What was the name of McDonald’s first cartoon mascot?

McDonald’s first cartoon mascot was Speedee.

Speedee was introduced in 1948, when the McDonald brothers reorganized their restaurant around a faster, more standardized service model. The character was a smiling chef with a hamburger-shaped head, and his name referred to the restaurant’s emphasis on speed. Speedee appeared in early signs and promotional material before the company adopted its later cast of characters.

The mascot reflected the McDonald brothers’ “Speedee Service System,” which simplified the menu and used an assembly-line approach to prepare food. That system became a major part of the operating model later expanded by Ray Kroc through franchising.

Speedee is sometimes confused with Ronald McDonald, who appeared later and became the company’s most famous character. The Golden Arches also replaced the Speedee character in much of the visual identity during the 1960s, although Speedee remains important in McDonald’s branding history.