The 1961 McDonald's logo placed a diagonal line inside the Golden Arches.
The mark was designed by Jim Schindler and combined the two arches into a recognizable corporate symbol. The diagonal stroke helped turn the architectural arches into a distinct logo rather than simply reproducing the shape of a restaurant building.
This detail is frequently confused with later versions of the logo. The modern “Golden Arches” symbol is usually seen as a simple yellow M, while earlier versions included additional graphic elements and the company name. Logo changes reflected McDonald's move from an individual restaurant design toward a standardized international brand.
The arches themselves originated in the architecture of McDonald's restaurants. Their later use as a logo made them one of the world's most recognizable commercial symbols.