Teddy Bear Madness!     by bearhugsgalore

The most commonly reported story about Teddy's beginnings in the USA is in connection with President Teddy Roosevelt. You can find a more detailed account, but basically the Pres visited an area where a few of his supporters, knowing him to be an avid bear hunter, got together and captured a bear, then invited the President to shoot it but he refused. It would not be right or fair, according to his judgment.

Well, word soon got out to the public and Americans admired their beloved President even more, speaking to one another of his tender heart, etc. Of course, then political cartoons involving the President and bears soon followed, and then an enterprising shopkeeper in New York thought it would be funny to make and sell a little cloth replica of the bear cartoons.... naming them "Teddy" of course, after the President.

Needless to say, the whole thing caught on like absolute wildfire; said shopkeeper and his wife could not keep up with the demand and soon sold out to large companies like Ideal... and the American Teddy Bear was born!

The teddy bear in the above photo (from the TV show "Mash") is typical of those mass marketed during the war years. They were cheap, uncomplicated and are still notorious for being "hugged raggedy" by the children who loved them.

* May 19th is NATIONAL TEDDY BEAR DAY! (This day is part of "Teddy Bear Awareness Week" ~ often zoo parks will have various bear-related activities going on during this time ~ check them out!)

* 2002 marked the 100th year of the Teddy Bear

* The early bears were not so soft and huggable like later bears were. Most of them were very stiff, hard stuffed with movable joints and serious faces.

* About the same time the Teddy Bear was born in the USA, it was also being created in Germany. The Steiff bears were brought to America soon after by a toy merchant who, aware of the craze that had just begun in the US, ordered 3000 of them on sight. (Twilight Zone music plays here)

* Collectors in the US purchased $411 million worth of teddy bears n 1999.

* There is a name for avid Teddy Bear collectors ~ ARCTOPHILES ~ derived from the brightest star in the Great Bear constellation.

* Stuffed Bears are used extensively in advertising around the world, and have been since their inception. America's first ad featuring a teddy bear was in 1906, and Germany had already been running their own similar ads for a few years. Now, they sell everything from laundry soap to candy bars!

* 40% of all adults still have their childhood teddy bear.

* A collection of teddy bears is often referred to as a "hug" of bears.

* It is estimated that there are over 10,000 serious teddy bear collections worldwide.

** and those are just a few Teddy Bear Facts for you **

Artist Bear ~ Teddy Bears that are handmade and are made in limited quantities.

Excelsior ~ ~ Shredded wood shavings used for stuffing teddy bears, also known as Wood-wool. Sounds "crunchy" when you squeeze it.

Fairy Foam ~ Foam used as a stuffing material during the 60's.

Faux Fur ~ Plush fabric made of artificial fibers also known as synthetic fur.

Mohair ~ Mohair fabric is made from hair of the angora goat and is commonly used by Bear Artists today.

Series Bears ~ Bears made from the same pattern, usually numbered and released in limited numbers. Sometimes, the type of fabric fur they have will vary.

Squeaker ~ A voice box, usually located in a teddy's belly, that will make a sound when the stomach area is squeezed.

Wood-wool ~ Shredded wood shavings used for stuffing teddy bears, also known as excelsior. Sounds "crunchy" when you squeeze it.