McDonald's used Speedee as an early mascot before Ronald McDonald became its best-known character.
Speedee was a chef-like figure created for McDonald's original service branding. The character represented the restaurant's quick-service approach and appeared alongside the famous “Speedee Service System,” which emphasized standardized preparation and fast customer service.
The name Speedee is sometimes confused with Speedy Gonzales, the Warner Bros. cartoon character, but they are unrelated. Speedee also predates McDonald's later group of advertising characters, including the Hamburglar and Grimace.
Ronald McDonald gradually replaced Speedee as the company's central mascot during the 1960s. That change reflected McDonald's growing focus on family advertising and children's entertainment rather than only kitchen speed.