What was McDonald's first corporate logo to use the stylized yellow “M” without the Speedee character?

McDonald's first corporate logo to use the stylized yellow “M” without the Speedee character was the Golden Arches logo.

The mark grew out of the large yellow arches used on McDonald's restaurants during the 1950s. In 1962, the arches were combined into an “M” shape for a more compact and portable brand symbol. The design could work on signs, packaging, uniforms, and advertising without requiring a drawing of the early mascot.

This change was important because it made the visual identity easier to reproduce consistently as the chain expanded. The arches also retained a connection to the distinctive restaurant buildings that had helped motorists recognize McDonald's.

Historical versions of the mark differ in details such as the surrounding shapes, outlines, and accompanying wordmark. Those variations should not be mistaken for entirely separate identities: they are revisions of the same Golden Arches concept.