Restaurant operator CKE Restaurants (NYSE: CKR) reported first-quarter earnings of 26 cents per share after the closing bell yesterday. While the results were five cents shy of last year's results, they topped the consensus estimate by a penny per share. Quarterly revenue totaled $446.8 million, far better than the Street's estimate calling for $343.1 million.

The company also announced that same-store sales dropped 5.2% during the latest four-week period. At the company's Carl's Jr. restaurants, sales dropped 7.1%, while Hardee's saw a drop of 2.7%.

CKE Restaurants (NYSE: CKR), owner of the Carl's Jr. and Hardee's brands, reported earnings for the third quarter on Wednesday. The top line fell a little over 4%, coming in at $336.6 million. On a diluted basis, the bottom line cooked up $0.10 per share. That was a penny less than what was earned last year, but the company did manage to meet Wall Street's expectations.

Moving away from total sales and net income, let's look at the all-important same-store sales results. For the third quarter, comps for both CKE brands on a blended basis rose 0.9% according to the earnings release. An earlier press release focusing on same-store sales in November, had comps increasing by 0.3% on a blended basis. Year-to-date, blended comps moved 1.9% higher. When you compare these changes to their respective year-ago periods, you'll see that CKE isn't really doing gangbuster business.

I find neither the earnings numbers nor the sales figures particularly compelling. Management seems to think that the dreadful economic crisis we're facing is mostly responsible. Hey, it certainly isn't helping, and I sympathize with CKE's challenges during the credit crisis. Yet, I'd have to respectfully suggest that management get out there and get some hardcore marketing efforts going. When sales are down, you need to up the ante when it comes to branding and convincing patrons to come through your door. These comps are pretty weak and unattractive. They can be pushed higher with some innovative, creative campaigns.

This post is part of our Ads Gone Bad series. Share your thoughts and memories of this ad in the comments, and be sure to check out our other posts on marketing gone wrong.

In 2005, CKE Restaurants Inc. (NYSE: CKR) outraged both social conservatives and lovers of music at the same time when its Carl's Jr. chain hired Paris Hilton to shill its new Spicy Burger. It set a new standard of tastelessness that will be difficult to equal.

Conservatives -- most Americans actually -- find the fact that Paris Hilton is famous at all to be a offensive. Her main claim to fame comes from her appearance in a now-infamous sex tape. The appeal of her one-time hit show The Simple Life eluded me, but hey, I was not the target demographic. I am a 40-year-old married guy so I can't speak to her numerous other enterprises, such as the perfume Heiress. Her single "Stars Are Blind" was not as awful as I thought it would be, but maybe I have gone tone deaf listening to too many Elmo songs. Parents of toddlers will understand.

CKE Restaurants Inc. (NYSE: CKR), owner of the Carls, Jr. and Hardee's fast food brands, is getting the call from an investor to slash costs and cut spending in order to put forth more free cash flow. The investor, Ramius LLC, has good reason to be asking for the cuts, too. It alleges that CKE continues blaming its performance on a downtrodden U.S. economy, when, in fact, it has not made the changes to ensure its cash flow has the means to grow.

CKE's annual shareholder's meeting is today, and there will probably be several calls to figure out what the company's board is doing to ensure the best return for its constituents. Ramius said, "It is unacceptable for management and the board to stay the course and continue to blame the company's poor operating performance on economic issues out of its control." With CKE's shares down 48% from its 52-week high, and with the most recent quarter having seen a 38% net income drop, the pressure is on.

Ramius went on to suggest that CKE consolidate its three headquarters buildings and figure out why the company's absolute G&A figure hasn't really changed since 2001. "In light of the current economic outlook, the company's $145 million capital-spending plan for fiscal 2009 is too aggressive and unwarranted," said Ramius. The investor plans to vote its shares against CEO Andrew Puzder and three other board members today at the annual shareholder's meeting.

I like examples of astute investors doing homework to make a case against an investment, and this qualifies. CKE responded by saying it welcomes a "more thorough dialogue" with Ramius. Of course it does, but today will see some fire from the audience ahead of CKE's next quarterly report on June 25.

This post is part of a series on some of the most memorable companies that have disappeared.

It's hard to believe these days, but at one time Burger Chef was the number two fast-food burger chain in the United States, second only to McDonald's (NYSE: MCD). Its easy to forget as well that Burger Chef pioneered many of the things that its rivals became known for, including flame-broiled burgers, value combo meals, and a works bar that allowed customers to dress burgers their way.

Burger Chef had cartoon mascots, including the Burger Chef (voiced by Paul Winchell) and his sidekick Jeff, Count Fangburger, Burgerilla, Cackleburger and others. In the early 1970s, the company also offered a "Funmeal" with specially printed packaging and accompanying toys or puzzles. Burger Chef sued McDonald's after it introduced the Happy Meal in 1978, but ultimately lost.

Burger Chef offered a fish sandwich and fried apple or cherry pies. Some locations offered tale-side service, and others had windows that allowed customers to watch sandwiches being made. Burger Chef was also an early adopter of the media tie-in, with the Batman television series and the original Star Wars movie in the 1970s.

Encouraged by sales of its Angus beef burgers in southern California, McDonald's Corp. (NYSE: MCD) is planning to expand its test marketing of the premium burgers to New England.

McDonald's comes late to the Angus burger trend. Rivals Burger King Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: BKC), Hardees and Carl's Jr. -- the latter two part of CKE Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE: CKR) -- have been selling the premium burgers for years. In fact, Hardees has just announced a new addition to its menu, a patty melt style Thickburger, also made with Angus beef.

The new burgers are part of McDonald's ongoing efforts at revitalization. Those efforts have included the introduction of new beverage choices, such as iced coffee, which is also expected to spread throughout the U.S. soon. Another part of that effort is a new advertising campaign, emphasizing career opportunities at McDonald's -- no doubt to try to change its image as a source of low-paying, dead-end jobs.

The revitalization appears to be working. Back in April, McDonald's reported a strong quarter, especially internationally. The share price has risen since then, and reached a 52-week high this morning.

CKE Restaurants Inc. (NYSE:CKR) had little choice but to say goodbye to the original Hardee's franchise in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.

The location, which was opened in 1961, was shut more than a decade ago. Birds flew out of the interior roof when it was demolished, according to the Rocky Mount Telegram. It's going to be remade into a park. The whole area around the restaurant is part of an urban renewal project, according to Peter Varney, an assistant city manager.

"It's an area that's coming back to life," Varney told me in an interview.

There was some talk about converting the restaurant into a museum of some sort, but that never got anywhere. Interestingly, Hardee's is cutting its ties with the past less than one month after Wendy's International Inc. (NYSE:WEN) shut its original location too.

Change in this case is a good thing.

Businesses both large and small can't afford to be sentimental. Demolishing the first Hardee's franchise is both in the best interest of CKE and the city of Rocky Mount.