Yogi Bear is a cartoon character created by Hanna-Barbera, who made his debut in The Huckleberry Hound Show in 1958. Yogi became the studio’s first breakout star, becoming more popular than the titular Huckleberry Hound, who predated the cartoon bear. His popularity sparked his own television program The Yogi Bear Show in 1961.
Yogi lives in the Jellystone National Park with his constant companion, Boo-Boo Bear, where he attempts to steal picnic baskets from campers in the park, much to the chagrin of Ranger Smith. Yogi also speaks in a number of catchphrases, including his greeting of “hey, hey, hey,” and his favorite self-promotion, “I’m smarter than the average bear!”
The Yogi character has appeared in numerous animated television shows and specials, comic books, and feature films.
History with the Macy's Parade[]
Yogi Bear made his first-ever Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade appearance in 1983 as a giant helium balloon. It was the third and final balloon to be constructed for the Parade by Kemp Balloons, Inc. The balloon took ten months to design and build, and utilized 30 gallons of paint to bring Yogi to life.[1] An initial design featured Yogi carrying a prized pic-a-nic basket, as a nod to the character's habit of stealing vacant picnic baskets at every opportunity; this was later removed due to the foreseen added weight.
For its debut, the 65-foot tall balloon was part of a special production number featuring Hanna-Barbera characters. The number began with an animated segment of Yogi and Boo-Boo anticipating the arrival of Santa Claus at the end of the Parade. Boo-Boo informs Yogi that Santa is on the float right behind them, prompting him to assemble his friends to clean the way for the special guest.
Cutting to the live street view, Hanna-Barbera characters on the Yogi’s Jellystone Park float perform a squeaky-clean number featuring a clean-up brigade with plenty of brooms and mops. At the end of the number, an animated clip shows Yogi being given a wrapped present from Santa himself. Upon being opened, the present reveals itself to be an animated version of the Yogi Bear balloon, as it cuts to the real balloon, overlaid with animated fireworks.[1]
The Yogi Bear balloon appeared twice more in 1984 and 1985, and was retired following the latter procession.
The following year, the balloon was flown in the Macy’s-Egleston Christmas Parade alongside Snoopy the Aviator and Donald Duck. The balloon made yet another outside appearance at the opening of a Macy’s store at Union Square in San Francisco. Years later, the balloon was converted into a cold-air inflatable to prolong its life.[2]
In addition to appearing as a balloon, a costumed version of Yogi from the television series Yo Yogi! made an appearance in the 1991 Parade. In 2011, the character appeared on the Hats Off to Our Heritage! float, which celebrated the Parade’s 85th anniversary by presenting an array of costumed pop culture characters that had appeared as balloons in parades gone by.