Ronald McDonald replaced Speedee as McDonald’s main advertising symbol in the 1960s. The change moved the company’s public image from a speed-focused service mascot toward a character designed to appeal especially to children and families.
Speedee had represented quick service and appeared in McDonald’s earlier branding. Ronald, by contrast, was a human-like clown character whose colorful appearance made him more distinctive in television commercials, restaurant appearances and promotional materials.
Ronald’s rise did not immediately erase every other McDonald’s symbol. The Golden Arches remained the company’s primary corporate mark, while later McDonaldland characters supported Ronald in children’s advertising.
This history can be confused with the introduction of individual characters such as the Hamburglar and Grimace. Ronald came first among the best-known McDonaldland figures and became the chain’s most prominent mascot.