The Maker for Spuds MacKenzie
Creator Jon Moore thought up the idea for Spuds MacKenzie. It all began with a Bud Light Super Bowl commercial in 1987.
Soon after the campaign launched with Spuds MacKenzie, the commercials were under almost immediate scrutiny. The public, along with members of state governments, claimed these ads targeted children, inspiring interest in alcoholic beverages early.
The commercials underwent so much controversy, Bud Light ended the campaign in 1989, retiring Spuds. Their comments on the matter were basically that the fuss wasn’t worth the fight.
Spuds MacKenzie was owned by Stan and Jackie Oles of North Riverside. Even though their pup was in the limelight for several years, three years before her death, they respected the privacy of their retired pooch. She was never in any films or other commercials after her contract with Bud Light was up.
In October 1993, Spuds MacKenzie went over the rainbow bridge. It seems that Spuds suffered from kidney failure, which is an unfortunate but common health issue in the breed. Sadly, she was only ten years old. But in her short life, she definitely accomplished more than most dogs. She died comfortably at her home in Chicago with her loving owners.
Characteristics of the Bull Terrier
The bull terrier generally has a friendly and comical personality. It tends to get along with people well but doesn’t always like other dogs. A high energy level and love of playtime also shape the bull terrier’s temperament.
| Affection Level | High |
| Friendliness | High |
| Kid-Friendly | Medium |
| Pet-Friendly | Low |
| Exercise Needs | High |
| Playfulness | High |
| Energy Level | High |
| Trainability | Medium |
| Intelligence | Medium |
| Tendency to Bark | Medium |
| Amount of Shedding | Medium |
Honey Tree Evil Eye died in 1993 after four years of retirement.
Honey Tree Evil Eye, nicknamed Evie, spent her final years in North Riverside, Illinois, and was 10 years old when she passed away due to kidney failure.
This isnt the first time a brand has tried to resurect a mascot.
When KFC brought Colonel Sanders back from the dead in May 2015, the chain faced some backlash from customers who believed the ads to be too irreverent. However, the chains sales have steadily grown in the almost two years since the return of the Colonel.
Colonel Sanders was not portrayed as a ghost, as Spuds will be in the ad.
The History of Spuds MacKenzie – Brand Management
If you remember the late 1980s, you probably recall the Budweiser commercials featuring a Bull Terrier named Spuds Mackenzie, whose sly grin and on-screen antics turned the breed into a pop icon.
Spuds MacKenzie is a fictional dog (bull terrier) character used for an extensive advertising campaign marketing Bud Light beer in the late 1980s. … The dog was portrayed by a female bull terrier named Honey Tree Evil Eye, or Evie for short (October 7, 1983 – May 31, 1993).
