Western Edition
Western Edition -- a podcast from Huntington-USC Institute on California and the West and hosted by its director William Deverell, historian of the American West -- seeks to engage Angelenos, Californians, and Westerners as critical thinkers, conscious consumers, and informed community members. The podcast tells the fascinating stories of the people and communities of our region, connecting the past to the present, and demonstrating the tightly woven fabric of history.
The forth season, Hidden Pasadena, digs deep into the “Crown City” of the San Gabriel Valley.
The third season, Memorializing the West, explored historical memory, commemoration, and memorialization across the American West.
The second season, L.A. Chinatown, examined the past, present, and future of one of L.A.’s oldest neighborhoods and one of the first Chinese American cultural centers in the U.S. The first season, The West on Fire, looked at the West’s relationship with fire.
Western Edition is produced by Avishay Artsy, Katie Dunham, Jessica Kim, Elizabeth Logan, and Eryn Hoffman. Western Edition is a production of the Huntington-USC Institute on California and the West.
Western Edition
The West On Fire: Smokey Bear
“Remember, only you can prevent forest fires.” Generations of Americans have this fire safety adage emblazoned on their collective memory thanks to Smokey Bear (often mistakenly called Smokey the Bear). Smokey Bear is the longest-running public service announcement in U.S. history. A large, friendly, bare-chested bear in denim jeans and a campaign hat, asking you to prevent forest fires, he is universally beloved… almost. In this episode, we get to know the bear himself. Where did he come from? How did he and his message spread like, well, wildfire? How did he become a beloved children’s character, a working-class hero, a guardian of nature, a countercultural icon, and a symbol of government overreach, all in one? And what’s it like to dress up in a Smokey Bear costume?
Western Edition is hosted by William Deverell and produced by Avishay Artsy, Katie Dunham, Jessica Kim and Elizabeth Logan. Our music was written and recorded by I See Hawks in L.A. Western Edition is a production of the Huntington-USC Institute on California and the West.