Speedee was the McDonald's mascot replaced by Ronald McDonald as the brand's main symbol in the 1960s.
Speedee was a chef-like character used in McDonald's early branding. His name referred to the restaurant's Speedee Service System, the operating model created by Richard and Maurice McDonald when they redesigned their San Bernardino restaurant in 1948.
The Speedee character appeared on early signs and promotional material, but McDonald's later needed a more distinctive personality for television and family marketing. Ronald McDonald was introduced in 1963 and gradually became the chain's best-known character.
A common mix-up is assuming Ronald was McDonald's first mascot. Speedee came earlier, while other characters, including the Hamburglar, Grimace, and Birdie, were added later to expand the brand's fictional cast.