| Alex the Dog | |
| Othername: | Banjo |
| Breed: | Golden Retriever and Irish Setter |
| Gender: | male |
| Birth Date: | 1984 |
| Death Date: | 1989 |
| Death Cause: | Cancer |
| Years Active: | 1984-1989 |
| Known For: | advertising mascot for Stroh's |
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. Hip-hop artist Tone Loc referenced Alex the Dog in his song "Funky Cold Medina".
Peter Blum, the archivist for Stroh's, describes Alex's most famous commercial:
The 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.