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.

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

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

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

Eaton's had created a merchandising winner.

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

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

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.

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