And I'm sure that I'm not the only one who remembers his appearance in an episode of "F Troop".

I think we've answered the original question at the top of this thread. He was a folksinger and actor, but was not a snowman.

But the real controversy about Burl Ives seems to concern his politics. Specifically, his testimony before the House Un-American Activities Committee. I believe that Sing Out magazine, within the past couple of years, had either an article about Burl Ives or a review of a recent book about him.