Alfred Latell

Alfred Latell, born Alfred J. Lee on January 19, 1887, in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, was an American vaudeville entertainer and Broadway performer known for his animal impressions. He died on April 4, 1951, in Park Ridge, Illinois, at the age of 64, and was buried in an unmarked grave.

Latell began performing in his early teens on street corners, where a local priest noticed him and engaged him to present shows at churches in the area. He turned professional in 1902, developing a specialty act built around impressions of dogs, cats, and birds. His performances involved costumes fitted with internal wires and strings that allowed him to animate the suits and add expressive movement to his portrayals. In 1909 he described the demands of the work in detail, noting that convincing animal impersonation required sustained observation of each creature's behavior and movement. He explained that a parrot costume alone required the operation of nine strings to control the head, bill, and wings, and that the bird's characteristic crouching posture made walking particularly difficult. He also described spending hours outdoors in his cat suit observing neighborhood cats to capture the slower, more deliberate quality of their movements.

His Broadway career spanned from 1905 to 1942. His first Broadway appearance came in 1905, when he performed in a dog costume in the musical The Babes and the Baron. By 1907 he had established himself on the vaudeville circuit, and he continued to tour widely throughout his career, including engagements in Australia. His Broadway credits also include the revue The Cohan Revue of 1916, the musical Hands Up, and the musical Count Me In. His most recognized character was Bonzo the Dog, which remained central to his act and sustained his popularity through the 1930s.

Latell was supported in his performances first by his wife Estelle and later by his second wife, Lucille, who performed under the stage name Sylvan Dell. In 1943, credited as Al Latell, he appeared as Bonzo in a soundie produced by Minoco Productions titled Puttin' On the Dog, which also featured singer Iris Howard.