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Smokey "the" Bear

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MMDE: Smokey the Bear

Current: Smokey Bear

Was he "Smokey Bear" or "Smokey the bear"?

Our lovable friend seems to have been on TV forever, and now on the internet in the form of ads, but every time you see him now he's just called Smokey Bear. Those experiencing the Mass memory Discrepancy Effect are sure this has changed, and remember him as "Smokey the Bear."

The popular song from 1952 has the word "the" added, but that might just be artistic licence in order to keep the rhythm going.

To anyone under 40 this seems to not be an issue - they remember it as wee see today, "Smokey Bear". There are one or two references still around to "the", however.