#9: Speedee, the Original McDonald’s Mascot

Most of us associate McDonald’s with the famous clown, Ronald McDonald. Ronald’s group of hungry friends also includes characters like Grimace and The Hamburglar. However, McDonald’s had another mascot largely forgotten by modern-day fast-food fans. Enter: Speedee. Speedee was the very first McDonald’s logo. He’s even older than the chain’s famous Golden Arches. 

Sadly, Speedee didn’t last long. The fast-food chain quickly discovered that the animated chef didn’t connect with consumers. It didn’t even help that he held a sign saying, “I’m Speedee.” Speedee was replaced by the famous red-haired clown in the early 1960s. He remains an underappreciated icon from the ‘50s because he was never featured in any commercials. Poor Speedee.