DR. Clay Pimentel is a Doctor in a highly specialized field,taking care of Teddy Ruxpin from Worlds Of Wonder.So before I get ahead of myself let's start at the beginning.
In 1985 after 30 years as a Financial Manager at General Motors Corporation Clay Pimentel retired.Four days later at age 54 he took a job as the Director of Consumer Services at Worlds Of Wonder.There he was in charge of the "GRUNDO GENERAL HOSPITAL" sounds like a title of a soap opera but was the place where sick, and injured Teddy Ruxpins and Grubbys' could go to get well again.DR. Clay spent much of his time on the telephone reassuring worried Teddy owners and angry parents whose bears didn't work correctly,and taking care of the admitted toys.Pimenetel is a difficult name for chidren to pronounce so he told them his name was DR. Clay.They would say "DR. Clay are you going to make my bear well?" and thus the a.k.a. which most of us know him from was started DR. Clay "Bearwell".
Through a letter I have received from DR. Bearwell, one of the most rewarding parts of his job while working with Worlds Of Wonder was touring with Teddy Ruxpin throughout the U.S. visiting terminally ill chidren and those in orphanages.I also have gotten several e-mails from those fortunate enough to come in contact with him.He was always known to go out of his way for people here and abroad.
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Grundo General Hospital wrist tag that was attched to Teddy Ruxpin.
Notice the name DR. Bearwell. | In 1991 when Worlds Of Wonder closed it's doors, DR. Bearwell hated the thought of seeing Teddy Ruxpin fade into obscurity.He put out a bid and purchased all of the company's existing stock for $125,000.00,and then bought more finished product from the Korea and China manufacturers.He then opened TOY FAIRE in that same year as well as moving into a 5,000-square-foot space located in Freemont California, with a sky blue-painted ceiling,a full wall painting that looked like the Land Of Grundo and Rillonia,and a choir of Teddy Ruxpins and Grubby in tuxedos that sang at 2:00 P.M. every day.
TOY FAIRE was the only authorized dealer of Worlds Of Wonder products.Over the years he had looked and hunted down stored caches of Worlds Of Wonder items and buying them from collectors and other retailers such as Toys "R" Us who helped him by selling their leftover stock.
Janan Fairbairn who was the Worlds Of Wonder Clothing Designer for the WOW Toys, such as the Teddy Ruxpin Collector's Box Series and the Mother Goose Collector's Box Series had been asscociated with DR. Clay and I have been told you could get custom designed clothing for your Teddy Ruxpin,Grubby and Mother Goose at TOY FAIRE even a Fremont Police Officer Set for Teddy Ruxpin.
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Janan is sitting behind Mother Goose with her Granddaughter. |
Some of her many designs for Teddy Ruxpin and Mother Goose. |
Janan Fairbairn is known as the "Top Hat Lady" and made custom Top Hats for the WOWs' I have seen some of the custom hats and outfits she made for Mother Goose and the tiny Top Hats for Hector.
I am fortunate now to own a Astaire Style Tophat for Teddy Ruxpin made by the "TopHat Lady" herself. Thank You Janan!
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My very own Janan "TopHat Lady" Fairbairn. This tophat is professional made and the craftsmanship is phenomonal. |
These numbers are from an article I read about DR. Bearwell and TOY FAIRE in 1992 his staff which included the WOW veteran Nancy Wiseman better known as "Surgeon Nancy" and 5 other members repaired 750 toys and sold 5,000 new ones.Toy Faire was known World Wide and had done numerous International repairs.
TOY FAIRE closed it's doors in 1998 it was rumored that they were to close in 1994 but everyone was so saddened that DR. Clay dug up more WOW stock and stayed open another 4 years.Thank You to DR. Clay "Bearwell" Pimentel if you hadn't had a part in the Worlds Of Wonder history Teddy Ruxpin and the gang would have been even more short lived.
A point of interest DR. Clay is now a travel agent,him and his wife travel all over with his travel groups.He once said "maybe I'll retire at 70" : )
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DR. Bearwell and his infamous choir.Notice Janan Fairbairn's work sitting on the heads of Teddy and Grubby. | In 1998 TOY FAIRE closed but not entirely as Surgeon Nancy moved it to Gardnerville,Nevada renaming it BEARS 'N CARES were she carried on the repairing and selling of the last remaining Worlds Of Wonder Original Stock.I had bought items from them and it was always a great experience.They had a great website and many hard to find items for sale.
But sadly they too have closed their doors in June-2004.
I was fortunate to get several referrals for repairs and restorations from both DR. Bearwell and Surgeon Nancy and I am very glad to have met both of them,they have been a great help.
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This is a letter I received from BEARS 'N CARES. |
There is also A4ANIMATION to give a Thank You to as well.
Founded by Stan (DR. Stan) and Marianne Hanel.This duo has been keeping Teddy Ruxpin and the WOW's going as well as selling me parts and being a great source of WOW information.
Thank You!
DR. Clay "Bearwell" Pimentel
SURGEON Nancy Wiseman
DR. Stan and Marianne Hanel
Janan Fairbairn | 
