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Reddy Kilowatt, was a long-time symbol for the electric utility business in the United States. Reddy was invented by Ashton B. Collins, Sr., who worked for Alabama Power Company. Reddy debuted on March 11, 1926 as the symbol for electric service.

With the advent of nuclear power, he became known as Reddy Kilowatt, The Mighty Atom.

Ironically, he has SPIKES on his head -- although they are positioned more like Cobalt or Uran. I remember this guy and his name (Reddy Kilowatt) but NOT that he was ever called the Mighty Atom.

The coloring book is from 1959, and the other memorabilia appears to be from the early-mid 60's - exactly the same time Astro Boy premiered in the US. So there you go . . . Tezuka COULDN'T use "Mighty Atom" in America, because of Reddy Kilowatt. Otherwise, it's obvious he would have been know as Atom here, too!

Here's a link to a Yahoo group for fans of Reddy Kilowatt. I'm tempted to join and enlighten them to the REAL Mighty Atom :d evil:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/themightyatom/

BUT LOOK!! The trademark HAS EXPIRED!!! YAAAY!! Astro CAN be Atom now!!
http://www.trademarkia.com/reddy-kilowatt-the-mighty-atom-72015903.html

And Reddy Kilowatt was the star of a education motion picture "The Mighty Atom"
http://advertisingiconmuseum.org/inside/c5/3237019.html

WoW! I so didn't know that, so that's why he couldn't use the name mighty Atom
thanks April

Oh that makes so much since Thanks for inlightening us

So this is the character Astro Forever mentioned in a thread I started earlier? Wow, good find April! Although I will admit I am starting to prefer Atom over Astro. But that's a different discussion.

Urgh. No. Just no.

"Ghost" wrote:So this is the character Astro Forever mentioned in a thread I started earlier?

Probably, I had never seen it before either! I think it was somebody else on this forum who had mentioned this many years ago.

Very nice finding, AprilSeven, congratulations!

It took me a long time, but I think I have gotten used to "Atom" enough, and would rather call him that now. It's more special than "Astro".

"AprilSeven" wrote:Reddy Kilowatt, was a long-time symbol for the electric utility business in the United States. Reddy was invented by Ashton B. Collins, Sr., who worked for Alabama Power Company. Reddy debuted on March 11, 1926 as the symbol for electric service.

With the advent of nuclear power, he became known as Reddy Kilowatt, The Mighty Atom.

Ironically, he has SPIKES on his head -- although they are positioned more like Cobalt or Uran. I remember this guy and his name (Reddy Kilowatt) but NOT that he was ever called the Mighty Atom.

The coloring book is from 1959, and the other memorabilia appears to be from the early-mid 60's - exactly the same time Astro Boy premiered in the US. So there you go . . . Tezuka COULDN'T use "Mighty Atom" in America, because of Reddy Kilowatt. Otherwise, it's obvious he would have been know as Atom here, too!

Here's a link to a Yahoo group for fans of Reddy Kilowatt. I'm tempted to join and enlighten them to the REAL Mighty Atom :d evil:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/themightyatom/

BUT LOOK!! The trademark HAS EXPIRED!!! YAAAY!! Astro CAN be Atom now!!
http://www.trademarkia.com/reddy-kilowatt-the-mighty-atom-72015903.html

And Reddy Kilowatt was the star of a education motion picture "The Mighty Atom"
http://advertisingiconmuseum.org/inside/c5/3237019.html

Cute theory, but I think I will stick with the official reason already stated by Fred Ladd in his book, "Astro Boy and Anime Come to the Americas", mainly because he was there. But then again what if his book is just a big ruse to throw us off the scent of the real reason! Makes one want to go, hmm!

I

Thats a great find

I tend to agree, ASTROBUDDY; yet, FL recalls things from long ago, & I having briefly studied the fallibility of human memory, think that there may have been several reasons, & FL mentioned only the one relevant to cartoons. Moreover, I learned of a strong man who called himself MIGHTY ATOM, simply by googling that term. I should watch the FL interviews on the Rhino KTWL set, just be be thorough.

I do admit that this Kilowatt guy would be more well-known than either a strong man or a cartoon character, so there may be something to it.