Post by tikibob on May 24, 2006 4:49:16 GMT -5
The Frito Bandito
FRITO BANDITO SONG
Aye, yii, yii, yiiii,
I am the Frito Bandito.
I like Frito's Corn Chips,
I love them I do.
I want Frito's Corn Chips,
I'll get them from you.
*****
Aye, yii, yii, yiiii,
Oh, I am the Frito Bandito.
Give me Frito Corn chips
And I'll be your friend.
The Frito Bandito
You must not offend.
The Frito Bandito, - Stereotypical Mexican bandit (voice of Mel Blanc) with a large brim hat, pot belly and slurred English accent seen in a number of Frito Lay Corn Chip commercials in the late 1960s. In 1969, under pressure from the Mexican Anti-Defamation Committee, who claimed the Frito Bandito character's "sneaky thief" image was damaging to the Mexican-American culture, the executives at Frito Lay were forced to revaluate the Frito Bandito campaign. Soon after, all the Bandito commercials were pulled off the air. He was replaced by W. C. Fritos. Apparently, Frito-Lay expected fewer headaches from an actor who was safely dead. But Frito-Lay took the point of view that these were merely pressure groups flexing their political muscles, and didn't reflect the views of most Mexican-Americans. To bolster that point of view, the company sponsored a poll which demonstrated nearly ninety percent of the Hispanic viewing public liked the character (8% did not).
The Frito Bandito campaign was created by the Foote, Cone & Belding Agency. The image of the Frito Bandito character was created by Tex Avery, a legend in the animation field. To celebrate the landing on the Moon in 1969, the Frito Bandito visited the Moon and shook down two newly arrived astronauts. The script follows:
Astronaut: [Walking on the the moon ] "Hold it, Colonel. There's something moving out there.
Bandito: [Bandito arrives with his burro] Welcome to the Moon, Señor
Astronaut: Frito Bandito? What are you doing here?
Bandito: Oh, I am the Moon parking lot attendant. Now if you would kindly deposit one bag of crunchy Fritos Corn chips for the first hour? [plants a parking meter into the soil]
Announcer: Always buy two and hide one bag for you. Remember anyone can be a Frito Bandito...Anyone!
-- Frito Bandito TV Commercial
Frito Bandito Club
Frito Bandito Easers
I sure remember The Frito Bandito. I thought he was cool!
