OBIT: Smokey the Bear

Subject: & BS: Smokey the Bear
From: sian, west wales
Date: 24 Jul 02 - 12:15 PM

Just saw this in the Globe and Mail on-line. Good ol' Smoke. I can't remember if he had a theme song ... Didn't know he was daddy to Roger Ramjet either!

Los Angeles -- Gene Moss, who co-wrote the short-lived 1960s cartoon series Roger Ramjet and supplied the voice of "Smokey Bear," has died of cancer at age 75.

Mr. Moss and his partner, Jim Thurman, co-wrote all 156 episodes of Roger Ramjet,a 1965 syndicated cartoon about a bumbling superhero and a group of loyal youngsters known as the American Eagle Squadron. However, Mr. Moss's greatest exposure came during a 10-year stint as the voice of Smokey Bear for radio and TV public-service ads run by the U.S. Forest Service. Starting in 1979, the baritone voice of Mr. Moss admonished the public that "only you can prevent forest fires." Reuters

sian

Subject: RE: OBIT: Smokey the Bear
From: Declan
Date: 24 Jul 02 - 12:26 PM

"so don't play with matches
One spark that catches
Can strip a whole forest bare
so drown that fire site
Join the fire fight
With ranger smokey bear
"

This comes from a TV cartoon series, but it was a lot earlier than 1979. Maybe therte were earlier manifestations of Smokey. I always liket Roger R. too.

Sorry to hear about Mr. Moss.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Smokey the Bear
From: Amergin
Date: 24 Jul 02 - 01:15 PM

Boy...I use to worship Smokey The Bear....just adored him....I can hear him whisper...only you can prevent forest fires.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Smokey the Bear
From: Mountain Dog
Date: 24 Jul 02 - 01:46 PM

I always liked Roger Ramjet, scourge of the dastardly Solenoid Robots ("Hmm-buzz-click we have you now, Roger bzzt! Ramjet!") and loyal son to his dear old mom in Lompoc, but never realized the Smokey connection. Thanks for the sad news and the enlightenment. And to Gene Moss, thanks for the entertainment and for the public service you gave us!

Subject: RE: OBIT: Smokey the Bear
From: Irish sergeant
Date: 24 Jul 02 - 04:12 PM

So long gene and Thanks from a Roger ramjet fan! Neil

Subject: RE: OBIT: Smokey the Bear
From: Steve-o
Date: 24 Jul 02 - 04:36 PM

I remember his voice fondly, and whoever wrote his theme song was one helluva jingle writer! "Smokey the bear, Smokey the bear, prowlin' and a-growlin' and a sniffin' the air.....He can spot a fire just before it starts to flame, that's why they call him Smokey, that is how he got his name". That's coming straight from the Third Grade memory bank!