From the archives: Happy birthday, Smokey Bear

August 9, 2024, marks the 80th birthday of Smokey Bear, created at the height of World War II with the mission to warn against the threat of fires in the nation's wilderness areas. He's now the face of the longest-running public service announcement campaign in American history. Jane Pauley offers this tribute, originally broadcast in 2014.

"CBS Sunday Morning" features stories on the arts, music, nature, entertainment, sports, history, science and Americana, and highlights unique human accomplishments and achievements. Check local listings for CBS Sunday Morning broadcast times.

[christinebuckingham]

I’m 66 and Still Love Smoky the Bear and have fond feelings for Smoky and Always will! ❤️🐻❤🥰

[garylawson]

Thank you CBS Sunday Morning for this tribute!!!

[justmejenny]

Loved Smokey the Bear and Hooty Owl psas when I was a kid.

[frankwafer]

😮I learned something today...thank you!💯💥👍!

[Onehappyworlds]

Happy birthday. Growing up in the 70's, I remember always seeing Smokey Bear on tv.

[ageeibc]

Happy Birthday Singapore & Happy birthday smoky Bear too.

[joshuagalaviz]

Happy birthday Smokey Bear. It is an honor I grew up with your commercials as kid. The commercials I grew up as kid are the bear climb over the mountain and what can you create with 10 sticks. They're amazing, I love it and thank you for making the commercials. Only you can prevent wildfires.

[twinmillario]

Smokey: For 80 Years, only anyone & you can prevent wild fires.

[bumblingberry]

Smokey the Bear is one of the only characters who went from the Public Domain back into Copyright. Which is very serious, not something that is supposed to be a precedent in Intellectual Property law. A special exception was made for him. Why? Well, the character was originally created in 1944 as part of a public service campaign to promote wildfire prevention in the United States. The U.S. Forest Service created Smokey, with Ad Council and the National Association of State Foresters, in 1944 and because of that Smokey became a public domain character. However, in 1952, Congress passed the Smokey Bear Act (Public Law 82-359), which transferred the rights to Smokey the Bear into private hands—namely, to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. The main purpose of the law was to protect the image of Smokey, and henceforth no use would be made unless it was to carry the message of wildfire prevention. It is with this act that the Secretary of Agriculture was given authority over commercial use of image and name, further placing him under a form of government-controlled copyright. Highly unusual for the market focused capitalist United States, but it's just one of the many things that makes Smokey special.

[LocaLady-lg]

💗 🎂 🍨 💕 🎂 🍨 💗
Happy Birthday Smokey 🤟

[oogrooq]

Smokey, this is not 'Nam. There are rules.

But seriously, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

[manuelvallejo]

Happy birthday Smokey the Bear. Dont foget the ice cream. 🍦

[stoundingresults]

In California The Mexican Truckers on the CB radio ch7 call him "OSO MARIHUANO". Roughly translates to "bear high on POT". There is a roadside sign of Smokey bear South of Frazier Park.

[Txpatriot]

Smokey is not happy with California forest management

[JJONNYREPP]

From the archives: Happy birthday, Smokey Bear 2221pm 9.8.24 forever associated with the police and the pigs... a bear pig. or a russian stooge?

[Mmdmade]

Basically it’s always been arsonists and pyroterrorists

[velmex]

Wild fires are not to be prevented, they are natural