Smokey Bear Pinback Badges
Smokey Bear is one of the most recognized advertising mascots in the world. He was created by artist Albert Staehle, and the Smokey Bear ad campaign to help prevent forest fires is administered by the Ad Council, the U.S. Forest Service, and the National Association of State Foresters.
The need for the advertising campaign arose during World War II. In the spring of 1942, Japanese submarines surfaced near the coast of Santa Barbara, California, and fired shells at an oil field, which was located very close to the Los Padres National Forest.
The submarine attack created fear that incendiary shells exploding in the forests of the Pacific Coast could ignite wildfires, and possibly lead to loss of life or the destruction of property. The U.S. government took the position that it was a matter of national importance to protect the forests, especially considering that most able-bodied men were deployed in support of the war effort, which left few experienced firefighters available to fight potential wildfires. The idea was born that an advertising campaign to encourage to public to be more careful with fire could possibly help prevent some of the wildfires.
Initially, the Forest Service organized the Cooperative Forest Fire Prevention (CFFP) program with the help of the War Advertising Council and the Association of State Foresters. Posters and slogans were created, such as "Forest Fires Aid the Enemy," and "Our Carelessness, Their Secret Weapon."
Fortunately for the program, the 1942 Walt Disney animated motion picture “Bambi” was released to wide public appeal. The popularity of the film led to Disney granting the CFFP permission to use the film’s characters on a poster published in 1944. The idea of using an animal as a fire protection symbol took hold, but since Disney had only granted permission for the Bambi characters to be used for one year, there was a need to create an animal mascot for the program that could be used for the future.
The first Smokey Bear poster was delivered on October 10 by artist Albert Staehle, which depicted Smokey pouring a bucket of water on a campfire. The posters were successful, and the advertising campaign that started out of need during World War II has continued to remain popular and is still in use today.
The need for the advertising campaign arose during World War II. In the spring of 1942, Japanese submarines surfaced near the coast of Santa Barbara, California, and fired shells at an oil field, which was located very close to the Los Padres National Forest.
The submarine attack created fear that incendiary shells exploding in the forests of the Pacific Coast could ignite wildfires, and possibly lead to loss of life or the destruction of property. The U.S. government took the position that it was a matter of national importance to protect the forests, especially considering that most able-bodied men were deployed in support of the war effort, which left few experienced firefighters available to fight potential wildfires. The idea was born that an advertising campaign to encourage to public to be more careful with fire could possibly help prevent some of the wildfires.
Initially, the Forest Service organized the Cooperative Forest Fire Prevention (CFFP) program with the help of the War Advertising Council and the Association of State Foresters. Posters and slogans were created, such as "Forest Fires Aid the Enemy," and "Our Carelessness, Their Secret Weapon."
Fortunately for the program, the 1942 Walt Disney animated motion picture “Bambi” was released to wide public appeal. The popularity of the film led to Disney granting the CFFP permission to use the film’s characters on a poster published in 1944. The idea of using an animal as a fire protection symbol took hold, but since Disney had only granted permission for the Bambi characters to be used for one year, there was a need to create an animal mascot for the program that could be used for the future.
The first Smokey Bear poster was delivered on October 10 by artist Albert Staehle, which depicted Smokey pouring a bucket of water on a campfire. The posters were successful, and the advertising campaign that started out of need during World War II has continued to remain popular and is still in use today.
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The items in my collection are two fold-tab pinback badges that were provided to visitors by the U.S. Forest Service. One of the pinbacks is believed to date from the 1960’s, while the second is somewhat newer vintage.
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