Smokey the Bear - Music in the Forest, Radio Ads, 1954 Illustration

Smokey the Bear Radio Ads (1950s)
Lesson Plans, Games, Activities

MUSIC IN THE FOREST

Music referred to in these commercial spots have the following clearance:
Theme: "Smokey the Bear" - recording and playing rights retained by the US Government
"The Cowboy's Lament" and "Lonesome Road" - Public Domain

Music in the Forest

4 minutes 30 seconds

THEME ON GUITAR - "Smokey the Bear"

THE SINGING WOODSMAN (OVER GUITAR): Hi, Everybody! This is your Singing Woodsman. Come on over and have a seat here on this log with me. You know, I just came up the trail that runs past that old pine tree over there. Wonderful place out here. In fact, if you'll listen closely you can hear music right here amongst the trees. Listen...

GUITAR OUT
(SOUND: BIRD SONG, OTHER WOODS SOUNDS)

Pretty, isn't it? Makes you want to sing right along with it.

(SONG)

"As I walk down through the forest and woodlands,

As I walk down through the woodlands each day,

I see the tall timber and hear the sweet music

And enjoy the wildlife as they frolic and play."


Yes, there's music in the forest all right. All kinds. Now, look right over across the little valley there.

(SOUND: TREE BEING FELLED) DISTANT CRY - "TIMBER-R-R!"

That's right, they're cutting timber there. But much more than just trees are being cut - it might possibly be your new home, or a school, or a church. Sometimes there's another sound out here in the forest.

(SOUND: CRACKLING FIRE - ESTABLISH, THEN FADE AND KEEP UNDER FOLLOWING)

That's the sound of wild fire - eating away at land and trees alike - destroying your new home, the school, or church, even before it's built. That's fire, bringing discord to the pleasant music of the forest. (CRACKING FIRE OUT.)


(SONG)

"Look down, look down that lonesome road,
Hand down your head, and cry."

Yes, it's a might lonesome road you travel when you go through a burned-over forest ... blackened, ugly, its usefulness often crippled or destroyed for years to come. That's why we've got Smokey Bear to keep reminding everybody to be careful with fire in the forest and woods, and in the grassland country.

SMOKEY BEAR: Howdy, Folks, this is Smokey, the forest-fire preventin' bear. Like the Singing Woodsman says, forest fire is a terrible thing. It can rob you of lumber, take away your outdoor recreation, ruin your hunting and fishing. It can spoil livestock grazing and turn the faucet off on your supply of water that comes from the forest. Fire is mean and vicious. But it can be stopped, stopped before it ever starts. Here's what you can do to help...

  1. Crush out your cigarette, cigar and pipe ashes.

  2. Break your matches in two after you use them. That way you'll be sure they're dead out.

  3. Drown your camp fire with water, then stir it and drown it again.

  4. Find out all you can about your local and state laws before you use fire outdoors.

  5. Please be careful, folks. It's up to you to keep the forests green and productive.

THE SINGING WOODSMAN (OVER GUITAR): That's it, friends. Let's all remember what Smokey Bear says. Let's all remember that Only We, You and I, Can Prevent Forest Fires!

(SONG - OUT)




One-minute spot

THE SINGING WOODSMAN (THEME AND GUITAR): Hi, everybody! This is your Singing Woodsman sitting here under the old pine tree, just waiting for you to come up the trail. You know, small trees are a lot like children. Like boys and girls, little trees need a good start in life. They need our care and protection. All over this wonderful country of ours young trees and children are growing together, in service to each other and to their country. The worst threat to the little trees is fire. In a forest fire, they just don't have a chance. Think about the little trees next time you're out in the fields or woods, or just driving in the country. Remember what Smokey Bear says, Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires!




One-minute spot

THE SINGING WOODSMAN (OVER GUITAR): Hi, everybody! This is your Singing Woodsman. Why don't you sit back and listen about an old friend of yours and mine. (SONG)

"With a ranger's hat and shovel and a pair of dungarees,
You will find him in the forest always sniffin' at the breeze
People stop and pay attention when he tells them to beware,
'Cause everybody knows that he's the fire preventin' bear.

Smokey the Bear, Smokey the Bear, prowlin' and agrowlin'
and a sniffin' the air,
He can find a fire before it starts to flame,
What's why they call him Smokey, that's how he got his name."

You know, folks, that song has a real purpose behind it. Keeping our forests free from fire is really our job, yours and mine! As Smokey Bear says, Remember, Only We - You and I - Can Prevent Forest Fires!




30-second Radio Copy: The Singing Woodsman


30-second spot

THE SINGING WOODSMAN (THEME AND GUITAR): Hi, everybody! This is your Singing Woodsman, just waiting for you to come up the trail. Did you see the trout jumping in the stream? And those folks enjoying themselves in that picnic area down the trail. Well, do you know why there's so much beauty here? We haven't had a fire in years. We've taken Smokey bear's message to heart. We're preventing forest fires. How about you?


30-second spot

THE SINGING WOODSMAN (OVER GUITAR): Hi, everybody! This is your Singing Woodsman just waiting for your to come up the trail. You know, you can enjoy your forest and woodland over and over again, camping and picnicking, hunting and fishing...and for wood, grass and water, just as long as you care careful in using them. So be careful, please. As Smokey Bear says, Remember, Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires!




30-second Radio Copy: Smokey Bear


30-second spot

SMOKEY: Howdy, folks! This is your friend, Smokey, the forest fire preventin' bear! I just want to say Thanks! Thanks to all of you grownups and to you boys and girls - especially my Junior Forest Rangers - who are helping me prevent forest fires, by being careful with matches, campfires, with every fire outdoors. Thanks to all of you for remembering that Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires!


30-second spot

SMOKEY: Howdy, folks! This is your friend, Smokey, the forest fire preventin' bear! Do you know who starts forest fires? The fist don't start them. The deer and raccoon, the turkey and quail, they don't start them either. Nine out of 10 forest fires are started by human beings. Folks like you. You handle matches and fire all the time. The idea is to be careful with them. Remember, Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires!




20-second Radio Copy: Smokey Bear


20-second spot

SMOKEY: Howdy, folks! This is your friend, Smokey, the forest fire preventin' bear! Do you know the tree main causes of forest fires? Men....women....and children. Yes, human carelessness is to blame. Remember, Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires!


20-second spot

SMOKEY: Howdy, folks! This is your friend, Smokey, the forest fire preventin' bear! You know, a single tree can make a million matches, but it takes only a single match to destroy a million trees. So make sure your match is dead out, everytime. Remember, Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires!




Source: Released by Cooperative Forest Fire Prevention Campaign 1954
Sponsored by: State Foresters and U.S. Forest Service