Teddy Ruxpin 1980s Talking Bear

Teddy Ruxpin, the bear that could read.

Today I spoke to Google AdWords about possibly setting up some SEM to help advertise my blog a bit more. While speaking with my new account manager, Dan, he brought up a slew of old toys, games and cartoons from his childhood.

Dan, born in 1983, asked me if I had a Teddy Ruxpin. Teddy Ruxpin was an animated stuffed bear that could read aloud thanks to a cassette tape somewhat hidden in his back. Teddy's eyes and mouth would move while he read giving Teddy a somewhat creepy lifelike feel.

Teddy Ruxpin hit the market in September of 1985 and by then, I was too cool for toys. As an 8th grader, I was already writing for our local newspaper and collecting Monkees articles from Tiger Beat.  So I can't say I ever owned or wanted a Teddy Ruxpin bear. How about you? Did you, your siblings or kids have a Teddy Ruxpin talking stuffed bear?

Here are some fun facts about the robotic reading stuffed bear known as Teddy Ruxpin.

•  Author and inventor, Ken Forsee created the animated Teddy Ruxpin.
• Originally released by Worlds of Wonder, Teddy Ruxpin was a hot selling toy in 1985 and 1986 -- sadly Worlds of Wonder was also a one-hit-wonder going bankrupt three years later.
• Teddy Ruxpin became such a beloved character he was named the official "spokesperson" for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in 1985.
• The short-lived live action TV series, The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin aired on ABC from 1987-1988.
• An original Teddy Ruxpin bear with box fetches $100+ on eBay.

View a vintage commercial for Teddy Ruxpin.