By Paula Green

They are cute, cuddly and you are never too old to own one – I am referring, of course, to teddy bears.  Their history dates back to the 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt.  In Nov. 1902, Roosevelt went on a hunting trip in Mississippi while trying to settle a boundary dispute between Mississippi and Louisiana.  Being an accomplished outdoorsman, he liked to bag big game.

His hunt was going poorly, so his staff captured a black bear for the President to shoot.  But he could not.  The thought of shooting a bear that was tied to a tree did not seem sporting, so he spared the life of the bear and set it free.

A famous political cartoonist for the Washington Star Clifford Berryman, drew a cartoon entitled, “Drawing the Line in Mississippi” which used the story of the president refusing to shoot the bear.

The cartoon illustrated Roosevelt, rifle in hand, his back turned on a cute, cowering baby bear.  Morris Michtom owner of a Brooklyn toy store, was inspired by the cartoon and made a stuffed bear cub.

Intending it only as a display, he put the stuffed bear in his store window, accompanied by the cartoon.  To Michtom’s surprise, he was besieged with customers wanting to buy it.

He asked for and received permission from Roosevelt to use his name with the bear.  The president was quoted as saying, “I don’t think my name is likely to be worth much in the toy bear business, but you are welcome to use it.”

Michtom was soon manufacturing “teddy bears” by the thousands.  The proceeds enabled him, in 1903, to form the Ideal Toy Company.

Today, teddy bear collecting has grown to be popular.  In fact; there is even a term for it—“arctophily.”  The word is a combination of two Greek words that mean “bear” and “love.”  Teddy Bear Day is celebrated on Sept. 9 and National American Teddy Bear Day is on Nov. 14, which is the anniversary date of Theodore Roosevelt’s famous bear hunt.

Since we have learned the history of “teddy,” we must now cuddle-up to some un-fur-getable questions, because it is time to get a little trivial...

1. Name the famous children’s book that features a little girl and a bear family.

2. In 1944 this bear became a national safety mascot.

3. This polite bear would always “try so hard to get things right.”

4. This bear was created by A.A. Milne in 1926, and in 1959 Walt Disney acquired the rights to him.

5. Name the set of bears introduced in 1983 by American Greeting Card Co..  Each one comes in a different color.

6. This bear is part of the Muppets clan.

7. Name the bear that once lived in the toy department of a big store.

8. This Hanna Barbera bear has a sidekick named Boo-Boo.

9. This bear came about in the 80s; he can move his mouth and eyes as he reads a story.

10. In this popular children’s rhyme, this bear has no hair.

11. A Disney Adventure series stars these bears.  It is also a candy name.

12. In 1957, this recording artist released a #1 hit (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear.

13. Name this party for young children; it’s also a title of a song.

14. In 1997, this workshop opened where you can create your own furry friend.

15. A German company that manufacturers teddy bears, it was launched by a woman named Margarete and her nephew Richard.

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Sources:

http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventions/teddybear.htm 

http://www.appleblossomart.org/teddybeardesk.htm

http://www.cymruted.com/html/timeline.html

http://www.wikipedia.com

Answers:

1. Goldilocks and the Three Bears;  2. Smokey the Bear;  3.  Paddington Bear;  4. Winnie the Pooh;  5. Care Bears;  6. Fozzie Bear;  7. Corduroy Bear;  8. Yogi Bear;  9. Teddy Ruxpin;  10. Fuzzy Wuzzy;  11. Gummi Bears;  12. Elvis Presley;  13. Teddy Bear Picnic;  14. Build-A-Bear;  15. Steiff

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