Teddy bears' picnic
Encyclopedia
"Teddy Bears' Picnic" is a song consisting of a melody by American composer John Walter Bratton
, written in 1907, and lyrics added by Irish songwriter Jimmy Kennedy
in 1932. It remains popular as a children's song, having been recorded by numerous artists over the decades. Kennedy lived at Staplegrove Elm and is buried in Staplegrove Church, Taunton
, Somerset, England. Local folklore has it that the small wooded area between the church and Staplegrove Scout Hut was the inspiration for his lyrics.
in 1908. Around this time it was also recorded by Arthur Pryor
's marching band. The first vocal version was recorded in 1932 by Henry Hall
and His Orchestra (EMI SH 172), with Val Rosing
singing Kennedy's lyrics. The Hall rendition is perhaps the best-known in the UK and was featured in the Dennis Potter drama The Singing Detective
. The song has been recorded by such singers as Bing Crosby
, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Frank DeVol, Jackie Lynton, Rosemary Clooney
, Dave Van Ronk
, Jerry Garcia
, John Inman
, Trout Fishing in America
, and Anne Murray
.
The piece has been used as a theme song or background music in films and programs, such as the wartime BBC
sitcom Dad's Army
in its episode called The Big Parade. The instrumental version appears briefly in the musical score to accompany Buster Keaton
's silent film The General
. It was also occasionally used as a background theme in Looney Tunes
. The song features prominently in Peter Greenaway
's film A Zed & Two Noughts
, and is sung by characters in the film.
In the late 1940s and early 1950s it was used as the theme song for the Big Jon and Sparkie radio program, a children's show presented on weekdays and Saturday mornings. This version used was performed by organist Ethel Smith
. The Saturday Show was later named "No School Today".
In 1983 Green Tiger Press turned Kennedy's lyrics into a children's book, with illustrations by company co-founder Sandra Darling (under the name Alexandra Day). Original printings included a 7" record, with the Bing Crosby recording on the A side, and a recording by a local klezmer band, dubbed "The Bearcats", on the B side.
Its especially good recording quality and the large tonal range of the music made it ideal for checking the frequency response of audio equipment. BBC Engineering even had special vinyl pressings made to reduce any surface noise.
John Walter Bratton
John Walter Bratton was an American Tin Pan Alley composer and theatrical producer who became popular during the era known as the Gay Nineties-Early life:...
, written in 1907, and lyrics added by Irish songwriter Jimmy Kennedy
Jimmy Kennedy
Jimmy Kennedy OBE was an Irish songwriter, predominantly a lyricist, putting words to existing music such as "Teddy Bears' Picnic" and "My Prayer", or co-writing with the composers Michael Carr, Wilhelm Grosz and Nat Simon amongst others.-Biography:Kennedy was born near Omagh...
in 1932. It remains popular as a children's song, having been recorded by numerous artists over the decades. Kennedy lived at Staplegrove Elm and is buried in Staplegrove Church, Taunton
Taunton
Taunton is the county town of Somerset, England. The town, including its suburbs, had an estimated population of 61,400 in 2001. It is the largest town in the shire county of Somerset....
, Somerset, England. Local folklore has it that the small wooded area between the church and Staplegrove Scout Hut was the inspiration for his lyrics.
Uses in media
Composer John W. Bratton originally called the song the "Teddy Bear Two-Step". An early recording (probably the first) was made by the Black Diamond Band for Zonophone recordsZonophone
Zonophone, early on also rendered as Zon-O-Phone was a record label founded in 1899 in Camden, New Jersey by Frank Seaman. The Zonophone name was not that of the company, but was applied to the records and machines sold by Seaman from 1899-1900 to 1903...
in 1908. Around this time it was also recorded by Arthur Pryor
Arthur Pryor
Arthur Willard Pryor was a trombone virtuoso, bandleader, and soloist with the Sousa Band. In later life, he was an American Democratic Party politician from New Jersey, who served on the Monmouth County, New Jersey Board of Chosen Freeholders during the 1930s.Pryor was born on the second floor of...
's marching band. The first vocal version was recorded in 1932 by Henry Hall
Henry Hall (bandleader)
Henry Hall was a British bandleader. He played from the 1920s to the 1950s.-Biography:Henry Hall was born in Peckham, South London and served in both the Salvation Army and the British Army...
and His Orchestra (EMI SH 172), with Val Rosing
Val Rosing
Val Rosing was the British "Dance Hall" singer best known as the vocalist with the BBC Henry Hall Orchestra. Born as Valerian Rosing, he was the son of Russian tenor and opera director, Vladimir Rosing and English singer Marie Falle...
singing Kennedy's lyrics. The Hall rendition is perhaps the best-known in the UK and was featured in the Dennis Potter drama The Singing Detective
The Singing Detective
The Singing Detective is a BBC television miniseries written by Dennis Potter, which stars Michael Gambon, and was directed by Jon Amiel. The six episodes were "Skin", "Heat", "Lovely Days", "Clues", "Pitter Patter" and "Who Done It"....
