Buzby

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by MisstressD (talk | contribs) at 03:24, 14 February 2018. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

A badge featuring Buzby and his catchphrase
A badge featuring Buzby and his catchphrase

Buzby was a yellow (later orange) talking cartoon bird, launched in 1976 as part of a marketing campaign by Post Office Telecommunications, which later became British Telecommunications (BT).[1]

Overview

Buzby appeared in a series of television commercials with the catchphrase: "Make someone happy with a phone call".[2] Buzby's voice was provided by Bernard Cribbins.

The campaign spawned many marketing items, such as toys, badges, a comic strip in TV Comic, and books, and lasted until well into the 1980s. British Telecom produced and sold a "Buzby" wrist watch with Buzby perched on the second hand. The watch had a blue strap.

References

  1. ^ Neil McKeown, Case Studies and Projects in Communication, Routledge, 1982, pp.51-6. ISBN 0-416-30740-X.
  2. ^ Victor Bignell, Joyce Fortune, Understanding Systems Failures, Manchester University Press, 1984, p. 166, ISBN 0-7190-0973-1.