Louie The Lightning Bug: The Electric Hero of Our Childhood

September 4, 2025

If you grew up in Harewood or anywhere across North America in the 1980s or '90s, there's a good chance you remember sitting cross-legged in the gym, eyes glued to a flickering CRT screen, as a cheerful yellow lightning bug zipped across the screen singing, "You gotta play it safe around the power lines!"

That firefly's name? Louie the Lightning Bug – and for a generation of kids, he was the high-voltage mascot of electrical safety.

Louie starred in a string of short animated PSAs throughout the 1980s and early 1990s. These short cartoons were often played in classrooms, on Saturday morning TV, and during school assemblies. They combined jazzy tunes with animated scenarios showing the real dangers of careless electrical use.

Born in the South, Raised Across the Nation

Louie the Lightning Bug made his debut in 1983, created by the Alabama Power Company to educate children about the dangers of electricity in a friendly, memorable way. His popularity quickly surged, leading to Moore Syndication Ltd. licensing the character in 1984 to power utilities across North America.

Over 50 different utility companies adopted Louie for their own safety campaigns – including many here in Canada. Manitoba Hydro was one of the largest promoters of Louie in the Great White North, launching a full-fledged children's program based around him.

Jack Sheldon: The Voice Behind the Bug

What made Louie so memorable wasn't just his zippy catchphrases or oversized lightbulb tail, it was his voice. Louie was voiced by Jack Sheldon, a jazz musician and entertainer best known for his work on Schoolhouse Rock!. His warm, playful tone brought Louie to life and helped generations of kids internalize his life-saving messages.

Louie the Lightning Bug is a bright little symbol from a time when safety was taught with songs, smiles, and sincerity. And for kids growing up in Harewood back then, he'll always be part of that warm and electric nostalgia.