McDonald's pre-1962 logo featured the mascot Speedee.
Speedee was a smiling chef character created to represent the restaurant's quick-service promise. The name referred to speed, an important part of McDonald's early identity as the brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald streamlined food preparation in San Bernardino, California.
Speedee wore a chef's outfit and was shown running, making the character visually connected to fast service. He appeared before the Golden Arches became the company's dominant symbol. This is sometimes confused with Speedy Gonzales, a Warner Bros. cartoon character, but the McDonald's mascot was independently associated with the restaurant chain.
Ronald McDonald, introduced in the 1960s, later replaced Speedee in the public-facing mascot role. The Golden Arches eventually became more recognizable than either character and remain the central element of McDonald's visual branding.