7 facts about Yogi Bear to make you smarter than the average fan

Hey, Boo-Boo! Here's a pic-a-nic basket full of trivia!

Hey, Boo Boo! Do you know everything there is to know about Yogi? Straight outta Jellystone, this cartoon bear has been entertaining folks for more than 60 years. One of the early breakthrough characters for Hanna-Barbera, Yogi helped turn the animation studio into a Saturday morning titan.

Pop open a "pic-a-nic" basket and learn more!

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1. He was also based on The Honeymooners.

Hanna-Barbera got a lot of mileage out of aping The Honeymooners. The Flintstones was famously inspired by the pioneering '50s sitcom — but Yogi was doing it first. Yogi's voice and personality were based on Ed Norton, as played by Art Carney. They even wore similar hats.

Image: The Everett Collection

2. He made a cameo on The Flintstones.

Speaking of The Flintstones, Yogi and Boo Boo briefly popped up in Bedrock in the episode "Swedish Visitors." Yogi and his young underling sit high in a tree. "I'm smarter than the average Fred Flintstone," the bear quips. Keep a lookout for it on MeTV!

3. He made his debut on The Huckleberry Hound Show.

Premiering in 1958, The Huckleberry Hound Show was just the second series produced by Hanna-Barbera, following the lesser-known The Ruff and Reddy Show. Yogi, similarly attired to the blue coonhound, appeared in segments of The Huckleberry Hound Show. He quickly proved to be more popular. In early 1961, months after The Flintstones debuted, The Yogi Bear Show kicked off, sponsored by Kellogg's.

Image: The Everett Collection

4. Did Yogi Berra really sue over the name?

Yankees legend Yogi Berra was one of the great quote machines of the 20th century. He was far wittier than your average catcher. Several sources claim that Berra sued Hanna-Barbera over the name "Yogi Bear," which is undoubtedly eerily similar to the sports icon. However, according to Warner Bros., as investigated by The Hollywood Reporter, no lawsuit ever happened. "I've often been asked if Yogi Bear was a deliberate reference to the irrepressible Yogi Berra," Joseph Barbera said. "My answer is that no deliberate reference was intended… but, undoubtedly, the sound of the name was awash in our collective unconscious at a time when Yogi Berra was a very popular figure."

Image: AP Photo

5. He had the same voice as Elroy Jetson.

Alongside Mel Blanc, Daws Butler is one of those names on the Mount Rushmore of animation voice work. He voiced loads of your favorite Hanna-Barbera characters, from Snagglepuss to Elroy Jetson. Yes, he was also Yogi Bear (not to mention Quick Draw McGraw and Hokey Wolf). Butler voiced Yogi through 1988, his final work being in Yogi and the Invasion of the Space Bears.

Image: The Everett Collection

6. James Darren was the singing voice of Yogi Bear.

In 1964, Yogi Bear hit the big screen with the musical adventure Hey There, It's Yogi Bear! Daws Butler naturally voiced Yogi as per usual, but when it came time to belt out "Ven-e, Ven-o, Ven-a," a more professional crooner was needed. Enter James Darren, teel idol and former star of Gidget (1959). Darren had recently scored big pop hits with "Goodbye Cruel World" and "Her Royal Majesty." Perhaps you recognize him from The Time Tunnel?

7. A novelty pop song called ''Yogi'' hit the Top 10 in 1960.

Speaking of music, let's back up a bit. We mentioned that Yogi was the breakout star of The Huckleberry Hound Show. As evidence, consider the song "Yogi," a goofy novelty tune by The Ivy Three that featured clean-cut harmonies in the style of Yogi's voice. The song reached No. 8 on the Billboard charts in 1960 — before The Yogi Bear Show began. Take a listen.

Image: Discogs

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18 Comments

VaughnBaskin 30 months ago
I Hope that Yogi Bear will join the MeTV Sunday Morning lineup soon before the year is over!
RedSamRackham 50 months ago
I've also seen Daws Butler as contestant/guest on You Bet Your Life demonstrating his character voices and celeb impersonations for Groucho Marx and audience! ☺
Mike 51 months ago
Wouldn't it be wonderful if METV would bring back to Saturday morning these wonderful cartoons we grew up with. Say start up with the Bugs Bunny Road Runner Show then go into the Hanna-Barbara cartoons like Huckleberry Hound, Quick Draw McGraw, Yogi Bear etc. I'm 66 years old and still love the memories of getting up early on Saturday mornings to watch these classics. I can only hope.
VaughnBaskin 52 months ago
Plus Yogi Bear was the Program Director and VJ in the 1st 3 seasons to The Funtastic World Of Hanna-Barbera from 1985 to 1987.
PeterRoff 53 months ago
Doesn't James Darren have a guest shot on The Flintstones as a singing lifeguard named Jimmy Darrock?
Runeshaper 53 months ago
Hey, Boo Boo! Ypgi was a quite a celebrity showing up on The Flinstones & The Huckleberry Hound Show. Being based on Ed Norton = SUPER Cool! I can see the similarities now that I know that. Right on Daws Butler & James Darren for bringing Yogi's vocals to life! Would love to see this smarter than the average bear on MeTV :)
Utzaake 53 months ago
Yogi Bear and Boo Boo would've made one helluva State Farm pitch duo.
BrittReid 53 months ago
Never knew Yogi was based on Edward L. Norton.
Moody 53 months ago
I love these old cartoons like Yogi, Huckleberry Hound, Quick Draw McGraw & others. I remember the Ruff and Ready Show too! Another favorite was Augie Doggie & Doggie Daddy which was one of my favorites. What a time to be a kid with these great Hanna-Barbera cartoons & Looney Toons. It was a good time to be growing up. What great memories! I hope that METV can somehow bring these classics back on the air.
VaughnBaskin Moody 52 months ago
And they will, just give them some time!
Barry22 53 months ago
I was maybe 4 0r 5, and my parents, bless their hearts and may they Rest in Peace, after searching high and low, bought me a Yogi Bear book. I think he was competing in a bear olympic.
RobCertSDSCascap Barry22 53 months ago

Laff-A-Lympics?
15inchBlackandWhite 53 months ago
When I was around 3 or 4 I used to give my mother a blow-by-blow description of what I had just seen on the Huckleberry Hound Show. Lord, how she hated that!
RobCertSDSCascap 53 months ago
#6- Boo-Boo says to Yogi, "You sing just like James Darren!"
SalIanni 53 months ago
I wonder if this means that Yogi Bear will soon be on Me-Tv along with the Flintstones. He is my favorite cartoon character of all time and the "Yogi" song was great too: "Hey, Boo Boo!!"
VaughnBaskin SalIanni 52 months ago
I Sense that he will!
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