Speedee was the character in McDonald's logo before the Golden Arches. He was a smiling chef-like figure created for the original Speedee Service System, which emphasized quick food preparation and service.
The McDonald brothers introduced the Speedee Service System in 1948 after reorganizing their San Bernardino, California, restaurant. Speedee visually connected the restaurant to the idea of speed, which was central to the brothers' streamlined production methods.
The character was eventually replaced as McDonald's visual identity changed. The Golden Arches became increasingly prominent during the 1950s and early 1960s, while Speedee disappeared from the company's main branding. This is why older McDonald's signs and advertisements can look very different from the familiar modern logo.
Speedee is sometimes confused with later McDonald's characters such as Ronald McDonald or the Hamburglar. Those characters belonged to the company's later advertising world, whereas Speedee represented the restaurant's original service concept.