McDonald's original chef-like mascot, introduced before Ronald McDonald, was Speedee.
Speedee first appeared in McDonald's branding in 1948, when the restaurant was still associated with the McDonald brothers' early drive-in business in San Bernardino, California. The character was designed as a smiling chef and represented the restaurant's emphasis on quickly prepared food.
Speedee's name referred to the brothers' “Speedee Service System,” an operating method that simplified the menu and standardized preparation. This system became an important predecessor to modern fast-food service.
Ronald McDonald eventually became the chain's best-known character, but he did not replace Speedee immediately. The Golden Arches and other visual symbols also grew in importance as McDonald's expanded nationally. Speedee is therefore often confused with later McDonaldland characters, although he belongs to the company's earlier branding era.