Yogi Bear

Yogi Bear –  “I’m smarter than the average bear”,

I always liked Yogi Bear and would watch it when I got a chance…if only for the way he said pic-a-nic baskets.

Yogi first started out as a sidekick in a Hanna-Barbera show called The Huckleberry Hound Show in 1958. He was the first Hanna-Barbera character to break out.

In 1961 he was given his own show called The Yogi Bear Show. His show included other segments like Yakky Doodle and Snagglepuss.  The show also featured episodes with Yogi Bear breaking away from the unadventurous life of other bears in Yellowstone Park.

The plot was basically Yogi raiding picnic baskets, dodging hibernation, being chased by Ranger Smith,  and making money together with his more honest sidekick Boo-Boo Bear. The show also featured episodes of Ranger Smith trying to tame Yogi and Boo-Boo Bear.

Around this time the great baseball player Yogi Berra sued Hanna-Barbera for defamation. But Hanna-Barbera claimed that the similarity of the names was just purely coincidental. Eventually, Yogi Berra withdrew his suit. When Yogi Berra died the AP’s wire service mistakenly announced the death of Yogi Bear instead…that is sad.

Yogi starred in a feature film, Hey There, It’s Yogi Bear, in 1964.

Yogi’s personality was based on Art Carney’s character from The Honeymooners.

The Yogi Bear Show lasted only 2 season but other shows featuring Yogi continued on. Yogi Bear and Friends, Yogi’s Gang, Yogi’s Space Race, Galaxy Goof-Ups, Yogi’s Treasure Hunt, The New Yogi Bear Show, and Yo Yogi! Yogi was on the air from 1958 to the 1990s.

Daws Butler originated the voice of Yogi and did it from 1958 to 1988 when he passed away. He was replaced by Greg Burson who was personally taught by Butler on how to do Yogi’s voice and other characters.

Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player.

19 thoughts on “Yogi Bear”

  1. WGN in Chicago used to run Hanna-Barbera cartoons at 6:00 way back in the early ’60’s. We used to sit and watch while we ate dinner. I think Yogi was on Tuesday and Thursday nights, with Huckleberry Hound on Monday and Friday and Quick Draw McGraw on Wednesday. Fun times!

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  7. The more cartoons you look back on, the more I realize how lucky we were to grow up watching them (whether first run or in re-runs)! Kids today, sadly, just cannot appreciate the great cartoons of the past!

    I am SO behind on blogging, my friend, but still find time to read yours. Keep up the great work!

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    1. Oh I loved the era we grew up in with all that we had.
      A lot of the kids would rather see computer animations…they are alright but I do like the cartoons better.

      Well thank you man.

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  11. Yogi Bear, The Flintstones, Top Cat (aka Boss Cat), Popeye, and Sylvester and Tweetie Pie were my go-to cartoons for enjoyment, not just when I was a little kid, but whenever they were on TV later in my life!!! Oh and I loved Boo Boo bear! 🙂

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    1. I love Boo Boo Bear also…I still watch them Val…I can’t help it…it’s a great way to escape.
      I have probably 20 different cartoon series on my server….love the Pink Panther

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