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Punkinhead



Punkinhead - Santa's Very Special Little Bear

Eaton's launched Punkinhead, the teddy bear with the thick woolly tuft of hair, for the Christmas season of 1948.

The story of the little bear who eventually gets to be in Santa's Parade charmed children for the next decade and everyone would cheer for Santa's little helper in the Parade.

Eaton's distributed story booklets of the sweet little bear's adventures and featured Punkinhead on records and television commercials.

Punkinhead Song album cover, [195-]
Punkinhead Song album cover, [195-]
T. Eaton Co. fonds
Reference Code: F 229-162-0-540
Archives of Ontario

Punkinhead Storybook Cover, 1948
Punkinhead Storybook, 1948
Christmas Merchandise & Promotion
T. Eaton Co. fonds
Reference Code: F 229-162-0-538
Archives of Ontario

Eaton's had created a merchandising winner.

The cute little bear was everywhere: on high chairs, rugs, lamps, sleepers, watches, and sheet music.

Eatons Christmas Book - Punkinhead Watch, 1959-1960

Christmas Book, 1959-60 (Toronto), page 49
T. Eaton Co. fonds
Reference Code: F 229-231-0-21
Archives of Ontario

Eatons Christmas Book -  Girl with Punkinhead Cap and Mitts, 1959-1960

Christmas Book, 1959-60 (Toronto), page 49
T. Eaton Co. fonds
Reference Code: F 229-231-0-21
Archives of Ontario

The marketing tale of the incredible rise of Punkinhead is found in Eaton's Sales Department and "branded line" files at the Archives of Ontario (see F 229-69 Records of the Eaton's Housefurnishings Merchandise Office and F 229-106 Eaton's Design Bureau branded lines books).

Here's Punkinhead helping Santa Claus with his list.

This picture is from the cover of a colouring book. Click here if you'd like to see the whole picture and make your own colouring book.

Santa Claus Parade Colouring Books with Punkinhead, 1960

Click to see a larger image (146K)
Santa Claus Parade Colouring Books, 1960 (detail)
T. Eaton Co. fonds
Reference Code: F 229-162-0-582
Archives of Ontario