A Couple of Facts About Teddy Bears

Theodore Roosevelt was the inspiration behind the"Winnipeg." The bear that inspired Milne to write all his
first teddy bears, all due to a comic strip. When hestories was a gift that came from J.K. Farnell &
refused to shoot a bear cub on his hunting travelCompany that he'd given his son on his first birthday.
word got out and a cartoonist drew a picture of himFarnell was the first British manufacturer to make
and the bear, this inspired a store owner. Mooristeddy bears.
Mitchom had his wife create a teddy bear and thisAlmost all teddy bear companies would close their
began the journey of the teddy bears.doors in 1929, some would reopen while others never
1906 Americans used the word "teddy bear" insteadsaw the light again.
of "Teddy's Bears" in an advertisement, after that itIn 1944, Smokey the Bear became a National symbol
just stuck.for putting out forest fires. Every year he goes to
In 1912 the very first black teddy bear wasschools to talk to children about fire safety, during
introduced by Steiff in honor of those that died onthe summer you can find him at campsites giving
the Titanic. She manufactured 500 of these teddylessons on the forest.
bears to pass out to the families mourning their lovedWendy Boston made the first lock-in eyes and later
ones.would create the first washable teddy bear in 1954.
Walt Disney produces first teddy bear cartoon inTeddy bears have come a long way from what was
1924, "Alice and the Three Bears." This would begin aonce a wooden toy to the soft, delightful things we
whole collection of Alice and her many adventures. Incuddle up with at night. Teddy bears continue to
1926 the first edition of "Winnie the Pooh" by A. A.expand in the market and will continue for years to
Milne come out, later Disney would buy the rights. come.
Winnie the Pooh was originally a girl bear named,