Speedee was McDonald’s first corporate mascot, introduced in 1948.
Speedee was a chef-like figure with a hamburger-shaped head and represented the McDonald brothers’ fast-service concept. The name connected the character to quick preparation and the limited menu used by the original restaurant.
Ronald McDonald later became the chain’s best-known character, but he did not replace Speedee until the 1960s. Another frequent confusion is with the later McDonaldland characters, which were developed for advertising rather than the original restaurant identity. Speedee’s image belonged to the company’s earliest branding system.