19 Facts About Smokey Bear

1.

Smokey Bear is an American campaign and advertising icon of the US Forest Service.

2.

Smokey Bear has had other lines throughout the years, but these have remained his central slogans.

3.

Smokey Bear's name has always intentionally been spelled differently from the adjective "smoky".

4.

Smokey Bear's name was inspired by "Smokey" Joe Martin, a New York City Fire Department hero who suffered burns and blindness during a bold 1922 rescue.

5.

The living symbol of Smokey Bear was a five-pound, three-month old American black bear cub who was found in the spring of 1950 after the Capitan Gap fire, a wildfire that burned in the Capitan Mountains of New Mexico.

6.

Smokey Bear had climbed a tree to escape the blaze, but his paws and hind legs had been burned.

7.

The story was picked up by the national news services and Smokey Bear became a celebrity.

8.

Smokey Bear lived at the National Zoo for 26 years.

9.

Smokey Bear developed a love for peanut butter sandwiches, in addition to his daily diet of bluefish and trout.

10.

On May 2,1975, Smokey Bear officially "retired" from his role as living icon, and the title "Smokey Bear II" was bestowed upon Little Smokey in an official ceremony.

11.

Smokey Bear quickly became a part of American popular culture, appearing on radio programs, in comic strips, in cartoons, and as merchandise.

12.

In 1959, a 14-foot tall animatronic version of Smokey Bear was unveiled at the Ohio State Fairgrounds in Columbus, OH.

13.

The commercial for his 50th anniversary portrayed woodland animals about to have a surprise birthday party for Smokey Bear, including a cake with candles.

14.

Smokey Bear comes blindfolded, smells smoke and not realizing the source is his birthday candles, he uses his shovel to destroy the cake.

15.

Between 2008 and 2011, new public service announcements featuring Smokey Bear rendered in CGI were released.

16.

In 2012, NASA, the US Forest Service, the Texas Forest Service and Smokey Bear teamed up to celebrate Smokey's 68th birthday at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

17.

The campaign depicted Smokey Bear rewarding his followers with a hug, in acknowledgement of using the proper actions to prevent wildfires.

18.

From 1969 to 1986, Smokey was voiced by Roger C Carmel.

19.

In later years, Smokey Bear has been voiced by Jim Cummings and Jack Angel.