McDonald's original restaurant mascot before Ronald McDonald was Speedee.
Speedee appeared in the late 1940s as a chef-like figure connected to the McDonald brothers' speedy service concept. His name directly communicated the operational promise that customers would receive food quickly from a streamlined menu.
The mascot was part of the brand before McDonald's developed the larger fantasy world associated with Ronald McDonald and other characters. This makes Speedee an important link between the original San Bernardino restaurant system and later national advertising.
Speedee is sometimes mistaken for a later McDonald's character because several mascots appeared in restaurant signs and commercials. However, Ronald McDonald was the clown introduced in the 1960s, while Speedee belonged to the earlier branding era.