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Although Pooh is a 'bear of very little brain', he has a wisdom that some people don't achieve in a lifetime

18 December 2007

The bear essentials

by Jacqueline Alexander

Amongst all the gadgets, gizmos, toys and trinkets that will be unwrapped in a few days time, it is soothing to know that one enduring favourite will be delivered without the need for reams of instructions, numerous battery requirements or a supposedly user-friendly 'getting started' booklet.

The teddy bear has been with us for a little over 100 years and, in that time, this most definitely user-friendly cuddly toy has navigated its way into our hearts in a way that no other has managed. Many have tried to emulate its hold over us only to fail after a fleeting flirtation with popularity. No-one seems to understand the secret to the longevity of the teddy bear.

Many believe, as I did, that it all started in 1902 but thanks to a rather meandering trip around the internet this week, I discovered that the story begins a few years before in Germany. Margaret Steiff was a rather talented dressmaker who had diversified her business to incorporate soft toys made from felt. Her nephew, on a visit to the zoo, had the idea of making bears in a similar way to dolls and showed his sketches to his aunt who set to work on a new soft toy made from mohair plush. Neither the Steiffs nor the bears had any idea of the success they were building and had it not been for a certain US President it is unclear whether they would have found their market.

Whilst Richard Steiff was busily planning to sell the bears in trade markets in Germany, the US President, Theodore Roosevelt, had gone hunting for a very particular, very evasive, bear in Mississippi. When the President's mission seemed doomed to failure, his guide, Holt Collier, decided to seek out a consolation prize and managed to stun a smaller target by clubbing it around the head. When Roosevelt arrived and saw his bound and bleeding prey, he was not impressed. Instead of claiming the bear as his own, he refused to shoot it and forbade anyone else from doing so.

Thanks to the attendant reporters, word of Roosevelt's fair play and refusal to slay the defenceless bear quickly spread. A political cartoonist picked up on the story and depicted the scene in the Washington Post. The cartoon was the talk of the town and was published in newspapers across America. Roosevelt enjoyed a surge in popularity as a result but no-one could predict what was coming next.

One enterprising New York based shop-owner heard all the fuss and, using the cartoon as a guide, made a toy bear. He put it in the window of his shop with the cartoon and called it 'Teddy's Bear'. The bear was a hit with the folk of New York and demand was such that the shop was closed and a new toy factory, the Ideal Novelty and Toy Company, was opened to satisfy demand.

Soon after, an American buyer, Hermann Berg, was visiting the German trade markets looking for ideas. He stumbled upon a Mr Steiff who showed him his aunt's mohair bear. Mr Berg knew that this was his lucky day and ordered 3,000 on the spot.

By 1907, with sales buoyed by the publicity from President Roosevelt's hunting antics, almost a million Steiff bears had been sold. The bears won awards, medals and accolades and exports to many countries quickly followed the success in the US.

Today, the teddy bear's popularity shows no signs of abating. And in this world of wi-fi and widgets isn't it a pleasure to know that a simple bear can give the same joy and inspire the same love as he did over 100 years ago.

Many variations on the theme of the original have ensued and some have managed to endear themselves to both adults and children. Paddington, Pooh and Rupert are the main ones that spring to mind and all three have made their way from the printing press into the digital age.

Winnie the Pooh, the 'lovable bear who's stuffed with fluff', is the oldest of the three. Interestingly, the author, AA Milne, maintained that he didn't write the Pooh books for children but instead intended them for the child within us. It is said that although the stories featured his son, Christopher Robin, and were inspired by his son's toys, it was only the first Winnie the Pooh story, published in 1925, that was written for children. The rest were apparently 'for the child within us'.

Today, Pooh bear is in the hands of the Disney Corporation and his web site is the slick and very well produced machine you would expect. Luckily, they haven't forgotten that although Pooh is a 'bear of very little brain', he has a wisdom that some people don't achieve in a lifetime. The original Pooh stories are used as parallels for philosophy, psychology and have even been used to illustrate the belief systems of Taoism. Quite an achievement for a humble bear.

The official Pooh web site is built for kids and offers delightful cartoons, activities and, of course, products. It is a lovely way to spend half an hour with the young ones who are bound to be entertained and enthralled.

Meanwhile, across the way in North London, Paddington Bear has a delightful little site offering you all the details on this marmalade-obsessed mammal. You can find out all about Paddington's time in darkest Peru, including interesting snippets regarding his original Peruvian name. There's also a timeline, numerous bear facts and lots of clips to keep you amused and possibly your children too.

While Pooh may enthrall and Paddington will inform, Rupert the Bear's web site is designed to educate and entertain. Rupert has arrived on the net in style. The site is full of interactive videos; if your children have yet to hone their keyboard skills, they can simply watch as Rupert's adventures unfold but those ready for a little more interactivity can play games, test their knowledge and become a part of Rupert's world.

Teacher's notes and activity sheets are on offer as well as notes for parents, stories, downloads and Rupert-related products. There is also information on the heritage of Rupert the Bear and, having just read it, I realise I was wrong earlier when I said that Winnie the Pooh was the oldest of these three bears. I humbly apologise to Rupert who pre-dates Pooh by five years. I did say that this site was designed to educate and there it is; I am educated.

Say It With Bears.. Gifts for Christmas
Rupert the Bear
Winnie the Pooh
Paddington Bear

Jacqueline Alexander presents Web Watch every Tuesday at 5.45pm on BBC Radio Berkshire on 104.1FM, 104.4FM, 95.4FM, 94.6FM and DAB Digital Radio. To listen in, just visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire.

What is Web Watch?

Web Watch is broadcast on BBC Radio Berkshire, published in the Henley and South Oxon Standard and published online right here at web-watch.info.

As a cross-media project, Web Watch is designed to help you find the best sites here on the Internet.

You can catch Web Watch on air every Tuesday at 5.45pm when Jacqueline Alexander sits down with Phil Kennedy during the Drivetime show on BBC Radio Berkshire to chew the virtual fat.