Bonzo, the little dog with the crinkly face, was born in England in the time between the world wars. The inventor of Bonzo was George Studdy (23rd June 1878 – 25th July 1948). Bonzo belongs to the same generation as Felix the Cat, which was created by Pat Sullivan in the US. Mickey Mouse is a bit younger than these two characters. When Mickey was born, Bonzo the Dog was already a hit on both sides of the Atlantic.

In 1918 The Sketch magazine in England became interested in drawings people called the Studdy Dog sketches, and The Sketch wanted to publish a series of these drawings for six months. The series turned out to be such a success that the dog became a regular feature in the magazine for years. The figure grew gradually from just a dog to a comic strip character. In response to public demands, the character was eventually given a name. On 8th November 1922 “This week’s Studdy” became “This week’s Bonzo”.

Surprisingly enough, the name was indifferent to George Studdy. The name “Bonzo” was invented by Bruce Ingram, the editor of the magazine

The first animated film starring Bonzo was called “A Sausage Snatching Sensation”. The film made its debut on 14th October 1924 as a cartoon that was shown before the real film. In the wonderland of movies, in the United States, Felix the Cat was already a film star. The Bonzo animation started the European cartoon boom.

Bonzo has worked hard also as a salesman. George Studdy was a smoker and so was Bonzo the Dog. In 1925 Bonzo smoked a ”Pinnace” cigarette in a huge illuminated advertising hoarding at Piccadilly Circus. In magazines, Bonzo has advertised almost anything from razor blades to black enamel paint.

Bonzo was commercialised efficiently. The funny little dog could be seen in ashtrays and bottles of perfume, not to mention shaped soaps and napkin holders. Anything from chocolate moulds to desktop clocks was made either with or in the image of Bonzo. The Valentine’s Postcards of Dundee hit the gold mine with their Bonzo postcards. Chad Valley and Dean’s Rag Book Company in England made the first velvet Bonzo soft toys. Bonzo toys were made of gutta-percha and celluloid e.g. in Japan and Germany. For collectors, there is an endless range of Bonzo collectables. Original Bonzo items are reproduced even now.

Both children and adults love Bonzo the Dog. The cute puppy may not be all that innocent when it comes to smoking and drinking, for example, but as a soft toy it gives comfort and brings joy to people of all ages.

To us Finns, Bonzo is a character from a children’s song and a homemade, chubby soft toy. Bonzo has rolling eyes and joyfully swinging ears - and what’s most important – the homemade Bonzo has his tongue sticking out!