ladbible homepage
ladbible homepage
  • iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK
    • US
    • World
    • Ireland
    • Australia
    • Science
    • Crime
    • Weather
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV
    • Film
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • Netflix
    • Disney
  • Sport
  • Technology
  • Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • Money
  • Originals
    • FFS PRODUCTIONS
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content Here
  • SPORTbible
  • Tyla
  • GAMINGbible
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • FOODbible
  • UNILAD Tech
McDonald’s had an original mascot before Ronald McDonald that had to be replaced

Home> Lifestyle> Food & Drink

Published 21:19 20 Oct 2023 GMT+1

McDonald’s had an original mascot before Ronald McDonald that had to be replaced

McDonald's original mascot is still branded in some of their oldest restaurants.

Anish Vij

Anish Vij

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

Maccies fans you might be in for a shock after finding out that Ronald McDonald was not the original McDonald's mascot.

And the real reason why the OG mascot was ditched has now been revealed.

From what I can remember growing up, getting a Maccies happy meal was the highlight of the day, playing with the cheap toy once and never using it again.

Advert

And the image of the iconic McDonald's clown was always attached to the experience.

Ronald was the primary mascot of the American fast-food chain for over 50 years, first portrayed on TV by Willard Scott in 1963.

Willard Scott in an early McDonald's commercial.
McDonald's

Although Ronald McDonald still remains in some restaurants around the world, McDonald's distanced themselves from the mascot after the killer clown craze began to appear on social media back in August 2016.

Around the world, people in clown masks would display acts of violence ahead of an upcoming horror movie, and in Florida, an incident took place which saw a family being attacked by a group of 20 people in clown masks.

McDonald's released a statement at the time, which read: "McDonald's and franchisees in the local markets are mindful of the current climate around clown sightings in communities and as such are being thoughtful in respect to Ronald McDonald's participation in community events for the time being."

Despite 2016 largely being the end of McDonald's clown, it turns out here was actually a mascot before him called Speedee - a chef whose face was a hamburger.

Speedee was the OG McDonald's mascot.
McDonald's fandom

Speedee was the first ever McDonald's mascot and was also the first company logo before the use of the Golden Arches design from 1962.

Sadly for Speedee, the mascot was short-lived after people started confusing him with Alka-Seltzer's mascot Speedy, according to Delish.

However, another reason why Speedee was ditched, according to Alan Hess's research for the Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, was because it lacked a connection with consumers.

"Market research showed that people identified McDonald's primarily with the golden arches [instead of Speedee]," the journal reads.

The good thing is, Maccies fans can still take a look at good ol' Speedee, who's hamburger-shaped head remains on show at the oldest McDonald's outlet in Downey, California.

Just last year, a man was shocked to discover a 60-year-old McDonald's meal in the walls of his bathroom.

Rob discussed the bizarre find further with Newsweek, explaining he is currently renovating both his kitchen and bathroom and that he found the McDonald's while removing a fixture.

The McDonald's bags had somehow been perfectly preserved.
u/slamminsammy2109/Reddit

"I noticed a piece of cloth stuck behind plaster and pulled it out to show my wife," he said. "It was balled up and we could tell there was something else inside.

"When we unwrapped it and found the old McDonald's bag and fries we were very surprised and grateful that is all we found hidden."

And guess what, Speedee's hamburger head was on the packaging.

Featured Image Credit: James Leynse/Corbis via Getty Images / Matt Cardy/Getty Images

Topics: McDonalds, Food And Drink

Anish Vij
Anish Vij

Anish is a Journalist at LADbible Group and is a GG2 Young Journalist of the Year 2025. He has a Master's degree in Multimedia Journalism and a Bachelor's degree in International Business Management. Apart from that, his life revolves around the ‘Four F’s’ - family, friends, football and food. Email: [email protected]

X

@Anish_Vij

Recommended reads

Oldest man in the US reveals key secrets for a long and healthy lifeFOX 5 New YorkDana White has bizarre response after being caught up in shooting at White House correspondents’ dinner(X)US government condemned by Pope as they bring back 17th-century execution methodChip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesMichael Jackson’s 'second family' claim he abused four kids as details emerge from new lawsuitDave Hogan/Getty Images

Advert

Choose your content:

2 hours ago
a day ago
3 days ago
  • Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
    2 hours ago

    Jet2, easyJet, British Airways and Ryanair fuel latest as Government says airlines will be forced to cancel flights

    The major airlines have issued an update amid ongoing travel concerns

    Lifestyle
  • Channel 4
    a day ago

    ‘Hotwife’ explains why sleeping with other men doesn’t count as cheating

    She's been with her husband for 17 years, now they're into 'hotwifing'

    Lifestyle
  • Mateusz Wlodarczyk/NurPhoto via Getty Images
    a day ago

    Airlines will be forced to cancel flights due to fuel shortages, Government says

    They've said holiday plans should go ahead, but some flights will be cancelled

    Lifestyle
  • Getty Stock Image
    3 days ago

    Travel expert explains detail 'that's never mentioned' as Brits fear holiday flights will be cancelled

    It was recently warned that Europe has around 'six weeks of jet fuel left'

    Lifestyle
  • McDonald’s fans fuming over decision to secretly remove hugely popular menu item
  • Chilling reason Ronald McDonald was phased out and is no longer seen
  • Doctor issues warning to anyone using McDonald’s fries and coke to ‘fix’ migraine better than medication
  • McDonald’s fans left in shock after finding out what is in Sweet ’N Sour dip