The Hastings Museum of Natural and Cultural History in Hastings, Nebraska — the official birthplace of Kool-Aid — received a donated costume of Kool-Aid Man from Kool-Aid earlier this year. The current-day Kool-Aid Man cut the ribbon for the exhibit last week during the annual "Kool-Aid Days" celebration.

As children from the 1970s will remember, the Kool-Aid Man's first TV appearances included coming to the rescue of hot, thirsty children by crashing through walls when summoned with the phrase "Hey, Kool-Aid!" Instantly, the ground began to rumble as the Kool-Aid Man amusingly crashed onto the scene shouting "Oh, Yeah!" He saved the day by providing fruity refreshment to everyone.

The original costume was made in 1975 with fiberglass, which facilitated his wall-crashing entrances. Fittingly, the museum display depicts the Kool-Aid Man costume bursting through a brick wall. The Kool-Aid Man character began as an extension of the brand's famous smile-faced pitcher.

Originally dubbed the "Pitcher Man," he first appeared as just a pitcher with a face and legs — arms were added shortly thereafter. In 1994, a computer generated version looked slightly more mature. His pitcher head became a little more slender, making him a little taller and more proportionally-shaped. His arms and legs became sturdier and more defined, giving him a more human look (at least, that's what this corporate press release thinks...).

Today, his costume consists of a multicolored striped shirt, blue jeans, and sneakers. [08/29/1999]

February 10, 2012