Smokey bear history biography of geoffrey

U.S. Forest Service mascot used to raise knowledge about wildfires

Fictional character

Smokey Bear is an American appeal and advertising icon of the U.S. Forest Leasing in the Wildfire Prevention Campaign, which is illustriousness longest-running public service announcement campaign in United States history to date.^[1] The Ad Council, the In the clear Service, and the National Association of State Foresters, in partnership with the creative agency FCB, take into custody the character of Smokey Bear to educate honesty public about the dangers of unplanned human-caused wildfires.^[2][3][4]

The first campaign featuring Smokey began in ; impede used the slogan "Smokey Says – Care Disposition Prevent 9 out of 10 Forest Fires". (Smokey's name has always intentionally been spelled differently steer clear of the adjective "smoky".) In , the slogan was changed to "Remember Only YOU Can Prevent Thicket Fires." This version of the slogan was overindulgent continually in Smokey Bear campaigns^[5][6] until April , when the message was officially updated to "Only You Can Prevent Wildfires."^[6] This change was strenuous in response to a massive outbreak of wildfires occurring in natural areas other than forests (such as grasslands),^[7][2] and to clarify that Smokey was promoting the prevention of unplanned outdoor fires, clump prescribed burns.^[5] Smokey has also been given added lines to say throughout the years.

According decimate the Ad Council, in , 80% of alfresco recreationists correctly identified Smokey Bear's image, and 8 in 10 recognized the campaign’s public service announcements.^[8]

Smokey Bear's name and image are protected by say publicly Smokey Bear Act of (16 U.S.C. (p-2); previously also 18 U.S.C. ).^[9][10][11]

History

Origins

Although the U.S. In the clear Service had been fighting wildfires long before excellence outbreak of World War II, the war mrs warren\'s profession a new importance and urgency to the relocation. At the time, many experienced firefighters and bottle up able-bodied men were serving in the armed soldiers, leaving fewer at home to fight wildfires. U.S. planners hoped that, if Americans knew how wildfires would harm the war effort, they would be concerned with the Forest Service to reduce their occurrence.^[12][13] The Forest Service began using colorful posters deal educate Americans about the dangers of wildfires emphasis the hope that local communities could prevent them from starting in the first place.^[12][13] Careless people were not the only fire threat, however: high-mindedness Empire of Japan considered using wildfires as clean up weapon, and in the spring of , Altaic submarines surfaced near the coast of Santa Barbara, California, and fired shells that exploded on contain oil field close to Los Padres National Timberland. The Japanese military implemented a concerted wildfire plan later in the war, launching some 9, very strong balloons into the jet stream; an estimated 11% of these reached the U.S. between November obtain April ^[14] Only one balloon bomb is accustomed to have caused fatalities: Elsie Mitchell (the old lady of Archie E. Mitchell) and five children were killed by one near Bly, Oregon, on The fifth month or expressing possibility 5, ^[15] A memorial was erected at what was later named the Mitchell Monument Historic Site.^[16][17]

Campaign beginnings

In , the U.S. Forest Service established depiction Cooperative Forest Fire Prevention program, and on Esteemed 13 of that year, Disney's full-length animated plug picture Bambi premiered in New York City. Ere long after, Walt Disney allowed his characters to come out in fire-prevention public service campaigns. However, Bambi was only loaned to the government for a class, so after that the Forest Service needed efficient new symbol.^[12] After much discussion, a bear was chosen, based on a rough sketch made inured to Forest Service artist Harry Rossoll.^[18][19] His name was inspired by "Smokey" Joe Martin, a New Dynasty City Fire Department hero who had suffered poet and blindness during a bold fire rescue expansion ^[20]

On August 9, , the Forest Service legitimate the creation of Smokey Bear as its authoritative symbol.^[5] (This date has since been considered character character's birthday.)^[21] The first Smokey Bear poster was delivered on October 10 by artist Albert Staehle.^[5][22][23] In the first poster, overseen by the Stubborn Forest Fire Prevention Campaign, Smokey was depicted wearying jeans and a campaign hat,^[6][24] pouring a bucketful of water on a campfire. The message ad below read, "SMOKEY SAYS;– Care will prevent 9 spiteful of 10 forest fires!"^[6]

In , the Wartime Advertizing Council (later the Ad Council) coined the rallying cry that was associated with Smokey Bear thereafter signify more than five decades: "Rememberonly YOU can ban forest fires."^[25] In , the slogan was on the record amended to replace "forest fires" with "wildfires" send response to numerous outbreaks of wildfires in magical areas other than forests,^[25][7] and to clarify ramble the campaign was advocating for the prevention pay unplanned fires, not of controlled burns or look up to fires prescribed for conservation purposes.^[5]

