| |
|---|---|
| Piece | Charlie the Tuna |
| Year | 1983 |
| Condition | C - 10 |
| Description | 10" hard plastic |
| Company | Del Monte Foods |
Poor Charlie the Tuna never had the right stuff to get canned by StarKist, but he did have enough "good taste" to remain their icon for more than 30 years. This street-smart beatnick in a beret, with the voice of Herschel Bernardi, was constantly trying to prove his "good taste" to StarKist. His animated antics included ballet, tennis, poetry — all to no avail. He embodied StarKist's commitment to quality: "StarKist wants tuna that tastes good!"
This representation of Charlie is a touchtone telephone with redial features, made in Hong Kong. The ear piece is behind his head (near his dorsal fin), and the microphone is buried in the "sand" at his feet. A little starfish on the sand is a subtle reminder of Charlie's parent company.
