9lives has resurrected Morris the Cat to be its mascot. Why not? Nothing else was working, as our story on page 10 explains. The new cat is actually the fourth to play the role.
The original Morris, a 15-lb., orange-colored tabby with the bass voice (actually human John Irwin), debuted in 1968. The cat was rescued by Leo Burnett employee Bob Martwick from a suburban Chicago animal shelter only 20 minutes before he was to be killed. The agency then produced the TV commercials that made Morris an overnight star.
Viewer response to spots was so great that 9Lives had to hire a secretary to answer Morris’ fan mail and send out 8×10 glossy photographs stamped with his paw print.
Martwick co-authored with his rescuee three books on cat care: The Morris Approach, The Morris Method and The Morris Prescription. The feline made his big-screen debut in 1973 in “Shamus” alongside Burt Reynolds and Dyan Cannon.
And he ran for president in 1988 and 1992. Perfect timing for his return, another election year beckons.
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