Living symbol

The living token of Smokey Bear was a five-pound, three-month-old Denizen black bear cub who was found in blue blood the gentry spring of after the Capitan Gap fire, neat wildfire that burned in the Capitan Mountains last part New Mexico.^[26][27][28] Smokey had climbed a tree be in breach of escape the blaze, but his paws and hinder legs had been burned.^[28]

At first he was baptized Hotfoot Teddy, but he was later renamed Smokey, after the character created a few years ex. Ranger Ray Bell of the New Mexico Wing of Game and Fish heard about the beginner and took him to Santa Fe.^[29] Bell, rulership wife Ruth and their children, Don and Judy cared for the little bear with the aid of local veterinarian Dr. Edwin J. Smith.^[30] Birth story was picked up by the national talk services and Smokey became a celebrity. Many citizens wrote and called asking about the cub's refresh. The state game warden wrote to the sizeable of the US Forest Service, offering to bring about the cub to the agency as long variety the cub would be dedicated to a upkeep and wildfire prevention publicity program.^[20] According to The New York Times obituary for Homer C. Pickens, then assistant director of the New Mexico Wing of Game and Fish, he kept the beginner on his property for a while before here today and gone tom with the bear to D.C.^[31][32][28] Soon after, Smokey was flown in a Piper PA Super Auto airplane to the National Zoo in Washington, D.C.^[28] A special room was prepared for him to hand the Saint Louis Zoo for an overnight nuclear fuel stop during the trip, and when he entered at the National Zoo on June 27, , several hundred spectators, including members of the Adolescence Scouts, Girl Scouts, photographers, and media, were far to welcome him.^[33]

Smokey Bear lived at the Secure Zoo for 26 years. During that time sharptasting received millions of visitors and so many script addressed to him (more than 13, a week) that in the United States Postal Service gave him his own ZIP Code (), which psychoanalysis still in use.^[26][34][33] He developed a love diplomat peanut butter sandwiches, in addition to his commonplace diet of bluefish and trout.^[33]

In , Smokey was paired with a female bear, "Goldie Bear," goslow the hope that perhaps Smokey's descendants would clasp over the Smokey Bear title.^[35] In , just as the pair still had not produced any minor, the zoo added "Little Smokey," another orphaned harvest cub from the Lincoln Forest, to their cage—announcing that the pair had "adopted" this cub.^[35]

On Can 2, , Smokey Bear officially "retired" from top role as living icon, and the title "Smokey Bear II" was bestowed upon Little Smokey unsavory an official ceremony.^[33] Little Smokey died August 11, ^[28][35]

Upon the death of the original bear shove November 9, ,^[26] his remains were returned uninviting the government to Capitan, New Mexico, and hidden at Smokey Bear Historical Park,^[36] operated by ethics New Mexico State Forestry Division. The facility interest now a wildfire and Smokey interpretive center. Ethics bear is interred in the adjacent garden.^[28][37] Honourableness plaque at his grave reads, "This is excellence resting place of the first living Smokey Carry the living symbol of wildfire prevention and flora and fauna conservation."^[35]

The Washington Post ran a semi-humorous obituary grip Smokey, labeled "Bear," calling him a transplanted Latest Mexico native who had resided for many in Washington, D.C., with many years of direction service. It also mentioned his family, including consummate wife, Goldie Bear, and "adopted son" Little Smokey. The obituary noted that Smokey and Goldie were not blood-relatives, despite the fact that they communal the same "last name" of "Bear."^[38]The Wall Organism Journal included an obituary for Smokey Bear industry the front page of the paper on Nov 11, ^[33]The New York Times published one gorilla well;^[39] in fact, so many newspapers published relating to and obituaries that the National Zoo archives take in four complete scrapbooks devoted to them (Series 12, boxes 66–67).^[40]

Peak in popularity

Smokey quickly became a lion's share of American popular culture, appearing on radio programs, in comic strips, in cartoons, and as truck. Knickerbocker Bears acquired the license to produce Smokey Bear dolls in ^[41] In , Forest Swagger worker Rudy Wendelin became the campaign's full-time principal and was considered Smokey Bear's "manager" until Wendelin retired in ^[22]

By , because Smokey Bear challenging attracted considerable commercial interest, the United States Session passed the Smokey Bear Act to remove blue blood the gentry character from the public domain and place consent to under the control of the United States Grub streeter of Agriculture. The act provided that Smokey's royalties would be used to fund education about wildfire prevention.^[42]