. The song has been recorded by such singers as Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Frank DeVol, Jackie Lynton, Rosemary Clooney
Rosemary Clooney
Rosemary Clooney was an American singer and actress. She came to prominence in the early 1950s with the novelty hit "Come On-a My House" written by William Saroyan and his cousin Ross Bagdasarian , which was followed by other pop numbers such as "Botch-a-Me" Rosemary Clooney (May 23, 1928 –...
, Dave Van Ronk
Dave Van Ronk
Dave Van Ronk was an American folk singer, born in Brooklyn, New York, who settled in Greenwich Village, New York, and was eventually nicknamed the "Mayor of MacDougal Street" ....
, Jerry Garcia
Jerry Garcia
Jerome John "Jerry" Garcia was an American musician best known for his lead guitar work, singing and songwriting with the band the Grateful Dead...
, John Inman
John Inman
Frederick John Inman was an English actor best known for his role as Mr. Humphries in Are You Being Served?, a British sitcom in the 1970s and 1980s. Inman was also well known in the United Kingdom as a pantomime dame....
, Trout Fishing in America
Trout Fishing in America (band)
Trout Fishing in America is a musical duo which performs folk rock and children's music. The duo is composed of Keith Grimwood and Ezra Idlet...
, and Anne Murray
Anne Murray
Morna Anne Murray CC, ONS is a Canadian singer in pop, country and adult contemporary styles whose albums have sold over 54 million copies....
.
The piece has been used as a theme song or background music in films and programs, such as the wartime BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
sitcom Dad's Army
Dad's Army
Dad's Army is a British sitcom about the Home Guard during the Second World War. It was written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft and broadcast on BBC television between 1968 and 1977. The series ran for 9 series and 80 episodes in total, plus a radio series, a feature film and a stage show...
in its episode called The Big Parade. The instrumental version appears briefly in the musical score to accompany Buster Keaton
Buster Keaton
Joseph Frank "Buster" Keaton was an American comic actor, filmmaker, producer and writer. He was best known for his silent films, in which his trademark was physical comedy with a consistently stoic, deadpan expression, earning him the nickname "The Great Stone Face".Keaton was recognized as the...
's silent film The General
The General (1927 film)
The General is a 1926 American silent comedy film released by United Artists inspired by the Great Locomotive Chase, which happened in 1862. Buster Keaton starred in the film and co-directed it with Clyde Bruckman...
. It was also occasionally used as a background theme in Looney Tunes
Looney Tunes
Looney Tunes is a Warner Bros. animated cartoon series. It preceded the Merrie Melodies series and was Warner Bros.'s first animated theatrical series. Since its first official release, 1930's Sinkin' in the Bathtub, the series has become a worldwide media franchise, spawning several television...
. The song features prominently in Peter Greenaway
Peter Greenaway
Peter Greenaway, CBE is a British film director. His films are noted for the distinct influence of Renaissance and Baroque painting, and Flemish painting in particular...
's film A Zed & Two Noughts
A Zed & Two Noughts
Elements of Michael Nyman's score invoke the "Dies Irae" section from Heinrich Ignaz Biber's Requiem ex F con terza minore. The Angelfish Decay/Swan Rot/L'Escargot theme was originally written for Childs Play, a dance work commissioned by Lucinda Childs. Performance of the soundtrack is credited...
, and is sung by characters in the film.
In the late 1940s and early 1950s it was used as the theme song for the Big Jon and Sparkie radio program, a children's show presented on weekdays and Saturday mornings. This version used was performed by organist Ethel Smith
Ethel Smith (organist)
Ethel Smith was an organist who played primarily in a pop style on the Hammond organ.Her recording of Tico Tico was her best-known hit. It reached No. 14 on the U.S. pop charts in November 1944 and sold over one million copies worldwide. She also recorded it for the 1944 film, Bathing Beauty...
. The Saturday Show was later named "No School Today".
In 1983 Green Tiger Press turned Kennedy's lyrics into a children's book, with illustrations by company co-founder Sandra Darling (under the name Alexandra Day). Original printings included a 7" record, with the Bing Crosby recording on the A side, and a recording by a local klezmer band, dubbed "The Bearcats", on the B side.
Use by BBC Radio Engineers
The 1932 Henry Hall recording was used for more than 30 years by BBC audio engineers (up until the early 1960s) to test and calibrate audio equipment. It was possibly last played at the end of the final transmission from the old Regional transmitters at Washford in the early 1980s.Its especially good recording quality and the large tonal range of the music made it ideal for checking the frequency response of audio equipment. BBC Engineering even had special vinyl pressings made to reduce any surface noise.