Buzby

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]

A badge featuring Buzby and his catchphrase

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. Animated by Charlie Jenkins of Trickfilm Studios, London.

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.


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