I have always had a soft spot in my heart for Smokey The Bear. For those of you who need a little background; Smokey is a mascot of the United States Forest Service. He began his career in the 194Os and his slogan "Only YOU can prevent forest fires" is still used today.
My grandfather was a forester for the Bureau of Land Management. He always had this Smokey The Bear cigarette snuffer on the dashboard of his car.
I don't remember him ever snuffing a cigarette in it. I do remember him smoking a pipe on occasion. This is the top of Smokey's hat where you would snuff the cigarette.
This past weekend in estate sale land I found a couple of Smokey The Bear items which rounded out my collection a bit. Time to share.
From the estate sale. A Smokey The Bear Activity Book, dated 1971.
Also from the estate sale is a song-sheet for the Smokey the Bear song. It was written in 1952 by a pair of songwriters. I don't think I have ever heard this song sung. I had to google it. It is great.
Here is the song-sheet that I found with the lyrics. I love that I found a recording of this song.
The back side of the song-sheet is a conservation pledge that you can take.
This is the Smokey The Bear comic that I grew up with. My copy is dated 1969. We camped quite a bit when I was a kid and we were always picking up a copy of this comic at the Ranger's station.
One particular comic panel always tugged at my heart when I was a kid. This was where one of the firefighters fighting a fire had just discovered singed Smokey clinging to a tree in a burned out forest.
I also have a vintage Smokey The Bear hankie.
At an estate sale I found a bunch of old party favor cups that featured Smokey.
Each little name card has a spot to print a name. The name card says "Smokey's friend ___never plays with matches."
A fun little collection today. On a personal note I have to mention my son Ben, who I posted about before and his summer job fighting forest fires. He is back at college now and enjoyed the challenge of fighting fires. He said it was the hardest thing he had ever done. I am very proud of him. I think Smokey would be proud too.
If you have an idea for a future collection challenge, leave me a note and finish the sentence, "Show me your collection of __." It certainly varies week to week!
We love Smokey at our house too! I got the coloring book and the comic book back in elementary school when Smokey came to visit. When we traveled out west in 2004 we stopped by Smokey the Bear State park in New Mexico. The original Smokey was here in DC at the National Zoo as well. Kudos to your hard-working, tireless Ben!~~~XXOO, Beth
Posted by: Elizabeth Fedorko | September 24, 2013 at 07:18 AM
Smokey was pretty popular when we were kids. Weren't there TV commercials back then-- early 70s? Neat collectibles you have! Pretty good kid too!
Posted by: Diane | September 24, 2013 at 07:21 AM
I definitely remember Smokey the Bear commercials from the 70s. I always enjoy knowing more history about your family. Loved hearing about Ben's fire fighting career this summer. So much to be proud of!!
Posted by: Musings from Kim K. | September 24, 2013 at 08:19 AM
Awwww.....cute post! I loved Smokey the Bear too. I still see pics of him when we're driving out to the lakes around here. Took me a minute to figure out why the favor cups were on this post LOL! I was too busy looking at the pics. Great pic of Ben at the end!! Looks like they could use that on a poster. There should be a Smokey the Bear sign next to him :-)
Posted by: Doreen | September 24, 2013 at 09:08 AM
This particular collection tugs at my heart strings a bit, as does seeing your son in a fire fighting uniform. I'm not sure if he was here in Colorado at all, but where he was doesn't really matter, just that he was there. People like your son saved my hometown!
I agree, Smokey would be proud!!!
Posted by: Melissa | September 24, 2013 at 11:14 AM
Bravo to Ben!!
I noticed all the Smokey The Bear stuff at that digger house and love your collection, especially finding a recording of the song - how fun!
Posted by: Kathy | September 24, 2013 at 11:46 AM
What a sweet collection. I know I have seen that comic book somewhere. Maddie may actually have it or something similar in her vintage book stash.
That is a great picture of Ben. You definitely have a reason to be proud!
