Speedee was the name of McDonald’s first official character, introduced in 1948.
Speedee was depicted as a small chef-like figure and represented the restaurant’s original Speedee Service System. Richard and Maurice McDonald introduced that system when they reorganized their San Bernardino restaurant around a limited menu, assembly-line preparation, and fast counter service.
The character appeared in early McDonald’s signs and promotional materials before Ronald McDonald became the company’s best-known mascot. Speedee’s name emphasized speed, which was a central selling point of the original restaurant concept.
Speedee is often confused with later McDonald’s characters because all were used to communicate the brand to children and families. Unlike Ronald McDonald, however, Speedee was closely tied to the restaurant’s operating method rather than to a broad fictional advertising world.