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News Archive: 2023

Smokey Bear's 80th Birthday and the 135th Annual Rose Parade
Posted December 29, 2023

Gene Autry Entertainment is excited to celebrate Smokey Bear's 80th birthday in 2024. Gene Autry and Smokey Bear's friendship goes back to 1952 when Gene and the Cass County Boys recorded the children's song "Smokey the Bear." Prior to that, Gene was promoting forest fire prevention in 1951 with publicity photos from his Columbia Pictures film Gene Autry and the Mounties.

Record sleeve from Gene Autry's 1952 release "Smokey the Bear"

Record label from Gene Autry's 1952 release "Smokey the Bear"

Smokey Bear and his 80-year legacy of preventing human-caused wildfire will be honored on Monday, January 1st in the 135th Annual Rose Parade. Watch for Smokey Bear, U.S. Forest Services packers, mules, wildland firefighters, and their friends as they stroll the parade route.

Movie poster from the Columbia Pictures 1951 film
Gene Autry and the Mounties

Publicity still from the Columbia Pictures 1951 film
Gene Autry and the Mounties

Since 1944, Smokey Bear has been reminding folks to protect our country's incredible natural spaces. Remember what Smokey Bear says, "Only you can prevent wildfires."


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