Frito Bandito, The - Stereotypical Mexican bandit (voice of Mel Blanc) with a large brim hat, pot belly and slurred English accent seen in a number of Frito Lay Corn Chip commercials in the late 1960s. In 1969, under pressure from the Mexican Anti-Defamation Committee, who claimed the Frito Bandito character's "sneaky thief" image was damaging to the Mexican-American culture, the executives at Frito Lay were forced to revaluate the Frito Bandito campaign. Soon after, all the Bandito commercials were pulled off the air. A Frito Lay survey, however, indicated that nearly ninety percent of the Hispanic viewing public liked the character (8% did not).

FRITO BANDITO SONG Aye, yii, yii, yiiii, I am the Frito Bandito. I like Frito's Corn Chips, I love them I do. I want Frito's Corn Chips, I'll get them from you.  ***** Aye, yii, yii, yiiii, Oh, I am the Frito Bandito. Give me Frito Corn chips And I'll be your friend. The Frito Bandito You must not offend.

The Frito Bandito campaign was created by the Foote, Cone & Belding Agency. The image of the Frito Bandito character was created by Tex Avery, a legend in the animation field. To celebrate the landing on the Moon in 1969, the Frito Bandito visited the Moon and shook down two newly arrived astronauts.  The script follows:

Astronaut:	[Walking on the the moon ] "Hold it, Colonel. There's something moving out there.
Bandito:	[Bandito arrives with his burro] Welcome to the Moon, Señor
Astronaut:	Frito Bandito? What are you doing here?
Bandito:	Oh, I am the Moon parking lot attendant. Now if you would kindly deposit one bag of crunchy Fritos Corn chips for the first hour? [plants a parking meter into the soil]
Announcer:	Always buy two and hide one bag for you. Remember anyone can be a Frito Bandito...Anyone! [a line drawing of a mustache appears on a little boy's face]
	-- Frito Bandito TV Commercial

             

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