McDonald’s first mascot was Speedee, a chef used before the Golden Arches logo.
Speedee was introduced in 1948, when Richard and Maurice McDonald reorganized their San Bernardino restaurant around a faster, simpler service system. The character was drawn as a chef with a hamburger-shaped head and was associated with the restaurant’s speedy service.
The name Speedee reflected the McDonald brothers’ emphasis on quick preparation and limited menu choices. It was not the same character as Speedy Gonzales, and it was not one of the later McDonaldland figures.
McDonald’s eventually replaced Speedee in its main branding with the Golden Arches. The arches became much more recognizable as the company expanded nationally and internationally, while Speedee faded from everyday restaurant advertising.