Wrong again, it was started as a franchise in 1952 with Sanders running it and was national in the 1960s, they were partners with the Big Boy franchise system in the nation Sander's sold it because it taxed him physically as well as fiscally, it stressed him. He sold it to Brown in exchange for lifetime employment security ie official company spokesperson.
KFC was featured in the James Bond film Goldfinger in 1964, filmed in 1963, it was well known by then...
Seriously? Probably the one where I ate.
I believe the franchises you speak of were independent restaurants with a contract with the Colonel. I don't believe it was called Kentucky Fried Chicken until it was sold in 1963