McDonald's original hamburger-selling mascot was Speedee.
Speedee was a small chef character used in McDonald's early branding during the 1940s and 1950s. The figure represented the restaurant's fast service and appeared in signage and promotional material before Ronald McDonald and the McDonaldland characters became dominant.
The name reflected the restaurant's emphasis on speed, a key part of the original McDonald's system developed by Richard and Maurice McDonald. Their San Bernardino restaurant simplified its menu and production methods to serve food quickly and consistently.
Speedee is sometimes confused with Speedy Gonzales or with later McDonald's characters. They are unrelated figures. Speedee also predates the familiar Golden Arches identity, which became the chain's principal visual symbol in the 1960s. The character's disappearance marked McDonald's shift from a speed-focused restaurant image toward a broader family-oriented brand.