As the holiday season lights up Seattle once again, we’re turning the spotlight back to Seattle City Light’s holiday lighting recommendations from the early 1960s. In our Digital Collections, you’ll find both a short promotional video and a brochure that showcases how SCL encouraged customers to brighten their homes for the winter holidays with style and safety in mind.
SCL has a long history of encouraging Seattle residents to use the most sustainable and innovative forms of electricity, whether it be embracing a new electric appliance, installing solar panels, or switching to LED bulbs. In 1962, Seattle City Light produced a brief film that offers a charming glimpse into mid-century holiday traditions. In black-and-white footage, we see sample displays of interior and exterior lights as the narrator walks viewers through lighting options that will “make your whole house a glowing Christmas card” and provide a safe alternative to candles. Twinkling strands frame doorways, illuminate roof lines, and bring cheer to dining displays — all while subtly promoting thoughtful electrical use during the busy holiday season. There is even a demonstration to show users how to replace burnt-out bulbs.
Complementing the video is a circa 1960 brochure from SCL’s publications with affordable and “striking” decorations you can construct “in your basement!” This pamphlet offers examples and detailed instructions on selecting and arranging lights, reminding homeowners that thoughtful layouts can enhance both festivity and safety as winter nights grow long. Like much of City Light’s historic outreach material, the brochure reflects a moment when utilities engaged directly with customers not just on rates and reliability, but on how electricity could enrich daily life, from kitchen appliances to holiday décor.
Just in case you were wondering if it’s worth it to invest in lighting just for one month, SCL takes a practical approach and includes additional suggestions for year-round lighting use (such as backyard dinners in the summer), so that you can “enjoy decorative lighting outdoors and indoors — all year round!”
Whether you’re looking for ideas to decorate your home this season or simply exploring City Light’s past, we hope this festive throwback adds a little extra sparkle to your holidays.