David Wallerstein; Film Exhibitor, Director of McDonald’s Corp.

David Wallerstein, 87, an innovative motion picture exhibitor and more recently a director of McDonald’s Corp. Wallerstein retired in 1965 as president of Balaban & Katz Corp., at that time the largest movie theater chain in the Midwest. The chain evolved into ABC/Plitt Theatres. Wallerstein joined the McDonald’s board in 1968 at the request of founder Ray Kroc. He came to the film industry in 1926 and was credited with adding live shows to motion picture performances, putting butter on popcorn and ice in soft drinks. In the late 1930s, he founded Chicago’s first TV station, WBKB. At the time of his death, Wallerstein served on the executive and compensation committees for the fast-food chain and was McDonald’s longest-serving outside director. In Oakbrook, Ill., on Monday of cancer.