Comments on: Comments on 19439

Post number 19439

josephtate — Sat, 24 Aug 2002 12:35:11 -0800

Smokey's Vault: all about the history of the campaign, the "real" Smokey Bear, and Smokey's unique place in American culture. Created in 1944, the Smokey Bear campaign is the longest running public service campaign in US History. Smokey's forest fire prevention message remained unchanged for 50 years until April 2001, when the Ad Council updated his message to address the increasing number of wildfires in the nation's wildlands.

By: corpse

corpse — Sat, 24 Aug 2002 12:37:51 -0800

My dad, who has worked for the NC Forest Service for the last 20 years, has done lots on the educational side of his job, and has had to don the bear suit on many occassions. In grade school, that is the coolest thing when Smokey the Bear comes to visit your school, and you know that it's your dad in there. Plus you get to drive a cool truck.

By: bradth27

bradth27 — Sat, 24 Aug 2002 12:50:09 -0800

It's about time someone tried to raise awareness on the importance of Smokey and The Bandit. I would say the influence that this film has made on American cinema will be seen for years to come.

By: bragadocchio

bragadocchio — Sat, 24 Aug 2002 12:59:34 -0800

Is Smokey too old school? The Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics (FSEEE) are claiming that it's time for him to retire, and for fresher blood to take his place. Their mascot is Reddy the Squirrel, and his message is: "No one can prevent wildfires. Be Ready." I kind of like Smokey better, but I think that maybe the FSEEE have a point about prevention. And, if Smokey is going to be aimed more at adults now, maybe there's room for more than one fire prevention mascot. And, on preveiw, what bradth27 said.

By: gluechunk

gluechunk — Sat, 24 Aug 2002 13:01:50 -0800

that is the coolest thing when Smokey the Bear comes to visit your school If your dad worked in the Smokey realm, then you should know his name is Smokey Bear and not Smokey the Bear. Some years back I was visiting Atlanta with some people and at some point we started arguing about the whole "the" thing. So we approached a park ranger type outside of the MLK (birth?)house and asked him if he had further info. The grumpy guy basically just told us to go away.

By: imaswinger

imaswinger — Sat, 24 Aug 2002 13:16:28 -0800

I used to have a smokey bear comic book. #1! It sucked.

By: Stan Chin

Stan Chin — Sat, 24 Aug 2002 13:24:12 -0800

Holy cow, they should definitely go back to the old school campaign. I wouldn't even go into the forest anymore.

By: bragadocchio

bragadocchio — Sat, 24 Aug 2002 14:14:49 -0800

If that one bothers you Stan, I'd definitely recommend that you stay away from of Jose Gudaalupe Posada's art used for the Dia de los Muertos.

By: Wood

Wood — Sat, 24 Aug 2002 14:38:53 -0800

I just like that he says "smokes" for cigarettes. That seems a bit slangy.

By: Salmonberry

Salmonberry — Sat, 24 Aug 2002 15:44:37 -0800

We used to have greenhouses, and an intercom system was used between the house and the greenhouses. My sister used to play her "Little Marcy visits Smokey the Bear" album with the intercom on so mom & dad could enjoy it - for hours & hours. Of course, with the channel open they couldn't tell her to turn it off without leaving work. I still sometimes get that creepy music in my head and any mention of him brings it all back....

By: ceiriog

ceiriog — Sat, 24 Aug 2002 15:59:10 -0800

Smokey the Bear Sutra.

By: clavdivs

clavdivs — Sat, 24 Aug 2002 16:24:55 -0800

i read some where that the OSS had bought an air charter service, used it and sold it off. one branch of this service were these planes that dump water on forest fires. the company (not OSS) who purchased the charter service where one of the first to help promote Smokey the Bear.