Editing Smokey Bear (section)

=== Peak in popularity ===
Smokey Bear quickly became a significant part of American culture, appearing in various media, including radio, comic strips, cartoons, and merchandise. In 1944, Knickerbocker Bears acquired the license to produce Smokey Bear dolls, and by 1949, Forest Service worker Rudy Wendelin became the campaign’s full-time artist, managing Smokey Bear’s image until his retirement in 1973.

By 1952, Smokey Bear had garnered so much commercial interest that Congress passed the Smokey Bear Act to place the character under the control of the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, ensuring that any royalties would fund wildfire prevention education. Smokey’s popularity extended to schools, with Hill City High School in South Dakota being the only school district in the U.S. authorized to use Smokey Bear as their mascot since 1939.

The Ideal Toy Company began producing Smokey Bear dolls in 1952, and children could mail in a card to become Junior Forest Rangers. By 1955, half a million children had signed up. That same year, songwriters Steve Nelson and Jack Rollins created the song Smokey the Bear, which became a hit, although Smokey’s official name was never changed to include "the."

Smokey’s story inspired a 1955 Little Golden Books volume titled Smokey the Bear, depicting the bear as an orphan rescued after a forest fire, loosely based on the real bear cub that had become the living symbol of the character. Smokey’s likeness was soon seen on thousands of toys and collectibles, making him an enduring cultural icon.

During the 1950s and 1960s, Smokey Bear became even more prominent in American pop culture, with the Ad Council sponsoring radio ads featuring Smokey in conversations with celebrities such as Bing Crosby, Art Linkletter, Dinah Shore, and Roy Rogers. His name and image were used for the Smokey Bear Awards, which recognize exceptional efforts in wildfire prevention.

Smokey also appeared on Canadian TV in The Forest Rangers and was represented in a 14-foot-tall animatronic figure at the Ohio State Fairgrounds, installed to teach fire prevention. In 2015, the original was replaced by a new version that continues to educate children and families.

Smokey’s influence extended to music, as the Beach Boys referenced him in their 1964 song Drive-In. The U.S. Forest Service campaign hat became iconic through its association with Smokey Bear and is now colloquially known as the "Smokey Bear hat," still worn by certain military branches and state police.