Who is Uncle Wiggly Longears and Why Should I Watch?

Welcome. Before we begin tonight's tale,

Welcome. Before we begin tonight's tale,

I want to introduce you to the gentleman

I want to introduce you to the gentleman

at the center of this world. He's a

at the center of this world. He's a

rabbit with a silk hat, a striped

rabbit with a silk hat, a striped

crutch, and more courage than most

crutch, and more courage than most

kings. His name is Uncle Wiggily Long

kings. His name is Uncle Wiggily Long

Ears. He first appeared way back in

Ears. He first appeared way back in

1910, created by the American author

1910, created by the American author

Howard R. Garis. The story started in a

Howard R. Garis. The story started in a

newspaper, the Newark News, and then

newspaper, the Newark News, and then

grew into dozens and dozens of books.

grew into dozens and dozens of books.

For over 30 years, Garis wrote these

For over 30 years, Garis wrote these

tales almost daily. Think about that.

tales almost daily. Think about that.

Nearly 80 volumes followed. That isn't

Nearly 80 volumes followed. That isn't

just nostalgia. That's myth building

just nostalgia. That's myth building

through sheer consistency. Uncle Wiggily

through sheer consistency. Uncle Wiggily

isn't just a rabbit. He's a bunny rabbit

isn't just a rabbit. He's a bunny rabbit

gentleman. He wears glasses.

gentleman. He wears glasses.

He walks with a red and white striped

He walks with a red and white striped

rheumatism crutch. He lives in a cozy

rheumatism crutch. He lives in a cozy

hollow stump bungalow. He is polite. He

hollow stump bungalow. He is polite. He

is curious. And sometimes he's a little

is curious. And sometimes he's a little

bit naive. But he is consistently kind.

bit naive. But he is consistently kind.

He moves through a vibrant woodland

He moves through a vibrant woodland

society filled with muskrats, foxes,

society filled with muskrats, foxes,

ducks, wolves, cats, and dogs. A full

ducks, wolves, cats, and dogs. A full

social ecosystem where everyone has

social ecosystem where everyone has

their own personality,

their own personality,

their pride, their flaws, and their own

their pride, their flaws, and their own

agendas. His housekeeper, Nurse Jane

agendas. His housekeeper, Nurse Jane

Fuzzy Wuzzy, is practical, grounded, and

Fuzzy Wuzzy, is practical, grounded, and

sharp-eyed. She often balances his

sharp-eyed. She often balances his

boundless generosity with a healthy dose

boundless generosity with a healthy dose

of caution. And then there are the

of caution. And then there are the

villains like the Woozy Wolf or the

villains like the Woozy Wolf or the

Skeezix, who are always trying to stir

Skeezix, who are always trying to stir

up mischief, but rarely ever succeed.

up mischief, but rarely ever succeed.

Not because Uncle Wiggily is the

Not because Uncle Wiggily is the

strongest creature in the woods, but

strongest creature in the woods, but

because he's steady, because he believes

because he's steady, because he believes

in helping others, because he assumes

in helping others, because he assumes

good before he assumes evil, because he

good before he assumes evil, because he

doesn't let fear become his personality.

doesn't let fear become his personality.

These stories became so beloved that in

These stories became so beloved that in

1916, the Milton Bradley Company turned

1916, the Milton Bradley Company turned

Uncle Wiggily into a board game, a game

Uncle Wiggily into a board game, a game

that lasted for generations.

that lasted for generations.

Imagine that. A character born in a

Imagine that. A character born in a

newspaper becoming a staple of family

newspaper becoming a staple of family

game nights all across America. And

game nights all across America. And

today, many of these wonderful stories

today, many of these wonderful stories

live freely in the public domain,

live freely in the public domain,

preserved through incredible efforts

preserved through incredible efforts

like Project Gutenberg. That means they

like Project Gutenberg. That means they

belong to us now, to reinterpret, to

belong to us now, to reinterpret, to

reimagine, and to revive. So, why do I

reimagine, and to revive. So, why do I

share these tales with you? Because on

share these tales with you? Because on

the surface, they're charming woodland

the surface, they're charming woodland

adventures. But underneath, they're

adventures. But underneath, they're

about something much, much older.

about something much, much older.

They're about generosity in a world that

They're about generosity in a world that

often rewards selfishness. They're about

often rewards selfishness. They're about

courage without brutality. They're about

courage without brutality. They're about

facing wolves without becoming one

facing wolves without becoming one

yourself. They are about community.

yourself. They are about community.

Uncle Wiggily doesn't conquer kingdoms.

Uncle Wiggily doesn't conquer kingdoms.

He doesn't hoard treasure. He doesn't

He doesn't hoard treasure. He doesn't

dominate. He gives away cherry pies. He

dominate. He gives away cherry pies. He

climbs trees. He makes mistakes. He

climbs trees. He makes mistakes. He

trusts. He forgives. And he always,

trusts. He forgives. And he always,

always tries again. In a culture that so

always tries again. In a culture that so

often confuses aggression with strength,

often confuses aggression with strength,

I think that matters a great deal. These

I think that matters a great deal. These

stories are simple. Yes, but they are

stories are simple. Yes, but they are

not shallow.

not shallow.

They ask us, "What does it mean to be a

They ask us, "What does it mean to be a

gentleman? What does it mean to be kind

gentleman? What does it mean to be kind

when you could just be clever? What does

when you could just be clever? What does

it mean to help someone who may never be

it mean to help someone who may never be

able to repay you?"

able to repay you?"

There is something truly radical about

There is something truly radical about

innocence that survives adversity. And

innocence that survives adversity. And

there is something powerful about

there is something powerful about

revisiting old myths with adult eyes.

revisiting old myths with adult eyes.

When we retell Uncle Wiggily here, we

When we retell Uncle Wiggily here, we

aren't just pretending to be children.

aren't just pretending to be children.

We are reclaiming wonder. We are

We are reclaiming wonder. We are

examining archetypes. We're honoring

examining archetypes. We're honoring

early 20th century storytelling while

early 20th century storytelling while

adding our own voice to the tradition.

adding our own voice to the tradition.

We are rediscovering moral imagination

We are rediscovering moral imagination

in a time that often feels morally

in a time that often feels morally

exhausted. These are fables disguised as

exhausted. These are fables disguised as

bedtime stories. They are micro myths.

bedtime stories. They are micro myths.

They are parables of a woodland

They are parables of a woodland

civilization. And perhaps most

civilization. And perhaps most

importantly, they remind us that

importantly, they remind us that

adventure doesn't require cruelty, that

adventure doesn't require cruelty, that

cleverness doesn't require corruption,

cleverness doesn't require corruption,

and that you can walk with a crutch and

and that you can walk with a crutch and

still outmaneuver a wolf.

still outmaneuver a wolf.

So, when we begin each tale, please

So, when we begin each tale, please

understand this. You're not just

understand this. You're not just

listening to a rabbit hop through the

listening to a rabbit hop through the

woods. You are stepping into a

woods. You are stepping into a

century-old moral universe created by

century-old moral universe created by

Howard R. Garis, one that has survived

Howard R. Garis, one that has survived

newspapers, bookshelves, board games,

newspapers, bookshelves, board games,

and now live streams. And here in this

and now live streams. And here in this

space, we give it breath again. Now, let

space, we give it breath again. Now, let

us enter the woods and see what Uncle

us enter the woods and see what Uncle

Wiggily encounters tonight.

Wiggily encounters tonight.