Will the last person to leave, turn out the lights...

04 February 2009

8740 Reads
5 Comments

Written by Rosalind Renshaw

Here’s a piece of trivia we thought you should know: the people who came up with the “Will the last person to leave … please turn the lights out” slogan were estate agents.

The sign went up 38 years ago in 1971 and initially read: “Will the last person leaving Seattle, turn out the lights.”

Versions of the slogan have been used worldwide ever since, especially when there are signs of an economic downturn.

It was originated by US realtors Bob McDonald and Jim Youngren, who put it up for only 15 days near an airport, when unemployment in Seattle had reached 13%.

The pair, who were selling apartments, did wonder at the time about licensing the slogan – which got them hate mail from local people. In the event they didn’t, but went on to make their money from real estate when the market turned round.

The pair are still interested in property and remain friends.

Comments

- stonehenge
Surely Mike it should be "Will the last agent to leave Rightmove ask them if we can have their PCs"
- 04 February 2009 16:26 PM
- Jim
..or herself
- 04 February 2009 12:49 PM
- Annie
How about... Will the last Agent left please congratulate himself!
- 04 February 2009 12:39 PM
- Jim
So what will the last person to get a HIP do?
- 04 February 2009 11:14 AM
- Mike
Maybe we should update it for something more appropriate for today. How about

" Will the last agent to leave Rightmove please switch off the plug"?
- 04 February 2009 10:56 AM