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Felix The Cat Felix the Cat first hit the screen on November 9, 1919, in Feline
Follies, starting out as “Master Tom”, and by the 3rd
film was changed to Felix. The mischievous feline, created by Otto Messmer
for the Pat Sullivan Studio, rocketed to fame, holding a spot as the world's
most popular cartoon character until the advent of Mickey Mouse. His squat,
black body and huge, wide eyes and grin were instantly recognizable
worldwide. Below, Original cell from Feline Follies. The very first Television broadcast featured Felix. During the early days of television development it was necessary to monitor and adjust the quality of the transmitted picture in order to get the best definition. To do this, engineers required an 'actor' to constantly be under the burning studio lights as they tweaked and sharpened the image. Felix fit the bill perfectly. A 13" Felix the Cat figure made of paper mache was placed on a record player turntable. He was the right color (black and white), impervious to the heat from the lights and worked cheaply.
Felix in 1928, 1936 and 1937. From a 1944 Life magazine article:
Felix was considered lucky by the 1922 New York Yankees who adopted him as their mascot. Lucky Lindbergh kept a Felix doll in his airplane as he crossed the Atlantic in his 1927 solo flight. Pat Sullivan licensed the Felix image for toy productions, most notably to Schoenhut Toys in Philadelphia, which made a wooden toy in various sizes: Today, these dolls are worth $300 - $1,000 ++ for the largest size, if in good condition (going for less than $500 on eBay). Other licenses were granted and many Felix toys appeared on the market, giving Pat Sullivan the credit for the figure. Schoenhut doll: Original Felix the Cat black & white wood toy doll by Schoenhut it measures 4 inches tall. Leather ears. ($85.00):
Steiff, a German teddy bear company, made and sold Felix plush hand puppets (valued at over $1,000 today), and Nifty Toy Company made tin Felix pull toys and tin wind-up toys. 1920's Felix the Cat Tin Windup Walker, by Nifty Toy Company. It is 6 inches tall, and about 3 inches wide ($50 in this condition):
Early composition Felix figure (150.00):
Soon thereafter he made the transition to print. King Features syndicated Felix in over 250 newspapers in a multitude of languages, reaching practically every corner of the globe. Felix was actually a design of director Otto Messmer, not his boss Pat Sullivan who took credit for "Felix" for many years. Felix was also licensed to King Features Syndicate under Sullivan's name -- known as "Pat Sullivan's Felix the Cat". Under the King Features license, various collectible items were made and sold until the mid-1950’s. 1940’s wooden Yarn Winder – probably not licensed ($45.00):
Early Felix the Cat Pin Cushion or toothpick holder. He is marked Made in Japan, standing at 3 inches and holding a pocket watch, probably not licensed. $10 - $20:
1940’s Leather/Suede Coin Purse – Souvenir of Skyline Drive, VA – probably not a licensed product.
Felix the cat on 3-wheel scooter, Model VEB Brandenburg, Made in Eastern Germany – late 1940’s:
American made, “Nifty” toy, Felix on 3-wheel scooter, early 1930’s:
Pat Sullivan died in 1931, but it wasn't until the late 1950s when the Felix character was revived by Joe Oriolo for a new series of color cartoons created by Famous Studios productions:
Oriolo added new characters to the Felix cartoons, and again the collectibles boom took off. His Felix was completely different from Messmer's. It is Oriolo's Felix who is most familiar to millions today. Milton Bradley created Down on the Farm (valued today at around $85) board game of Felix The Cat including the new characters: the Professor, Felix's cunning, yet usually unsuccessful rival; his sidekick, the bulldog Rock Bottom, the sinister Master Cylinder, a bizarre little Eskimo named Vavoom, The Professor's brainy nephew, Poindexter, who was more of a friend than foe for Felix.
Oriolo’s Felix was equipped with a magical bag of tricks that seemed to hold the perfect item for every occasion, which could give even Mary Poppins' carpet bag a run for its money. Some of the pin back buttons created in the 1940’s can bring upwards of $300 today. 1946 Kellog’s cereal PEP Pinback:
A 1967 dated wind-up Felix toy with his “Bag Of Tricks”:
An old 1950’s-60’s Felix the Cat Target Set by Lido with the original box, colorful metal target with a cardboard easel back ($50.00):
Vintage 1960’s Felix the cat cartoon soaky bottle:
1960’s Tin “Cat Food Can” Bank Felix Cat Food:
Bag of Marbles – 1950’s: (I bought this bag of Felix the Cat Cat’s Eye Marbles, unopened at a local estate auction – had to pay $36 for them – just one bag! I looked them up on eBay then (never thought about it before!) and they were going there for under $10 (less shipping costs). I would still estimate that they should be $20-$25 for an original unopened bag.
Messmer died in 1980 at the age of 91. In the mid-1980’s, the license to produce Felix toys and accessories was acquired by Determined Productions in San Francisco. Most of the items found today are marked with that company’s name. Late 1980’s Felix Chevrolet Tac or Lapel Pins – “Giant Felix Chevrolet 100 Car Club K.F.S.” – probably not licensed:
1991 Milton-Bradley Felix the Cat TWISTER game:
Wendy’s restaurants began a promotion featuring Felix, and more than 9 million kids meals were sold. This was more than any other licensed characters had sold before. Dairy Queen, Arby’s, Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr. also ran very successful kid’s meal campaigns. Fast-Food Toy Binoculars from Hardee’s:
Shelf of Fast Food Felix toys from 1980’s & 1990’s:
1988 Felix the Cat Productions, inc. Molded plastic pin – about 4 inches in diameter – big one!
Felix’s popularity continues to grow. Could it be because he’s a nostalgic figure? Or that he represents Americana? Or that he continues to win over new audiences with his winning personality and cutting edge graphic style? Yes, yes and yes! Dating Felix Collectibles:
Felix Fan Club, 123 Rte. 23, South, Hamburg, NJ 07419 Website: www.FelixTheCat.com 1-800 34-FELIX A Google search for Felix the Cat brings back a list of 495,000 pages! A search on eBay for Felix Cat returned 795 auctions, including clothing, underwear, vintage toys and new toys, plush, handbags, as well as marbles and fast-food toys from Wendy’s, Arby’s. and others; DVD’s, movies, - virtually every eBay category! Felix the cat doll is all dressed up like Uncle Sam. He is 16 1/2" high x 10" wide (paw to paw). Made of all new materials and filled with polyester fibers, this Felix doll was distributed by Toy Works (from www.cattycorner.com):
Felix: The Twisted Tale Of The World's Most Famous Cat tells the story of the creation and marketing of Felix The Cat. Over 150 photos and full-color inserts. 177 pages, 1996: Recent Felix the Cat items 1990’s Wood Yo-Yo, marked Felix the Cat Productions, Inc., Licensed by Determined Productions, Inc.:
1995-1996 Fossil Felix the Cat Watches – came in various Felix tins:
2000 Fossil Pocket Watch Holder ceramic Felix (the pocket watch hangs on his extended arm):
1999 Clay Art Pottery Felix the Cat Sitting Cookie Jar – first in the series:
Clay Art Ceramic Cookie Jar – Felix on Chair – 2nd in the series:
Felix and his bag of tricks Trinket Box, porcelain:
Four Felix Magnets:
Peggy Way, 12/3/2005 Article I Copyright
Cat Collectors 2006 – Do not copy or reproduce in any way without
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