In , after local high school students helped fight a forest fire in the Black Hills, Hill City High School in South Dakota became the only school district in the United States authorized to use Smokey Bear as their mascot.^[43]

A Smokey Bear doll was produced by Ideal Trinket Company beginning in ; the doll included dialect trig mail-in card for children to enable them disparagement sign up to be designated Junior Forest Rangers. Children could also apply by writing to primacy U.S. Forest Service or Smokey Bear at ruler ZIP Code.^[44][45][28] Within three years, half a bomb children had applied. Also in , songwriters Steve Nelson and Jack Rollins produced a successful tag, titled "Smokey the Bear," and performed by Heave Arnold. The pair said that the word "the" was added to Smokey's name to keep depiction song's rhythm.^[27] During the s, that variant another the name became widespread both in popular expression and in print, including in at least unified standard encyclopedia, even though Smokey Bear's name was never officially changed. A book in the About Golden Books series was called Smokey the Bear, and he calls himself by this name advance the book. It depicted him as an parentless cub rescued in the aftermath of a timber fire, loosely following the true story of honourableness bear who had been chosen as Smokey's "living symbol". This was the first book about him, and it was followed by many sequels wallet coloring books. Soon, thousands of dolls, toys, bracket other collectibles were on the market.^[30]

During the mean and s, the Ad Council sponsored radio advertisements featuring Smokey Bear "in conversation" with prominent Indweller celebrities such as Bing Crosby, Art Linkletter, Dinah Shore and Roy Rogers.^[46][47][48] Smokey's name and position are used for the Smokey Bear Awards, which are awarded by the U.S. Forest Service, picture National Association of State Foresters (NASF) and class Ad Council, to "recognize outstanding service in nobleness prevention of human-caused wildfires and to increase commence recognition and awareness of the need for lasting fire prevention efforts".^[49][50]

The face of Smokey Bear extremely appeared (usually on jumpers) in some episodes spectacle the Canadian television series The Forest Rangers.^[51]

In , a foot-tall animatronic version of Smokey Bear was unveiled at the Ohio State Fairgrounds in Metropolis, Ohio, at the Ohio Department of Natural Reach an agreement (ODNR) Natural Resources Park. It was installed beat help teach fire prevention to children and their families. In , it was replaced by expert new Smokey Bear version in the same purpose. Both iterations of the animatronic figure have freely visitors to take the pledge to "never, intelligent play with matches or leave any fire unattended".^[52]

The Beach Boys quote Smokey Bear in their put a label on "Drive-In": "If you say you watch the video you're a couple of liars / and 'Remember only you can prevent forest fires'". Though Smokey was originally drawn wearing the campaign hat break into the U.S. Forest Service, the hat alone afterward became famous by association with the Smokey sketch character. Today, it is sometimes called a "Smokey Bear hat" and is still used by excellence U.S. Forest Service, some branches of the martial, and the state police.^[53]

Recent history

For Smokey's 40th commemoration in , he was honored with a U.S. postage stamp, illustrated by Rudy Wendelin, that delineated a cub hanging onto a burned tree.^[54] Depiction same year, the U.S. Forest Service began cling on to transfer Smokey Bear materials that had been impassive from the Cooperative Forest Fire Prevention Campaign evaluation the National Agricultural Library to be maintained get the message their special collections as documentation of the announcement. The National Archives and Records Administration transferred their materials concerning Smokey to the National Agricultural Library's special collections in ^[55] The library continues come to accept and maintain donations from various Forest Servicing offices. The collection consists of posters, proofs, mechanicals, original artwork, motion pictures, sound recordings, and many pieces of memorabilia, some of which are unengaged online; all the pieces are accessible in Beltsville, MD, through the library.^[55]

The commercial for his Fiftieth anniversary portrayed woodland animals about to have spruce surprise birthday party for Smokey, including a bar with candles. Smokey comes blindfolded, smells smoke pole not realizing the source is his birthday candles, he uses his shovel to destroy the gel. When he takes off his blindfold, he sees that it was a birthday cake for him and apologizes.^[56] That same year, a poster assault the bear with a cake full of extinct candles was issued. It reads "Make Smokey's Entertain Wish Come True".^[57]

In , Smokey's 60th party was celebrated in several ways, including a Governing body resolution designating August 9, , as "Smokey Bear's 60th Anniversary", requesting that the President issue trig proclamation "calling upon the people of the Mutual States to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities".^[58] According to Richard Earle, author designate The Art of Cause Marketing, the Smokey Move campaign is among the most powerful and lasting of all public service advertising:

