Posted on 08/11/2009 8:23:13 AM PDT by Morgana
Smokey Bear is celebrating his sixty-fifth birthday, but that doesn't mean he is throwing in his shovel just yet.
Actually, thanks to computer enhancement the classic cartoon is more buff than ever-- and taller than most NBA players.
And he's back for another round of small-screen fire prevention ads.
But with this new Smokey comes a new slogan. He's asking Americans to "Get Their Smokey On."
Not only is the bear trying to stop forest fires, but he's now asking folks to be responsible when it comes to camp fires, cigarette butts and matches.
Even though Smokey may qualify for Social Security and while other spoke-animals and characters come and go, Smokey is here to stay.
The bear has the longest running public service campaign in U.S. history according to the National Forest Service and National Ad Council.
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How "Smokey Bear" Got his start!!! True story....
Orphan Bear
One spring day in 1950 in the Capitan Mountains of New Mexico, an operator in one of the fire towers to the north of the Capitans spotted smoke and called the location into the nearest ranger station. The first crew discovered a major fire being swept along the ground between the trees, driven by a strong wind. Word spread rapidly and more crews reported to help. Forest Rangers, army soldiers, Native American crews, men from the New Mexico State Game Department, and civilian volunteers worked together to gain control of the raging fire. As soon as they contained the fire to one spot, the wind would push it across the lines. During one of the lulls in firefighting, a report of a lonely bear cub who had been seen wandering near the fireline was reported. The men left him alone because they thought the mother bear might come for him.
About 30 firefighters, mainly soldiers but also a Capitan High School student, Several soldiers were caught directly in the path of the fire storm, barely escaping by laying face down on a rockslide for over an hour until the fire had burned past them. In spite of the experience, the firefighters were safe except for a few scorches and some burned holes in their clothes.
Rescued
Nearby, the little cub had been caught in the path of the same fire and had not fared as well. He had taken refuge in a tree that was now completely charred. His climb had saved his life but left him badly burned on the paws and hind legs. The soldiers removed the little bear cub from the burned tree, but they did not know what to do with him. A rancher, who had been helping the firefighters, agreed to take the cub home. A New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Ranger heard about the cub when he returned to the fire camp and drove to the rancher's home to get the bear. The cub needed veterinary aid and was flown in a small plane to Santa Fe where the burns were treated and bandaged.
The news about the little bear spread swiftly throughout New Mexico. Soon the United Press and Associated Press picked up the story and broadcast it nationwide. Many people wrote or called to inquire about the little bear's progress. The State Game Warden wrote an official letter to the Chief of the Forest Service, presenting the cub to the agency with the understanding that the small bear would be dedicated to a publicity program of fire prevention and conservation. The go-ahead was given to send the bear to Washington, DC, where he found a home at the National Zoo, becoming the living symbol of Smokey Bear.
The Story of Smokey Orphan Bear|Rescued|Smokey's Name Smokey's Name
In 1952 Steve Nelson and Jack Rollins wrote the anthem that would cause a debate among Smokey enthusiasts for the next several decades. In order to maintain the correct rhythm, the writers added a "the" between "Smokey" and "Bear". As testament to the song's popularity, Smokey Bear became known as "Smokey The Bear" to many adoring fans, but in actuality his name never changed, and he is still known correctly as Smokey.
http://www.smokeybear.com/vault/name_main.asp
Only forest fires can prevent bears.
Did Smokey get government health care?
My girlfriend walk out to her car this morning and startled herself and a rather large black bear. I looked up bear season for her thinking that her sons .243 could prevent that bear.
“known to every American school child in America; and then along come some idiot that wants to change the name.”
F*** the bureaucrats.....What do they know?
He will always be “Smokey Bear” Or “Smokey The Bear” as far as we are concerned.
This goes for the bear and all of West Virginia’s State Troopers!!!!
God Bless Smokey the Bear!
It leaves me free of the tiresome task of properly discarding lit cigarettes and tending campfires.
Smokey resides in a government-funded animal viewing facility and has been delivered his mandatory “zoo-icide” counseling.
Smokey turns 65.
And I suppose he’s having to eat dog food from a can since his SS payments are late and too small...
The truth of the matter is that Smokey was abusive to his spouse, so it’s probably a good thing they had no cubs.
See, whenever she got `hot’ he would beat her with a shovel.
he died in1976
And to everyone who visited him at the National Zoo in DC, where the cage tag clearly said "Smokey THE Bear".
I saw Smokey the Bear at the National Zoo in 1972, while on a Girl Scout Trip from California. It was quite a thrill to see him.
This campaign must not be aimed at my demographic or they wouldn't have picked such a stupid slogan. What does this even mean?
....and immediately announced his opposition to Obamacare....
VOTE for your Favorite Federal Government Mascot EVER!
__ Smokey Bear
__ Woodsy Owl
__ Mr. Zip
__ Shady the IRS Weasel
__ Blackout the EPA Snail Darter
__ Shakey the Census Bureau Acorn
__ The Federal Healthcare Grim Reaper
__ The FEMA Sloth
__ Joe Biden
I grew up just outside DC, so I saw Smokey several times. I remember being surprised that that was the REAL Smokey - I thought it had all happened so long ago that he had died. I was very sad when he actually did die - I was in high school then.
This article really sucks, I am not only older than dirt, I am older than Smoky Bear........
Dog food? Dude.....he eats the dog!
You forgot the “Obama Joker”.........
who is “Mr. Zip”???
Since one of my kids told me I was older than dirt, I’d have to say older than the pyramids...But not older than the Big Bang. God is merciful..
Then there was popular song called "Smokey the Bear" that got people, probably including the Agriculture Department and its ad agency (though they won't admit it now), calling the bear by that name.
The government gets royalties from the "Smokey" likeness and uses the money for its anti-forest fire efforts, and they figure if the bear gets called "Smokey the Bear" like the song, then they won't get the royalties.
Awww. I remember seeing him at the National Zoo when I was a little girl.
85,000 Acre La Brea Fire caused by Mexican Drug Cartels - confirmed!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2317334/posts
I don’t think Smokey the Bear is effective at preventing forest fires, although it makes a great story to tell kids. I was big into Smokey the Bear when I was little, put an “only you” bumper sticker on the family station wagon. Then when I was 9, I made my first campfire in the woods and started a 30 acre forest fire. What they should really teach kids is step by step how to properly build a campfire so it doesn’t get out of control, and how to fight a fire if it does.
You left out my favorite, PORKY PIG.
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