Ohio Edison Christmas Ads, 1959 & 1969

1959 Ohio Edison ad appearing in the Lorain Journal

It's been a while since I posted any ads featuring my favorite advertising mascot, Reddy Kilowatt. He's all over the place in Ohio Edison ads in the old Lorain Journals on microfilm at the library – almost every day in the 1950's and 60's it seems. (That's probably why I'm such a big fan of his – I was indoctrinated as a kid.)

Here are a pair of Christmas-themed ads, one from 1959 and one from 1969.

The 1959 ad (above) suggest electronic Christmas gifts of electric ranges, refrigerators, dishwashers and washer and dryers. (I'm not sure that would be such a good idea; it wouldn't fly in my house, that's for sure.) The ad has a lot going on in it; Reddy is almost an afterthought.

The ad from ten years later is smaller and a little more subdued. At least Reddy gets to play Santa.

1969 Ohio Edison ad from the Lorain Journal

In 2011, you can still buy some products from Ohio Edison. On the FirstEnergy website online store, you can buy a variety of things, including ceiling fans, lighting, portable heaters, thermostats and even water heaters.

But the Ohio Edison appliance store in downtown Lorain, selling refrigerators, electric blankets, mixers and lamps, remains a quaint memory.