PieceSmokey Bear
Year1979
ConditionC -10
Description9" hard plastic
CompanyU.S. Forest Service


In the mid-1940's when the U.S. Forest Service wanted to come up with a new public service campaign, they used Disney's enormously popular "Bambi" as their inspiration. Artist Albert Stahle created "Smokey," a grandfatherly brown bear with a panda-shaped nose and deep, compassionate voice, whose motto became an unforgettable part of growing up in the 50's and 60's. "Remember, only YOU can prevent forest fires!"

In an uncanny coincidence, around the same time, a tiny black bear cub was saved by a U.S. forest ranger after a devastating fire in New Mexico. The ranger nursed the cub back to health, then sent him to the Washington D.C. zoo where he became a national celebrity. And so, Smokey's living counterpart was born. This plastic figurine was made by the Dakin Co. of San Francisco, California. Wearing real blue jeans with a brown vinyl belt, and carrying a shovel that's printed with the words: "Prevent Forest Fires." Smokey's yellow forest ranger hat has his name inscribed on it, above the vinyl brown hatband.


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