Gabby received national attention even before his release. Writing in The New Yorker in December 1985, the magazine compared Gabby directly with Teddy Ruxpin, then the undisputed leader of the market. The article described Gabby as a twenty-inch talking bear whose facial movements synchronized with specially produced story cassettes, and quoted a Select executive who proudly referred to him as “state of the bear.”

The New Yorker also documented the competitive landscape of Christmas 1985. Teddy Ruxpin retailed for $89.95 at FAO Schwarz, while A.G. Bear, another major competitor, entered the market at $55. Select introduced Gabby Bear at approximately $50, positioning him as one of the most affordable full-featured storytelling bears available that holiday season.

Standing 22 inches tall and weighing nearly 40 ounces without batteries, Gabby was powered by four AA batteries and included a 6-volt DC adapter to reduce battery consumption during extended listening sessions. His mouth and eyes moved in synchronization with specially produced cassette tapes, allowing him to “read” stories directly to children.

Gabby was supported by a library of ten illustrated storybooks released between 1985 and 1986. Each title was paired with its own cassette tape, and the stories could be purchased individually, or together as a complete collection. Rather than relying on familiar fairy tales, the series introduced an original cast of characters, including Robin Raven, Fooly Fox, Bandit Raccoon, Knuckles the Squirrel, Mary Jo the Cow, and, of course, Gabby Bear himself.

Perhaps the bear’s greatest asset was his voice. Gabby’s warm personality was brought to life by veteran voice actor Dick Beals, whose long career included iconic character performances as Gumby, and the Speedy Alka-Seltzer mascot. His kind, energetic performance gave Gabby an immediately recognizable charm that remains fondly remembered by adults today.

Convertors may have been Select’s flagship brand, but Gabby Bear has arguably become the company’s single most enduring ambassador. Although Gabby never approached Teddy Ruxpin’s commercial success, he has enjoyed a remarkable afterlife among collectors. Complete storybook sets are increasingly difficult to assemble, surviving bears are carefully restored and preserved, and enthusiasts continue to digitize the original recordings so the stories are not lost. Forty years after his introduction, Gabby appears to have the most active collector community of any Select product. Across collector forums, Facebook groups, YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, memories of Gabby continue to surface with surprising regularity. Many owners remember him not simply as another talking toy, but as a childhood companion, whose stories they can still recite decades later. Gabby Bear remains one of the most frequently discussed and affectionately remembered products Select Merchandise ever released.

Story titles included:

• “Robbin’ Raven Goes Nutty”
• “The Purrr Pet Pillow Caper”
• “Fooly, The Unfoxey Fox”
• “The Persnickety Pristine de Pigge”
• “Bandit, The Outrageous Raccoon”
• “Ruff Wolf’s Not So Tuff”
• “Knuckles The Squirrel, Knuckles Under”
• “Woodpecking With The Peck Brothers”
• “Mary Jo, The Kindly Cow”