Buzby

This article is about the yellow cartoon bird. For the snooker player, see Neal Foulds. For other uses, see Busby.
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]

A group of runners from British Telecommunications with mascot Buzby at a fun run in London in the 1970s

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, and the character was animated by Charlie Jenkins of Trickfilm Studios, London.[3]

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" wristwatch with Buzby perched on the second hand.[4]

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.
  3. ^ "Bernard Cribbins: Doctor Who and Wombles star dies aged 93". BBC News. July 28, 2022. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  4. ^ "Buzby". Computer Networking and Telecommunications Research, University of Salford. Retrieved 18 June 2022.


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