What name did McDonald's give its clown mascot when he debuted in 1963?

McDonald's gave its clown mascot the name Ronald McDonald when he debuted in 1963.

The character first appeared in a Washington, D.C., television commercial. Local franchise owner Oscar Goldstein helped develop the promotion, and television personality Willard Scott played the original Ronald. The character was designed to connect McDonald's with children and to make the restaurant instantly recognizable on television.

Ronald became the central figure of the McDonaldland advertising world, which later included characters such as the Hamburglar, Grimace, and Mayor McCheese. His costume and appearance changed over time, but the name remained consistent.

A common mix-up is confusing Ronald McDonald with Speedee. Speedee was an earlier mascot associated with the restaurant's original service-speed image. Ronald instead represented McDonald's family-oriented advertising era, which expanded rapidly during the 1960s.