Kevin Readdean – Voice Talent

The Ad Council is Born

It was on this day in 1941, during a combined meeting of the Association of National Advertisers and the American Association of Advertising Agencies, that James Webb Young gave a passionate speech which inspired the creation of the Ad Council. Young stirred the assembly with themes of social responsibility and advertising for the public good. By the end of the meeting, groups were formed to coordinate the development of the Advertising Council to carry out Young’s vision. Three months later, in February 1942, the “War Advertising Council” was incorporated to organize the advertising industry’s support of the war effort. The council’s first public service campaign was the support the sale of US Savings Bonds, or War Bonds, as coined by the campaign. The early focus on supporting the war effort ended with the end of the war, but the Council rebranded itself by expanding into safety, health, education and a number of other social issues.

Over its sixty-five year history, the Ad Council has coordinated the development and distribution hundreds of memorable public service campaigns. We’ve all learned a lot for the Crash Test Dummies; cried over environmental pollution with Iron Eyes Cody; and taken a bite out of crime. But, perhaps one of the most memorable is the forest fire prevention campaign led by Smokey Bear. Created in 1944, the “Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires,” has been the longest running Ad Council campaign. Smokey Bear has been voiced by Washington DC radio personality, Jackson Weaver, voice artist Jim Cummings, and Los Angeles radio personality, George Walsh. The most current Smokey campaign, introduced in 2008, is voiced by actor, Sam Elliot.

In celebration of the anniversary of one of the best ideas created by the advertising industry, here’s a glimpse of a classic Smokey Bear campaign…

Tags: anniversary, history, radio, voice actors