Smokey Bear - Only You...

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- Smokey Bear

He represents the longest-running public service campaign in US history.

Smokey Bear debuted on a poster on this date in 1944, which is also considered the birthday of the animal who later became the real-life mascot represented in the image.

In 1950, a small black bear was found charred and alone after a wildfire in New Mexico.

The cub was sent to a Santa Fe veterinary hospital, where his burns were treated.

Soon, the US Forest Service took responsibility for the bear and decided to make him the living symbol of the bear in the public service advertisements.

They sent Smokey to Washington DC's National Zoo, where he lived for 26 years.

His fictional counterpart, who turns 65 today, continues to work to prevent wildfires.

Quote: "Only you can prevent forest fires." — Smokey Bear's slogan

Richard

 

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More on Smokey

Smokey Bear was named after "Smokey Joe" Martin who was the assistant chief of the New York City Fire Department from 1919 -1930. The character of Smokey Bear was first painted by Albert Staehle in 1944. Numerous artists were involved in the development of the Smokey Bear character, most notably Rudolph Wendelin who painted for the CFFP program from 1949 until his retirement in 1973. Smokey Bear's famous slogan, "Remember, only you can prevent forest fires!" was developed by the Wartime Advertising Council in 1947. (info from Special Collections, National Agricultural Library)

 

[JoeMid]

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