Kevin Readdean – Voice Talent

Keep America Beautiful – Earth Day 1971

 

On this Earth Day in 1971, the first “Crying Indian” anti-pollution Public Service Announcement was released. This landmark, award winning AdCouncil campaign, developed by the ad agency Martsteller for Keep America Beautiful, included two PSAs (“Horseback” and “Canoe”) which featured Iron Eyes Cody as the “Crying Indian.” Already a veteran of screen acting, in primarily Native American roles despite his Italian ancestry, Cody, and his single tear, became an early symbol of the environmental movement. The ads evoke sadness as they draw attention to the damage that pollution and litter do to the environment. The call to action is provided by the radio drama legend William Conrad. His deep, baritone voice-over reminds us that “people start pollution; people can stop it.” Conrad’s vast career includes over 7,500 radio drama roles, narrations for television and cinema spanning five decades, and producing and directing roles in multiple films.

View these landmark PSAs at the AdCouncil website. What memories of these ads do you have? Do they still inspire you toward environmental causes?

Tags: anniversary, public service announcement, voice actor, voice-over