8 The Kool-Aid Man - 1954

The sweet taste of Kool-Aid may date back to 1927, but the brand's mascot dates only from 1954. It began with a simple idea in need of illustration--that a 5 cent package of Kool-Aid makes 2 quarts. Inspired by his son's drawing on a frosty windowpane, one advertising executive sketched a variety of pitchers--one with a 5¢ drawn in the frost, one with a heart and one with a smiling face. Needless to say, the latter was the true hit. That anthropomorphic pitcher, known today as the Kool-Aid Man, made his television debut in 1975 when he came bursting through a wall to serve some thirsty children his drink of choice.