The other day I saw there was a request on the Teddy Ruxpin Online Forums from a fan who was interested in finding out what the contents are in a Teddy Ruxpin Fan Club Kit. The kit was available during product sales of WOW merchandise and seems to be established well after Teddy Ruxpin was released in 1984. I say this because each kit included a number of activities and freebies, but also contained product ads with a full array of products that look to be prototypes (some which look to be released and and some unreleased). I thought it was quite funny that they included it (but smart, too!), as they probably knew that children would gaze at their mini magazine of other Teddy merchandise and want to add to their collections. :) I'll get more into this ad below.
First, here is the front and back of the Teddy Ruxpin Fan Club Folder that houses all the contents.
First, here is the front and back of the Teddy Ruxpin Fan Club Folder that houses all the contents.
And inside each of these folders was a vast array of things to do. A full itemized list is pictured below. It includes a membership card, a poster, a balloon, an activity book, a paint-by-water picture, an iron-on transfer, and a press-out book. Additionally, there was a newsletter, two welcome letters, and two separate ads.
When you open the folder, there's a wide assortment of items. I took pictures of the membership card, fold out poster, sad-looking 30-year-old balloon, a press-out book (like a paper doll, almost), and tons of activities. I loved the plug for Teddy On Ice, the live action show that featured real animatronic characters, the old address for the fan club (which happened to be in New Jersey according to the address?), and the beautiful art in each activity book.
The first foldout ad featured all of Teddy's stories at that time in the series. The ad pictures 25 of them. On the back, there's a mail-in option to receive a free Teddy Ruxpin's Greatest Hits (a rather rare cassette tape of just music -- it doesn't contain any animatronic signals) and a beach ball. Do you think it still would work if I mailed it in? ;)
In the back of the folder, there's a foldout product catalog that features all sorts of Teddy-related items (this is the ad I was talking about in the beginning -- so many things!). Teddy and Grubby are shown, as is a huge assortment of Anything puppets (some which I've never seen before), outfits for Teddy, plushies like LB, Wooly, and Tweeg, and the Airship playmat and character figurines. Baby Teddy Ruxpin and Grubby is not listed.
All in all, it's a lovely folder full of vibrant art and colorful pictures. Mine happens to be in really nice condition, but if you happen to find one yourself on eBay, I don't recommend blowing up the balloon or pulling out the stapled posters in the activity books. My folder and its contents feel fragile. Although I loved looking at the product catalogs, my favorite thing inside the Fan Club Kit was a "how to draw Teddy" tutorial. I took a big picture and thought I'd share.
What do you think of the contents? Do any of the products listed are prototypes? Comment below. :)