Alex the Dog
Alex the Dog was the advertising mascot for Stroh's beer in the 1980s and precursor to Budweiser's Spuds MacKenzie.[1] At the peak of his career, Alex appeared in parades, on Good Morning America, and the Today show. He even inspired a series of toys, posters, cologne, shampoo and hand lotion.[2] Hip-hop artist Tone Loc referenced Alex the Dog in his song "Funky Cold Medina".[3] CommercialsPeter Blum, the archivist for Stroh's, describes Alex's most famous commercial:
BackgroundThe dog who portrayed Alex was Banjo, who was part Golden Retriever and Irish Setter. He was found by a trainer at an animal shelter.[2] Alex served as the Stroh's dog from around 1984 until 1989 when the creators of the Alex the Dog commercials, Lowe Marschalk (Seth Werner, copywriter; Gary Ennis, art director; and Paul T Norwich, account supervisor), lost the contract with Stroh's. Comedian Brian Regan served as Alex's campaign manager during Alex's Presidential campaign. Banjo died of cancer a few years after the advertising campaign ended.[2] See alsoReferences
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