This find comes from another cache of paper I found at an estate sale this weekend. I'm guessing it dates from 1956 given the first 2 digits of the card id on the lower edge.
The card was given out by Holiday House Hotel in Dillon, Colorado. I couldn't find any references to this long gone haven of vacation respite.
"Smokey the Bear" was a fictional character created by the U.S. Forest Service in 1944 to promote fire safety. His first famous words were uttered in 1947: "Remember...Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires". "Smokey became reality in 1950 when a Black Bear cub was discovered clinging to a tree in New Mexico after having been trapped by a wildfire and suffering burns to his paws and rear legs. Smokey soon became a celebrity and took up permanent residence in the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. where he lived until 1976.
love this artwork. i was going to guess mid-1960s, which wasn't too far off. funny -- i clearly remember the story about his namesake's discovery, but i don't ever recall hearing when the bear he was based on died. i guess that's not something adults relayed to us kids in the 70s. RIP, Smokey :' (
ReplyDeleteIt is wonderful! And I was born in 1956. You have a very nice blog. Warm greetings from Montreal, Canada. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Linda! Greetings to you from St. Louis, MO USA. Glad you stopped by.
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