McDonald's original 1948 mascot was Speedee.
Speedee was a chef-like character used to promote McDonald's early Speedee Service System, which emphasized quickly prepared hamburgers and limited menu choices. The character appeared before Ronald McDonald and before the familiar McDonaldland cast.
The Speedee Service System was introduced by Richard and Maurice McDonald at their San Bernardino restaurant after they reorganized the business in 1948. Its name described the restaurant's fast, standardized approach. Speedee's design visually connected the brand with speed and efficient service.
A common mix-up is confusing Speedee with Speedy Gonzales or assuming Ronald McDonald was the company's first mascot. Ronald first appeared in McDonald's advertising in 1963, while Speedee belonged to the earlier restaurant era. The golden arches eventually became a much stronger visual identifier than the character.