Reddy for the New Year – 1963 & 1973

You might have been shocked that I hadn't posted any vintage Ohio Edison ads featuring our old pal Reddy Kilowatt around Christmas, wearing a Santa cap or pushing electrical gifts. Well, that's because the only ad I could find from Christmas 1962 wasn't exactly crackling with holiday cheer.

Here's the ad that ran in the Journal on Christmas Eve 1962. Reddy's there, but the focus is on the smartly dressed woman adjusting the thermostat (no doubt turning it up).

Reddy would be happy to know that my condo has a few of those baseboard units, in addition to my electric heat pump. 

A few weeks later, Reddy made another cameo appearance in an Ohio Edison sponsored ad. This one ran in the Journal on January 8, 1963.

The ad seems to be designed to evoke feelings of nostalgia. Rather than feature a young, hip mother, a grandmotherly type is shown cooking on her electric range. Meanwhile, the granddaughter attempts to keep a tray of food away from the hungry family dog. Perhaps the goal of the ad is to win over the skeptical older consumer.

Fast forward to January 1973, and Reddy was well on his way of losing his power as an advertising mascot, with very few appearances in ads. But he did kick off the New Year with this simple ad, which appeared in the Journal back on January 15, 1973.

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Reddy would be pleased that recently, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission is considering taking regulatory action regarding the health hazards posed by gas stoves. Here's the story.