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The Star

QuickCheck: Is Winnie-the-Pooh's original name Edward Bear?

Winnie-the-Pooh's stories have been delighting both children and adults for almost 100 years. But was Pooh Bear's original name Edward? WHEN thinking of Disney characters, names such as Simba, Ariel, or Snow White may come to mind. But, what about Edward Bear? If you're puzzled about where this character fits in the Disney universe, you're not alone. Let's "think, think, think" in this playful investigation and find out: Is Winnie-the-Pooh's "real" name Edward? Verdict: TRUE Author A.A. Milne based the characters in his book Winnie-the-Pooh, which was published in 1926, after his son (Christopher Robin Milne) as well as his son's soft toys. In 1921, A.A. Milne bought a teddy bear from the Harrods department store for his son Christopher Robin, who named it Edward. However, Christopher Robin began calling the bear Winnie after he saw a real black bear with the same name at the London Zoo. The "Pooh" part of Winnie's name comes from a friend of the family's pet swan, whom the boy encountered while on a holiday. Pooh the Swan had actually appeared in one of A.A. Milne's other works, "When We Were Very Young". In the introduction to the first book, Winnie-the-Pooh, A.A. Milne mentions that the bear was originally named Edward Bear but was renamed Winnie-the-Pooh, reflecting what happened in real life. As time went on, the character of Winnie-the-Pooh became so beloved that it eventually caught the eye of American radio and TV producer Stephen Slesinger. Slesinger purchased the US and Canadian merchandising, television, and other trade rights to the Winnie-the-Pooh works from A.A. Milne for $1,000, along with 66% of Slesinger's income. Slesinger was the first to colour Pooh and his friends when he drew them for an RCA Victor record. This was when Pooh received his now-famous red shirt. When Slesinger passed away in 1953, his wife, Shirley Slesinger, continued developing the character herself but licensed the rights to Walt Disney Productions in 1961. Disney then went on to make Pooh and his friends the cultural juggernaut that they are today with a string of TV shows, movies, comics, products and more. The House of Mouse never referred to Pooh's name change, so the name Edward was buried for most people—except if you read the original books! References: 1. 2. 3. 4.