Smokey Bear Born (1944)

Perhaps “born” isn’t quite the correct verb.  Smokey “was conceived” on August 9, 1944, when the first poster bearing his imaged was commissioned.  Since then, Smokey Bear has become one of America’s best known and best loved images, filling out the trio of Mickey Mouse and Santa Claus.

Smokey was, from the beginning, a patriotic bear.  The impetus for Smokey came from worries during World War II.  After Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, Japanese submarines and other vessels appeared along the country’s Pacific Coast and once successfully fired shells into a coastal oil field, starting a fire adjacent to a national forest.  Forestry officials worried that enemy shelling of coastal forests could cause devastating fires.  And with most fire-fighters and other men away on war duty, those fires might readily spread out of control.

In an effort to raise the awareness of forest fires as a national-defense issue, The US Forest Service, Association of State Foresters and the War Advertising Council formed the Cooperative Forest Fire Prevention program.  The program began promoting forests as essential to winning the war—and preventing forest fires as a patriotic duty.  Slogans included “Forest Fires Aid the Enemy” and “Our Carelessness, Their Secret Weapon.”

They soon hit on another idea that proved to be a winner.  Walt Disney aired the film “Bambi” in 1942, including the blazing forest fire scene that scared us all as kids.  Disney allowed the program to use Bambi’s image on a fire-prevention poster for one year.  It proved so popular that the program knew it needed a permanent mascot for their cause.  On August 9, 1944, the program agreed that a bear should be their symbol.

The original Smokey Bear poster, drawn by Albert Staehle, 1944.

They commissioned artist Albert Staehle to draw the poster.  Staehle, who lived from 1899 to 1974, was one of the best known advertising artists during the first half of the 20th Century.  He was especially renowned for his animal subjects, including Elsie the Cow, Borden Dairy’s famous spokes-animal (remember the contented cows?).  Staehle’s initial rendition of Smokey appeared on October 10, pouring a bucket of water on a campfire.  The poster read, “Smokey says—Care will prevent 9 out of 10 forest fires!”

A star was born!  Smokey’s image became so popular that the federal government had to pass a law that removed Smokey from the public domain and trademarked it for commercial purposes (royalties that still come in are used for wildfire prevention).  Over the years, Smokey’s look evolved, from a bear cub to a realistic adult bear, complete with fearsome fangs and claws.  US Forest Service artist Rudy Wendelin took over Smokey’s image, eventually molding him into the human-like character we know today, complete with human hands and dressed in jeans and hat. Being Smokey’s “caretaker” became Wendelin’s full-time job for the remainder of his career with the Forest Service and on into retirement.

The message evolved, too.  In 1947, his slogan became, “Only you can prevent forest fires.  In 2001, his slogan changed again, to “Only you can prevent wildfires.”  The change emphasizes the danger of wild fires to human life and buildings.

A living “Smokey Bear” lived at the National Zoo from the early 1950s through 1976 (photo by Francine Schroeder for the Smithsonian Institution)

It was inevitable, I suppose, that the imaginary Smokey would turn real one day.  During a forest fire in New Mexico in 1950, fire fighters rescued a small black bear cub from the fire.  The bear’s paws and rear legs were burned, but it recovered under care by the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.  The story of the rescued cub “went viral.”  Soon, Smokey was transferred to the National Zoo in Washington, where the bear lived until its death in 1976.  Smokey is buried at the Smokey Bear Historical Park in Capitan, New Mexico.  No living specimen replaced the original.

But Smokey’s legacy certainly lives on.  He is still so popular that he has his own zip code (20252), along with his own Facebook (300,000 friends), Twitter (24,000 followers), Instagram, YouTube and Flickr accounts.

Smokey Bear remains one of America’s great–and most popular–symbols (photo by Virginia State Parks Staff)

One final point.  There’s an old joke, “What is Smokey the Bear’s middle name?”  The corny answer is “the.”  Except it isn’t.  Smokey doesn’t have a middle name.  He is simply Smokey Bear, always has been and always will be.  However, a song about him, written in 1952, stuck  “the” in his name so the lyrics would match the song’s rhythm.  Remember that for your next trivia contest.

References:

American Art Archives.  Albert Staehle (1899-1974).  Available at:  https://www.americanartarchives.com/staehle.htm.  Accessed June 11, 2018.

CBS News.  2014.  Smokey Bear turns 70, and he’s burning up social media.  CBS News, August 8, 2014.  Available at:  https://www.cbsnews.com/news/smokey-bear-turns-70-and-hes-burning-up-social-media/.  Accessed June 11, 2018.

Pearson, Richard.  2000.  Rudolph Wendelin Dies at Age 90.  The Washington Post, September 3, 2000.  Available at:  https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2000/09/03/rudolph-wendelin-dies-at-age-90/676783da-263d-41e4-a920-9782c69b4337/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.16b43e68c384.  Accessed June 11, 2018.

Smokeybear.com.  About the Campaign.  Available at:  https://smokeybear.com/en/smokeys-history/about-the-campaign.  Accessed June 11, 2018.

This Month in Conservation

October 1
Yosemite National Park Created (1890)
October 2
San Diego Zoo Founded (1916)
October 3
James Herriot, English Veterinarian, Born (1916)
October 4
Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, Patron Saint of Ecology
October 5
Catherine Cooper Hopley, British Herpetologist, Born (1817)
October 6
Mad Hatter’s Day
October 7
Henry A. Wallace, Secretary of Agriculture, Born (1888)
October 8
World Octopus Day
October 9
Vajont Dam Disaster (1963)
October 10
Dnieper Dam Began Operation (1932)
October 11
Big Cypress and Big Thicket National Preserves Created (1974)
October 12
William Laurance, Tropical Conservationist, Born (1957)
October 13
International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction
October 14
Timpanogos Cave National Monument Created (1922)
October 14
Dr. Mamie Parker, Pioneering African American Fisheries Scientist and Leader, Born (1957)
October 15
Isabella Bird, Pioneering Eco-traveler, Born (1831)
October 16
World Food Day
October 17
Oliver Rackham born (1939)
October 18
Clean Water Act established (1972)
October 19
Research Vessel Albatross Launched (1882)
October 20
OPEC Oil Embargo (1973)
October 21
“Ding” Darling born (1876)
October 22
Wombat Day
October 23
Cumberland Island National Seashore established (1972)
October 24
Antoni von Leeuwenhoek born (1632)
October 25
Secretary of the Interior Convicted in Teapot Dome Scandal (1929)
October 26
Erie Canal Opens (1825)
October 27
Golden Gate and Gateway National Recreation Areas Created (1972)
October 28
Henry Mosby, Wild Turkey Biologist, Born (1913)
October 28
First Ticker-tape Parade Held (1886)
October 29
Stanley Park, Vancouver, Dedicated (1889)
October 30
UNESCO Designates 9 Natural World Heritage Sites (1981)
October 31
Lincoln Highway Dedicated (1913)
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