Greg and Tammy’s 1953 Kelvinator Foodarama — before, after & inside — 10 pics
pam kueber - Updated: October 28, 2021
Retro Renovation stopped publishing in 2021; these stories remain for historical information, as potential continued resources, and for archival purposes.
The Kelvinator Foodarama “before”:
The Kelvinator Foodarama “after”:
Inside “before:
Inside “after”
Close up of what’s for breakfast:
After seeing Greg and Tammy’s fabulous retro red farm house kitchen remodel, there was call to see more of the Kelvinator Foodarama refrigerator. I had been planning it — already had the “before” shot of the behemoth before Greg repainted it with auto body “safety red.” But then Greg sent more photos and Oh My Gosh, look at this refrigerator. I had no idea. It is gorgeous inside. I waaaaaant that Breakfast Bar. I ask Greg what is the model year and he writes:
Pam I think it’s a 1953 model. It was very complete when we got it, Breakfast bar, juice containers, 4 of 6 original ice trays, banana bin. The only major thing missing was the saran wrap holder. The refrigerator trays roll out, the metal freezer shelves actually have the cooling tubes attached; it will freeze ice cubes in 20 minutes.
The original owner from Altoona, Pa, a lady named Belle, took great care of this classic. We consider ourselves caretakers of this fabulous Kelvinator Foodarama!
Am attaching more interior pics. Please include the one with our 14-year old, Shane. He would be thrilled!
Tks!
Well, tks, to you, Greg!
Patrick C. and Helen S., what do you think?: Is the Foodarama more elusive – hence desirable — than a built-in Revco???
Great job – it looks sweet! Too bad you couldn’t get your milk in a glass quart!
Robyn Cartersays
What an amazing and beautiful work of kitchen art! I’d like one in turquoise please to match my other appliances if you please……please? Pretty please? Thanks to Greg and Tammy for showing us another facet in the beautiful diamond of vintage appliances.
Dear Robyn, We are about to put ours up for sale. You can have it painted in whatever turquoise matches your other appliances exactly! We will be shooting some pictures of it over the next week.
They don’t make ’em like this anymore. Too bad. That thing’ll be around for generations. Spic n Span clean up job on it.
Marysays
Just the name alone–Foodarama–is awesome! “Honey, can I get you anything from the Foodarama?”
Gregsays
Hi all Retro fans. We were really bowled over by all the nice comments. Thanks! We thought the fridge was cool, just neat to see others did too! There were so many comments & questions, thought I would try to address at least a few.
The year-I was told it could be as early as a 1953. A related post from Patrick leads me to believie it’s a 1955.
The 1950’s “Flash”. It was designed, built and bought by the “Greatest Generation” when America was at it’s best. It has style, durability and functionality that todays stainless items w/electronic gizmos can’t come close to.
The 11cu ft- several thought this was small compared to modern stuff. All that 11 cu ft is very useable. Tammy loves the appearance, but the functionality just as much. We had a monster Kenmore side by side and it doesn’t come close to what the Foodarama will hold.
The Resto- It is was what they call in the vintage car world, a “light restoration”. The inside was very well preserved; didn’t do anything but clean it. Even the original seals were still good. Put on a new power cord. Did not disassemble the handles, or emblems. Those items are really hard to find & I was scared to death to break anything. Just carefully taped up. Fixed some dents incurred in previous moves, primered and painted with PPG Safety Red basecoat/clearcoat.
We are from West Virginia and I loved the “Big Boy” restaurants growing up. Thought they turned into Shoneys?
Why they stopped making the Foodarama? I think it grew more narrow as time went on and it just became too much like the other side by sides. I think I saw an ad for one from the early 1970’s?
Eight original colors in 1955; Bermuda Pink, Spring Green, Fern Green, Dove Gray, Sand Beige, Laguna Blue two yellows; Buttercup & one I couldn’t read off an old ad, (attached below). Have seen maybe one original color other than white. In the 1960’s Kelvinator ads showed lots of different colors and finishes you could get on a Foodarama.
Hadn’t mentioned to Pam, but her post on that later Foodarama is what really spurned our search. Tammy LOVED that thing. As TappanTrailerTammy? noted they are really hard to find, (wonder why, low production, or lower quality than the ‘50’s?) Anyway we looked high and low and eventually found and fell in love with Belle’s Foodarama.
Thanks Greg! Woot! I do love the look of Big Chills suggested upthread but ($$$) and not as cool as the Foodarama it’s sort of like putting a fiberglass classic kit on a Camry, you know?
Woot, I love knowing the original colours. (and TWO shades of green…!) Red is a pretty sexy hotrod choice though!
Jordannasays
I am in LOVE! It’s perfect.
Does anyone know what the original 8 colours were? I am tired to death of only having my choice of white, black, and stainless. But what were those other colours?
I’d love to know what original ones there were.
The red looks brilliant in their kitchen.
I sort of wonder about green for mine though.
CC in Virginiasays
Have you looked at Big Chill refrigerators? You can most definitely order one in green, any shade of green, or any other color for that matter. They’re not Kelvinators but they would add a nice retro feel to any kitchen.Their ad pops up on this site quite often but here is the link in case you need it: http://www.bigchill.com
The Big Chills look awesome, but they’re so darn expensive.
