What is the History of Speedy Alka-Seltzer?
Radio Actor, Dick Beals was the voice of Speedy Alka-Seltzer on our Alka-Seltzer commercials. Speedy Alka-Seltzer was originally known as Sparky, but the name was changed by a sales manager, Perry L. Shupert, to reflect that year’s promotional theme, “Speedy Relief”. The Speedy Alka-Seltzer character was created at the Wade Ad Agency in 1951. The original working model was 6 inches tall and sculpted by Duke Russell. It appeared in more than 200 commercials over a 10 year period from 1954-1964. In 1955 a vinyl Speedy Alka-Seltzer doll was created.
