It was on this date in 1958 (give or take 11 months or so) that Yogi Bear made his small screen debut on the Huckleberry Hound Show. To commemorate this important anniversary we present our tribute to Yogi.

With a name stolen from the beloved Yogi Berra and a voice swiped from adorable Ed Norton, Yogi wasn’t taking any chances on being accepted by the American public. No wonder he says he’s smarter than the av-er-age bear!

This lovable cartoon bear stole pic-a-nic baskets and our hearts, going on to star in his own TV show, plus movies, specials, comic books and more. Not to mention being immortalized in song more than once. (See and hear here.)

Thanks and a tip of the Hatlo hat to our pal The Golden Gup, music maven and dee-jay par excellence, who is responsible for re-en-hippening yours truly to this forgotten gem (which I had forgotten). It’s The Ivy Three singing their bizarre paean to birthday boy Yogi Bear. Never to be forgotten again!

Click the link below and wish Yogi a happy 55th birthday!

Yogi Bear - The Ivy Three