Tuesday, October 28, 2008

The Answer

"Radar" O'Reilly's Teddy Bear

Corporal Walter Eugene “Radar” O’Reilly was a fictional character in the M*A*S*H film and television series.
The character was portrayed by Gary Burghoff.
Burghoff was the only actor from the film to reprise his role on television.

Radar was often portrayed as a friendly but very young and naive man from Iowa. As a symbol of how young this man was when he got to Korea, he slept with a Teddy Bear. The Teddy Bear was never given a name in the series.

As a way of saying that Radar came to Korea as a boy and went home a man, he left his Teddy Bear behind, leaving it with Hawkeye Pierce, who added the Teddy Bear to a time capsule with several other items from the camp.

On July 29, 2005, the original Teddy Bear used in the series was sold at an auction for $11,800.

And no, it wasn't me that bought it.


Photobucket
Bear((( )))

29 comments:

kenju said...

Aw, sweet little Radar. He had my favorite line in the whole series. It was about God answering prayers, and he said "Sometimes the answer is no".

Baino said...

Ah. . never got it. Thought it might even have been yours!

Rinkly Rimes said...

I'd like to see that series again. It was very funny but quite moving at the same time.

Chesapeake Bay Woman said...

Wow - I knew the bear looked familiar but would never have guessed that. I will say it looks very similar to one my mother had as a child that my grandmother kept.

That's an incredible price for a bear!

abb said...

Amazing! I loved that show and remember Radar's bear well. It's a true time capsule icon on many levels.

bobbie said...

Yes, perfect for a time capsule. I should have remembered it. Loved Radar.

What costumes are your teddies going to wear for Halloween?

Mental P Mama said...

Of course! I love that show, and Radar is the best.

Tabor said...

This is a nice memory and I never would have gotten it right. I also did not remember the symbolism.

Anonymous said...

Of course! I loved that series!

Anonymous said...

I would never have guessed that one because I forgot all about Radar having a teddy bear. Thanks for the jog down memory lane. :)

Anonymous said...

Ah, Bear, of course, as always when you have the answer it was so obvious.
XO

Daryl said...

I thought his name was Teddy

Anonymous said...

I loved Mash, in fact, I still watch it. I can almost say the dialogue along with the actors.

david mcmahon said...

You didn't buy it? That is my BIG shock of the day!

Gary ("Old Dude") said...

well I have to admit he does look like the same bear---but I could swear his name began with a "J"----are your sure its Radar's child??

Anonymous said...

Oh wow, I would never have got it, though I loved MASH.

Gill - That British Woman said...

That is so interesting, as I have just started watching MASH again at lunch time, as its on the History channel here in Southern Ontario (Rogers stations)

Gill

Kay Dennison said...

As an inveterate M*A*S*H fan, I should have known that but I was/am usually laughing too hard to notice.

peppylady (Dora) said...

I would never came up with it and Mash is one great show.

Coffee is on

Wendy said...

I forgot all about Radar's bear too! What a price for the teddy!!

Anonymous said...

I always learn something from your posts. Radar - we loved the show. I had forgotten about the teddy bear.

Rune Eide said...

As devotee of the MASH film as series, this was a piece of very interesting trivia.

Liz Hinds said...

Good old Radar. I have the first series on DVD now. Quite dated but still very amusing and clever.

D Herrod said...

Wow that is a valuable bear. Radar was one of my favorite MASH characters.

i beati said...

I know now that you are the leading authority on bears !!! Are you doing the crafty Christmas card at Bob Bears?

mrsnesbitt said...

Brings back memories of my teenage years!

Hilary said...

Great nostalgia. I used to love that show but was very disappointed in the final episode. I stopped watching the reruns for years after that. I'm over it now. ;)

Sandi McBride said...

Its the utter naked childhood that I see on our soldiers today that make me sad. But then, it's always been the young who saved the world.
Sandi

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