~Erica
Posted by: Erica | September 24, 2013 at 03:25 PM
Memories from my childhood in the post too; my Dad had the cigarette snuffer, I bet I hadn't seen one for 45 years! Of course when I went to Mount Hood I had my picture taken with Smokey there in front of Timberline Lodge!
Posted by: Tammy | September 24, 2013 at 05:46 PM
*Love* the photo of Ben!
I also remember that comic book from my childhood and how I felt about seeing that little bear in the tree...
Posted by: Into Vintage | September 24, 2013 at 06:32 PM
Glad your Ben is safe at school, now. I worried about him being so young in such a dangerous situation.
I was actually singing that silly song to myself the other day thinking about Aunt Helen snuffing her cigarette out in her Smokey snuffer with her dangley earrings swaying back and froth. I did enjoy hearing Eddie sing the whole song (I had a few words wrong).
Great collection! Thanks Laurie
Posted by: Janet Johnson | September 24, 2013 at 09:18 PM
Would you believe that we sing the Smokey song every October during fire safety week? I started showing the Youtube version of the song a couple of years ago. So fun!
I also have an old storybook with great pictures of Smokey. On vacation the summer before last we wandered into the headquarters in DC only to be greeted by a life size, talking Smokey himself. I can imagine that he was even more popular in your area where you actually have forests! :o)
Love Smokey!!!
Posted by: Melissa | September 25, 2013 at 04:54 AM
Who'da thought you would have a Smokey the Bear collection, pretty cool! I think I remember that Smokey comic being given to us in grade school.....
Good memories! karen....
Posted by: karen | September 25, 2013 at 06:03 AM
One of my all-time favorite posts, Laurie! You SHOULD be proud of your son; what a wonderful job to have!
While listening to the video, I was thinking about the true story of Smokey, and how he was singed in a forest fire - and low and behold, as I scrolled down, you had the very same book I had as a child!!! I remember it oh so well!
I played with the idea of becoming a "forest ranger" when I was younger; what a great life that would have been!
Posted by: Maureen | September 25, 2013 at 07:11 AM
Holy Smokes! (Sorry, I couldn't resist) That is one collection I wouldn't have guessed, but very fitting for your family. What a great remembrance of your grandfather. Stay proud, mama! That is one great son you have.
Posted by: Shelley Germann | September 25, 2013 at 07:59 AM
I have to agree that this is one of my all-time favorite collections/posts on your blog! I think all of us who grew up in the 60's/70's have a special place in our hearts for Smokey the Bear - I can hear the voiceover on the tv commercials in my head to this day. Great collection!
Posted by: Joyce | September 25, 2013 at 08:32 AM
From reading the other comments I can see that the Smokey campaign really worked. I always loved Mr. Smokey, too, but don't remember the song. Loved watching it play. I guess Ben had a family history of protecting the forest. Great picture of him!!
Posted by: Annette | September 25, 2013 at 09:10 AM
So that snuffer for your car is worth over $100...I know this because I sold mine awhile ago for $145 on Ebay.
:)
Posted by: Liz | September 25, 2013 at 11:40 AM
Wow, your son is brave!! Cute post.
Posted by: Ann (Protector of Vintage) | September 25, 2013 at 12:29 PM
that is such a cute collection! i love those little party cups! it is funny to me that a kid would love smokey enough to have him be the theme of their party!
Posted by: rae | September 25, 2013 at 03:39 PM
Love Smokey! I still have my children's book "Letters to Smokey". Great collection! Love tha hankey!
Posted by: Kim Campbell | September 28, 2013 at 03:30 PM
In the town where my grandparents lived, which is in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, there has always been a big Smokey sign telling what the chance of a forest fire was on any particular day. Seems like I've loved Smokey forever! Thank You Ben for defending our forests!
Posted by: Carol @ Old Glory Cottage | October 02, 2013 at 07:16 AM