Teddy Bears and Their Origins

Teddy Bears and Their Origins
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There aren't too many toys that pass the test of time, and teddy bears are one type of toy that has. Their incredibly wide appeal has lasted generations, and most certainly will last many more. Toy bears, however, were not always such a universally beloved children's toy. They were created in the twentieth century, after a somewhat shocking turn of events.

Teddy bears got their named from US President Theodire Roosevelt, as "Teddy" is the short familiar version of the name "Theodore". The President attended a hunting trip with several other men included the governor of Mississippi. On the expedition they conducted a bear hunting competition, and Roosevelt was one of the only ones who had not yet shot a bear. Some of Roosevelt's staff attempted to help him proceed in the competition by capturing a bear for him and then offering for him to simply approach and shoot the bear. But Roosevelt felt this was cheating and refused to shoot the bear. But during the capture of the bear it had been clubbed over the head and badly hurt, so Roosevelt ordered that the bear be put out of its misery.
This story of course made the papers, and was turned into satirical cartoon in the Washington Post. Toy designer Morris Michtom saw the media coverage and had an immediate inspiration to create a new toy based on the incident. He created cute stuffed bears and placed them in his shop window, with a signing reading "Teddy's Bear", a smart way to capitalize on the publicity. The bears instantly skyrocketed to the heights of popularity, inspiring Michtom to increase the scale of his business by starting the Ideal Novelty and Toy Company. By 1906 large numbers of other companies were producing similar bears, and they became hugely popular and a cultural phenomena.
In today's world teddy bears continue to be the most universally loved of all children's toys, beloved by children and adults alike all around the globe. It might seem odd that such an unfortunate event started this mania for adorable stuffed animals for kids, but maybe the happiness that teddy bears have given to so many people has made something good out of an unfortunate occurrence.
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