McDonald's first mascot was Speedee, shown on the restaurant chain's early Speedee Service System logo.
Speedee was a small chef character associated with the McDonald brothers' original service concept. The name referred to fast preparation and service, which were central to the restaurant's operating model when it opened in San Bernardino, California, in 1940.
The character appeared before Ronald McDonald and before the Golden Arches became the company's dominant visual symbol. Speedee was eventually retired as McDonald's branding shifted toward the arches and the clown mascot.
A common mix-up is confusing Speedee with Speedy, the cartoon-style name sometimes used in other restaurant or delivery branding. McDonald's early mascot was specifically spelled Speedee, and the character was tied to the phrase “Speedee Service System.”