Santabear’s High Flying Adventure

🎄 This episode is stuffed with surprises, so get your propeller spinning and take off back to 1987 as we nosedive into the history of Santabear, a Midwest Christmas tradition we wish found a place to land elsewhere.

At press time, you can find “Santabear’s High Flying Adventure” on the Internet Archive, or a recording with the original commercials on YouTube.

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🎙 Guests:

Ethan (The Hungry Reader, A Special Presentation or ALF Will Not Be Seen Tonight)

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💬 Topics & Tangents:

Mike on “Special Presentation…” for “Poochie” and “The Hugga Bunch Movie.”

“Santabear’s First Christmas,” the original book and the 1986 special.

IMDb claims Dennis Hopper is in this, but I didn’t hear him.

Antarctica’s Christmas Traditions, including a “Race Around the World.”

The Odd Case of Dennis the Menace.

Today’s TV Trope: Spot the Imposter.

What is the history behind the Dayton’s Santa Bear? (WCCO-TV, 2022).

An official list of every Santa Bear made, 1985–2007 (WDIV-TV, 2023).

The Dayton’s Project’s 2024 Santa Bear.

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📼 Commercials:

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Christmas Commercial and Santabear Sweepstakes (1987)

Oreos for Santa (1986)

Holiday M&M’s (1987)

Wild Puffalumps (1987)

Doublemint Gum (1987)

The Studio Demands It!

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“Santabear’s High Flying Adventure” © 1987 Dayton Hudson Corporation.

Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost.
Full show notes and social links at adventcalendar.house.