McDonald’s first mascot was Speedee, used in the restaurant’s 1948 Speedee Service System branding.
Speedee was a chef-like character with a hamburger-shaped head. The name referred to the McDonald brothers’ emphasis on quickly prepared food, an approach that became central to their restaurant system.
Speedee appeared before Ronald McDonald and before the later McDonaldland characters. The mascot was eventually replaced as McDonald’s advertising became more focused on the Golden Arches and Ronald McDonald.
A common mix-up is identifying Ronald as McDonald’s original mascot. Ronald became the company’s best-known character, but Speedee came first and represented the earlier speed-of-service identity.