The Atlas Obscura Podcast · Tuesday, July 14, 2026
The iconic Kool-Aid Man mascot, widely recognized today, was not created by Edwin Perkins. The character was developed by an advertising executive at General Foods after Perkins sold his business in the 1950s. The Kool-Aid Man made its first appearance in 1975, long after the invention of the powdered drink itself.
“Funny enough, the Kool-Aid Man character that is so famous today didn't really come about until after Edwin left the company. He sold the business in the 1950s to General Foods. And the Kool-Aid Man was a fever dream, shall we say, created by an advertising executive who worked there.”