Rare Coke Advertising Premium ~  Frozen Coca-Cola's  Frosty Boy ~ 1969 ~ New In Original Package ~ Collectible

This little product mascot guy has caused quite a stir in the Bonanza chat board General Forum. A few days ago, I posed the question, "Who is this character?" and the search to solve the mystery was on.

Bonanza member Burresscollectables thought he "looks kinda like the characters in Rankin Bass productions (Rudoph the Red Nose Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, etc.)." Cindy'sDolls chimed in that he may be associated with Klondike Bars' advertising. TheHotAttic suggested (with tongue in cheek): "A Dollar Store elf with whiplash?"

Without an attached tag and only a sticker that says "MFGD. FROM ALL NEW TYPE MATERIAL. REG. PA. NO. 251 MAINE REG. NO. 93 MASS. LIC. NO. 195 OHIO 6339 (N.C.) Chase Bag Co.Reidsville, N.C." the plot to this mystery thickened.

Is he worth $1.00 or $1,000? To continue...

AntiquesRGreat found similar dolls for Chiquita Banana, Ronald McDonald, Eskimo Pie and Burger King, but not this one.

Ladykikiforever found the Pillsbury Doughboy from the same company, but our little boy's identity was still a mystery, and he wasn't talking!

Rice Krispie doll, Tootsie Pops, Waldo, Burger King promo, Bob's Big Boy, Lucky Charms Guy, the old fighting Irish mascot  ...the trusty Bonanza sleuths on the General Forum remained hot on the trail.

"He's giving me a headache," said AntiquesRGreat. Yes, but after over 1500 posts, it was evident that inquiring minds wanted to know.

The day after I posted my query, and after much ado about something--namely, this cute little rosy-cheeked red-headed guy in a blue and white striped jumpsuit wearing a Christmas elf hat--Ladykikiforever typed in the words we were glued to our computers waiting to see... "I found him!!!" (Yes, she typed 3 exclamation points!) She found a web page showing a "Coca-Cola Bottle Frosty Boy Ornament." There he was...the smile, the striped shirt...indeed he was my little guy!

Now that we knew who he was, the search got easier. SharonsVintage jumped into the fray and said she found him in Petretti’s Coca-Cola collectibles book on page 252. The entry said he was from1969 and worth $100. "The only difference is that he has "Drink Coka Cola" on his hat," Sharon wrote.

OMG...does this mean that mine somehow slipped out of the factory without his Coca-Cola branding on his cap? Perhaps he is an error doll which would make him even MORE valuable? What we  know is that according to Petretti's, this character was part of the Frozen Coca-Cola introduction in 1969 which was short lived. Frozen Coca Cola, Sharon says, was like a Coca-Cola slurpee.

I learned that this type of doll is called an "ad doll," "stuffed rag doll," or "pillow doll."

So that's the scoop.This guy even pre-dates the Coca Cola bear.

If you're read this far, than this 16-inch, forever-smiling, new-in--original-plastic bag, no-longer-a-mystery guy has intrigued you, as he has me, and lots of folks in the Bonanza Forum.

Take him home today. After all, when someone asks where you got him, you'll have a great story to tell!

UPDATE 8/2/11: Heard from the president of the Coca-Cola Collectors Association who said that my Frosty Boy in mint condition is valued at $50 - $70 in today's market. I lowered the price to $29.