Looking Back

From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History 

accessible at thejewishnews.com

62 | FEBRUARY 8 • 2024 J
N

The First Internet Craze
E

lizabeth King, the 
JN’s digital manager, 
said to me: “Did you 
know that 2023 was the 30th 
anniversary of Beanie Babies? 
You should write about 
them.” I had no idea what I 
was getting into.
My initial thought was — 
what do I know 
about Beanie 
Babies? Nothing. 
However, they 
did sound like 
an intriguing 
topic. I’ve never 
owned one 
of these little, 
lovable, stuffed 
plush toy animals, but like 
most Americans, I was aware 
of the pervasive “Beanies.” 
To date, more than 800 types 
of Beanie animals have been 
produced. Little did I know, 
however, that they have a 
fascinating history. 
Beanie Babies debuted in 
1993, the invention of H. Ty 
Warner. It also appears that 
Warner, a bachelor without 
children, relied heavily upon, 
but did not fully credit, the 
input of his close colleagues 
(including contributions 
of several women) in the 
development of the toy. 
The reclusive Warner is 
not known as a great boss 
and was later convicted of 
tax evasion, but he has also 
donated millions to charity.
“Beanies” were innovative. 
First, they were deliberately 
under-stuffed to make them 
more huggable and pliable — 
one can pose a Beanie unlike 
most other stuffed toys before 

them.
Perhaps the real 
innovations are 
related to marketing. 
Beanies are often 
considered to be the 
first internet sensation, 
debuting online in 
1995. This, along 
with a most brilliant 
piece of marketing 
— the inclusion of 
“Teenie Beanies” with 
McDonald’s “Happy 
Meals” in 1996 — made 
Beanies a national craze. 
By 1997, Beanies were a 
hot item for collectors, even 
spawning counterfeit Beanies 
… until the bubble burst 
after a few years, as it does 
for most fads. Still, a few 
years ago, a rare “Brownie the 
Bear” sold for $20,000 and 
a limited-edition Princess 
Diana Beanie sold for 
$500,000 (I’d check your 
closets now!).
Although Ty Inc. never 
made Jewish Beanies, I did 
find a collection of eight 
plush beanie-style toys online 
from 1999 with a Jewish 
twist: the Macca Beanies from 
Oy Inc. 
After a cruise into the 
William Davidson Digital 
Archive of Jewish Detroit 
History, I also discovered 
that Beanies have had an 
impact on Jewish children, 
parents, grandparents and 
local Detroit communal 
organizations. Many of 
the pages that cite Beanies 
are advertisements such as 
that for Veena’s Cards & 
Collectibles (Jan. 17, 1997) or 

Beanie Baby birthday parties 
at the Beverly Hills Racquet 
& Health Club (June 20, 
1997).
The best stories involving 
Beanies are heartwarming 
ones. For example, let me 
cite Jared Moss’ bar mitzvah 
announcement. Moss said 
his most meaningful mitzvah 
project was with “Magic 
Hugs,” where Beanies are 
wrapped in handmade 
blankets for the nonprofit 
Kids Kicking Cancer (June 
2, 2011). Abby Bice, 12, 
knew firsthand how it feels 
to be hospitalized, and she 
experienced the important 
role Beanies played when 

needing an IV. So, Bice 
teamed up with Leo’s Coney 
Island, her favorite restaurant, 
and held a fundraiser to 
purchase Beanies for Detroit’s 
Children’s Hospital (Nov. 12, 
2004). 
“Beanie Bonanza” is a great 
article. Dr. Phyllis Segal of 
West Bloomfield teamed up 
with third-graders to send 
toys and cards to hospitalized 
kids, including more than 600 
Beanies (May 23, 1997).
Beanie Babies occupy 
rarified toy air with Barbie, 
Pokémon and Cabbage Patch 
Kids. Wish I had invented 
Beanies. I would be writing 
this LB from my yacht. 

Want to learn more? Go to the 
DJN archives, available for free at 
thejewishnews.com.

Mike Smith
Alene and 
Graham Landau 
Archivist Chair