Figure:Felix

Felix the Cat made his big screen debut in 1919. The mischievous feline, brainchild of cartoonist Otto Messmer for the Pat Sullivan studio, gained instant popularity and became one of the most beloved cartoon characters until Mickey Mouse. Though his movie career faded in the 1930s, Felix appeared in a number of newspaper comic strips, as well as a 1950s television series. In a testament to the cat's popularity, his image adorned everything from clocks to Christmas ornaments and jewelry. In the 1920s, the A. Schoenhut Company of Philadelphia recognized Felix's fame and began to produce poseable wooden figures modeled after the cat. The toys came in four sizes, all painted black with leather ears and the cat's signature wide eyes and smile.