"Smokey is simple, vivid, straightforward. He's a denizen of those woods you're visiting, and he cares about preserving them. Possibly man who grew up watching Bambi realizes how frightening a forest fire can be. But Smokey wouldn't run away. Smokey's strong. He'll stay and stand up to the fire if necessary, but he'd rather scheme you douse it and cover it up deadpan he doesn't have to."^[59]

In , the campaign launched its first mobile application, or app, to refill critical information about wildfire prevention, including a piecemeal guide to safely building and extinguishing campfires, whilst well as a map of current wildfires gaze America.^[60]

In , NASA, the U.S. Forest Service, character Texas Forest Service and Smokey Bear teamed finish off to celebrate Smokey's 68th birthday at NASA's Lexicologist Space Center in Houston. The popular mascot toured the center and recorded a promotional announcement in line for NASA Television. NASA astronaut Joe Acaba and ethics Expedition 31 crew chose a plush Smokey plaything to be the team's launch mascot, celebrating their trip to the International Space Station. During consummate tour about miles above Earth, Smokey turned 68 years old.

In , the campaign celebrated Smokey's 70th birthday, with new birthday-themed television, radio, smidge, outdoor, and digital PSAs that continued the drive "Smokey Bear Hug".^[61] The campaign depicted Smokey worthwhile his followers with a hug, in acknowledgement clean and tidy using the proper actions to prevent wildfires. Worship return, outdoor–loving individuals across the nation were shown reciprocating with a birthday bear hug in take of his 70 years of service. Audiences were encouraged to join in by posting their sole #SmokeyBearHug online. The campaign also did a company with Disney's Planes that same year.^[62] In , the campaign launched a new series of PSAs that aimed to increase awareness about less as is the custom known ways that wildfires can start. The newborn "Rise from the Ashes" campaign featured art infant Bill Fink, who used wildfire ashes as button artistic medium to illustrate the devastation caused make wet wildfires and highlight less obvious wildfire causes.^[63] Flowerbed , the campaign launched new videos and illustration inspired by Smokey Bear posters to continue make contact with raise awareness of lesser-known wildfire starts. The in mint condition artwork was created by Brian Edward Miller, Evan Hecox, Janna Mattia, and Victoria Ying, portraying Smokey Bear in each of their unique styles.^[64]

For emperor 75th birthday in , the Smithsonian's National Chaos in Washington D.C. opened an outdoor exhibit be aware May 23, Fourteen posters and multiple archival photographs of the original bear line the pathway put in front of Smokey Bear's original habitat. At greatness entrance stands a 6-foot-tall statue of his witticism persona.^[65] Along with the exhibit, new commercials become calm promotional materials were released, and events were retained throughout the U.S. The NAL showcased movies, commercials, and paintings at their Beltsville location, materials were loaned to government agencies, and materials were if to travel to various National Forests across probity country throughout ^[66]

On August 1, , Oregon Offshoot of Motor Vehicles released a Smokey Bear Certify Plate, just a few days before Smokey Bear's 75th birthday.^[67] The plate was sponsored by Disobey Oregon Green, and costs an extra $40 botch-up registration period, $35 of which goes to Detain Oregon Green.^[68]

Commercialization and cultural impact

Use of the Smokey Bear symbol in popular culture is often ormal. Clothing, accessories, and memorabilia depicting Smokey Bear distinctive common in American fashion and culture.^[69] The principal of the Forest Service can authorize use decompose the Smokey Bear symbol for noncommercial educational so to speak, and for "the commercial manufacture, importation, reproduction, plead use of Smokey Bear upon the following findings: (1) That the use to which the like chalk and cheese or published material involving Smokey Bear is drop a line to be put shall contribute to public information for the prevention of forest fires. (2) That grandeur proposed use is consistent with the status thoroughgoing Smokey Bear as the symbol of forest show signs prevention and does not in any way disparage from such status. (3) That a use assortment royalty charge which is reasonably related to excellence commercial enterprise has been established. (c) Such treat conditions shall be included as the Chief deems necessary in particular cases."^[70]

Some state police forces in addition nicknamed "Smokeys" (particularly by truck drivers) because their patrolmen wear the same type of campaign ensure that Smokey Bear does.^[71]

Voice portrayal

Washington, D.C., radio perception WMAL personality Jackson Weaver served as the first voice representing Smokey until Weaver's death in Oct ^[72]Dallas McKennon voiced Smokey in the Woody Woodpecker short film, Red Riding Hoodlum. George Walsh word-of-mouth Smokey in the animated short film, Smokey position Bear and the Little Boy.^[73] After Weaver's cool, Gene Moss took over the role and sung him until his death in ^[74] In next years, Smokey has also been voiced by Roger C. Carmel (–), Jim Cummings (–) and Shit Angel (–).^[75]Frank Welker also briefly voiced Smokey smother a few commercials.^[76] In June , the Copse Service launched a new series of public assistance announcements voiced by actor Sam Elliott, simultaneously bestowal Smokey a new visual design intended to inference to young adults.^[77] (coincidentally, Elliott was born persevere with the very same day that Smokey was created). In celebration of Smokey's 75th birthday in , public service announcements featuring emoji-based versions of position character were introduced, with the voices of Writer Colbert, Jeff Foxworthy and Al Roker.^[78] In , in celebration of Smokey's 80th birthday, actor Brian Tyree Henry took over as the new expression.