Annsays
If you want to change the out side color of the fridge, you can spray paint. I spray painted the bottom of my fridge yellow and on my oven, I strayed the bottom drawer, control knobs and oven door handle the same yellow. I recommend Rustolum’s Spray paint. I think Home Depot was were I found the best selection of Rustolum spray paint. Buy more cans than you think you’ll need, you can always return the unused cans with the receipt
Michaelsays
I don’t think I’ve ever felt refrigerator lust before. Wow!
Ruthsays
I went weak there for a minute. What a beauty!
rosesays
I didn’t know I could fall in love with a refrigerator…love at first sight!
Jan says
Great job – it looks sweet! Too bad you couldn’t get your milk in a glass quart!
Robyn Carter says
What an amazing and beautiful work of kitchen art! I’d like one in turquoise please to match my other appliances if you please……please? Pretty please? Thanks to Greg and Tammy for showing us another facet in the beautiful diamond of vintage appliances.
Todd Kimmell says
Dear Robyn, We are about to put ours up for sale. You can have it painted in whatever turquoise matches your other appliances exactly! We will be shooting some pictures of it over the next week.
Todd
The Grand Review
Ardmore, PA
SO says
This would be a 1955……..no foodarama’s in ’53
denice rochelle says
They don’t make ’em like this anymore. Too bad. That thing’ll be around for generations. Spic n Span clean up job on it.
Mary says
Just the name alone–Foodarama–is awesome! “Honey, can I get you anything from the Foodarama?”
Greg says
Hi all Retro fans. We were really bowled over by all the nice comments. Thanks! We thought the fridge was cool, just neat to see others did too! There were so many comments & questions, thought I would try to address at least a few.
The year-I was told it could be as early as a 1953. A related post from Patrick leads me to believie it’s a 1955.
The 1950’s “Flash”. It was designed, built and bought by the “Greatest Generation” when America was at it’s best. It has style, durability and functionality that todays stainless items w/electronic gizmos can’t come close to.
The 11cu ft- several thought this was small compared to modern stuff. All that 11 cu ft is very useable. Tammy loves the appearance, but the functionality just as much. We had a monster Kenmore side by side and it doesn’t come close to what the Foodarama will hold.
The Resto- It is was what they call in the vintage car world, a “light restoration”. The inside was very well preserved; didn’t do anything but clean it. Even the original seals were still good. Put on a new power cord. Did not disassemble the handles, or emblems. Those items are really hard to find & I was scared to death to break anything. Just carefully taped up. Fixed some dents incurred in previous moves, primered and painted with PPG Safety Red basecoat/clearcoat.
We are from West Virginia and I loved the “Big Boy” restaurants growing up. Thought they turned into Shoneys?
Why they stopped making the Foodarama? I think it grew more narrow as time went on and it just became too much like the other side by sides. I think I saw an ad for one from the early 1970’s?
Eight original colors in 1955; Bermuda Pink, Spring Green, Fern Green, Dove Gray, Sand Beige, Laguna Blue two yellows; Buttercup & one I couldn’t read off an old ad, (attached below). Have seen maybe one original color other than white. In the 1960’s Kelvinator ads showed lots of different colors and finishes you could get on a Foodarama.
Hadn’t mentioned to Pam, but her post on that later Foodarama is what really spurned our search. Tammy LOVED that thing. As TappanTrailerTammy? noted they are really hard to find, (wonder why, low production, or lower quality than the ‘50’s?) Anyway we looked high and low and eventually found and fell in love with Belle’s Foodarama.
Thanks to all!
Here are a couple links;
A 1955 ad that Patrick posted previously
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-1955-Kelvinator-Foodarama-Refrigerator-Freezer-Cute-Little-Girl-Print-Ad-/360443829995?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item53ec205eeb#ht_2806wt_879
This one is cool. Hover your cursor over each part of the fridge and it will bring up a highlight about each feature.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/miehana/3300111148/
Jordanna says
Thanks Greg! Woot! I do love the look of Big Chills suggested upthread but ($$$) and not as cool as the Foodarama it’s sort of like putting a fiberglass classic kit on a Camry, you know?
Woot, I love knowing the original colours. (and TWO shades of green…!) Red is a pretty sexy hotrod choice though!
Jordanna says
I am in LOVE! It’s perfect.
Does anyone know what the original 8 colours were? I am tired to death of only having my choice of white, black, and stainless. But what were those other colours?
I’d love to know what original ones there were.
The red looks brilliant in their kitchen.
I sort of wonder about green for mine though.
CC in Virginia says
Have you looked at Big Chill refrigerators? You can most definitely order one in green, any shade of green, or any other color for that matter. They’re not Kelvinators but they would add a nice retro feel to any kitchen.Their ad pops up on this site quite often but here is the link in case you need it: http://www.bigchill.com
Atomic Auntie says
The Big Chills look awesome, but they’re so darn expensive.
Ann says
If you want to change the out side color of the fridge, you can spray paint. I spray painted the bottom of my fridge yellow and on my oven, I strayed the bottom drawer, control knobs and oven door handle the same yellow. I recommend Rustolum’s Spray paint. I think Home Depot was were I found the best selection of Rustolum spray paint. Buy more cans than you think you’ll need, you can always return the unused cans with the receipt
Michael says
I don’t think I’ve ever felt refrigerator lust before. Wow!
Ruth says
I went weak there for a minute. What a beauty!
rose says
I didn’t know I could fall in love with a refrigerator…love at first sight!