you travel west. Well, until now.
Last week, the company announced that it would be opening a corporate hub in Franklin, Tennessee, which will allow it to expand further east. In-N-Out also says it will be opening its first stores in the Nashville area by 2026.
If you’re a fan of animal-style fries, you understand that this is a big deal. It’s also a huge risk for the company and its brand. Here’s why:
This is a company that is fiercely opposed to change. It hasn’t added a menu item since 2018 (hot chocolate). It still sells just burgers, fries, soft drinks, and milkshakes. As a result, the restaurant is known for both fresh, great-tasting food and incredible customer service. I can think of only one other restaurant where you can get in a drive-thru line 30 cars deep and still have hot food in just a few minutes, and that one isn’t open on Sundays.
There is clearly a lot of demand for new locations. That seems like an argument for expanding to new states, but it’s also why the move is risky.
You see, over the past 75 years, In-N-Out has jeaIously guarded its brand. A big part of that has meant recognizing that fast growth isn’t everything if it means compromising quality. After all, quality is its brand.
In-N-Out only uses fresh, never-frozen ingredients–including its beef. That makes its burgers and fries taste better, but it also means the restaurant is limited in the areas it can serve.
The company also doesn’t franchise its locations. That has allowed it to maintain far more control over the level of service its restaurants provide, but has also meant it kept things close to home.
“You put us in every state and it takes away some of its luster,” said In-N-Out president Lynsi Snyder in a 2018 interview. She was right. Part of the reason the company’s burgers have such a loyal following is because they’re hard to get–especially if you live east of the Rocky Mountains.
It takes a lot of courage–if you think about it–to resist the temptation to grow at all costs. The thing is, most companies don’t consider that those costs are real, even if they aren’t immediately obvious. If the quaIity of your product gets worse the more customers you serve, you’re doing it wrong.
If, suddenly, there are In-N-Out Burger locations everywhere, it’s not as special. If you’re used to swinging by the Sepulvida location when you land at Los Angeles International Airport, and eating a Double-Double while watching planes land, it’s not quite as special an experience if you can get one on your way home from work.
On the other hand, there is value in meeting your customers where they are. In-N-Out is a restaurant, after all, not an amusement park. Sure, people look forward to eating there when they travel, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room to grow–even if that means cautiously.
“Our Customers are our most important asset at In-N-Out, and we very much look forward to serving them in years to come, and becoming part of the wonderfuI communities in The Volunteer State,” said Synder in a statement. That’s an important acknowledgment–the part about customers being the company’s most important asset.
The interesting lesson here is that there is a balance between exclusivity and meeting your customers where they are. For a variety of reasons, In-N-Out has erred on the side of sticking close to home, even if that means it can’t serve all of its customers. That’s been a winning strategy so far, and I don’t think that will change just because it’s sIowly starting to open more locations farther east.
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