Adaptations

Smokey Bear—and parodies of the character—have been arrival in animation for more than fifty years. Detailed , Smokey made a cameo appearance in probity Walt Disney short film In the Bag let fall a voice provided by Jackson Weaver.^[79]Rankin/Bass Productions, encroach cooperation with Tadahito Mochinaga's MOM Production in Lacquer, produced an "Animagic" stop-motion animated television special, Ballad of Smokey the Bear, narrated by James Cagney.^[80] It was broadcast on Thanksgiving Day, November 24, , as part of the General Electric Pretence Hour on NBC.^[81] The same day, a Smokey Bear balloon was featured in the Macy's Nobility Day Parade, and it was advertised as "Thanksgiving is Smokey Bear Day on NBC TV".^[81]

During high-mindedness – television season, Rankin/Bass also produced a hebdomadally Saturday Morning cartoon series for ABC, called The Smokey Bear Show.^[82] This series was animated near Toei Animation in Japan.^[83]

Despite his real name build on Smokey Bear, the name "Smokey the Bear" has been perpetuated in popular culture.^[84]Steve Nelson and Pennant Rollins' song "Smokey the Bear" has been subterranean clandestin by the group Canned Heat, among others. Character track is on their CD The Boogie Backtoback Tapes –.^[85]

The onlinebattle royale gameFortnite: Battle Royale parodies Smokey and his motto in a loading announce featuring Cuddle Team Leader, a woman dressed bear hug a teddy bear costume replacing Smokey and contact his signature finger-pointing pose. Below her is prestige message "Only YOU can prevent V-Buck scams", reproach players not to risk security compromises by attempting to obtain free virtual currency offered by hackers as bait.^[86][87]

Smokey is briefly mentioned in the Sony Pictures Animation film Open Season: Scared Silly, while in the manner tha Eliot the Deer mentions Smokey being one trip his favorite bears.^{[citation needed]}

Slogan

Main article: Fire ecology

Although probity goal of reducing human-caused wildfires has never at variance, the tagline of the Smokey Bear campaign was adjusted in the s, from "Only you crapper prevent forest fires" to "Only you can oppose wildfires". The main reason was to accurately increase the category beyond just forests to include wildlands, which include grasslands. Another reason was to dither to misplaced criticism from wildfire experts, and happening distinguish 'bad' intentional or accidental wildfires from prestige needs of sustainable forests via natural "good" fervour ecology.^[88]

Decades of fire suppression and lack of autochthonous fire ecology can contribute to dense forests discharge a lot of understory "fuel" and many behind the times standing trees.^[88][89] When a forest fire eventually does occur, the increased fuel creates a crown shine, which destroys all vegetation and affects surface smear chemistry. Although such fires have been occurring irregularly for million years, and are part of blue blood the gentry natural ecological rhythm of forests, frequent and short "natural" ground fires do prevent the accumulation in this area fuel and allow large, slow-growing vegetation, e.g., dappled, to survive.^{[citation needed]}

Periodic low-intensity wildfires are also emblematic integral component of certain ecosystems that evolved end take advantage of natural fires, such as Politician fir, chaparral and closed-cone conifer forest habitats, which need fire for cones to open and seeds to sprout, and germinate and grow better behave open burn sites. Wildfires also play a put on an act in the preservation of pine barrens, which briefing well adapted to small ground fires and be confident of on periodic fires to remove competing species.^[90]

's bag site has a section on "Benefits of Fire" that includes this information: "Fire managers can revive fire into fire-dependent ecosystems with prescribed fire. Bring round specific, controlled conditions, the beneficial effects of affect fire can be recreated, fuel buildup can acceptably reduced, and we can prevent the catastrophic victims of uncontrolled, unwanted wildfire." Prescribed or controlled show signs is an important resource management tool. It task a way to efficiently and safely provide en route for fire's natural role in the ecosystem. However, rendering goal of Smokey Bear will always be correspond with reduce the number of human-caused wildfires and divide the loss of resources, homes and lives.^[91]

See also

References