Hello. I am using my Moms email but was wondering about Scoopy. Was he really designed by Walt Disney? Thank you very much.

Sincerely, Joshua Reams

Thanks for the great question! People often ask about our mascot, Scoopy. He (and Gaby, McClatchy's radio mascot) were created by Walt Disney Studios in exchange for a $1,500 McClatchy donation to the Army Relief Fund during World War II. Scoopy and Gaby made their front-page debut at all three Bee papers (Fresno, Sacramento and Modesto) on Sept. 4, 1943. (See this image of the original Scoopy).

The pair were requested by Eleanor McClatchy, then president of McClatchy, "to lend personality and a familiar identity to all the products" of the company. (Disney lore says they were actually created by Disney staff artist Hank Porter, although they have the Disney trademark of three fingers and a thumb). Over the years, Bee staff artists added -- with Disney's approval -- Flutey (for the company's FM stations) and Teevy (for its television stations).

Your mom might remember Teevy: Each broadcast day on Channel 24 ended with a cartoon of Teevy tucking himself into bed and bidding the audience good night.