Bert the Turtle
Shades of the 50's! The original 1951 Duck and Cover drill public service promo, with its star, Bert the Turtle. In this film, we're reminded that nuclear war can break out at any time, with or without warning, and all Americans should be ready day and night. "Burns from a nuclear explosion are much worse than a sun burn... duck and cover!"
There was a turtle by the name of Bert
and Bert the turtle was very alert;
when danger threatened him he never got hurt
he knew just what to do...
He ducked!
And covered!
Ducked!
And covered! He did what we all must learn to do
You, And you, And you, And you!'
Duck, and cover!'
That thing would have scared the hell out of me if I'd ever seen it. How come we weren't all traumatized? Or were we?
I don't remember ever seeing it. I do remember the duck and cover drills quite vividly, but as far as I know, they never told us what the "bright flash in the sky" was, just that if you see one, you should duck and cover. More info about this film, including the controversy it created at Wikipedia.
About two months ago, my mother found the civil defense handbook that was given out to all the parents at the time I was in grade school. I have it at the office - it's called The Minuteman's Survival Guide circa 1964 or so. Someone at work (who's an LDS) recognized it as something that was put out by the Mormon Church in Utah. He seemed quite proud. I need to bring it home from work (where it's hanging on my bulletin board) and either scan some of it in here, or reproduce some of the pages. Some of it is innacurate, some is almost funny.
My father told me that at the time, the mayor of Denver, Richard Batterton (1959-1963) - a former used car dealer - had been forced by the Feds to come up with an evacuation plan. He balked - didn't want to bother, I guess, and procrastinated for a long time. Eventually, the plan was created: everyone in Denver should evacuate to the mountains. In fact, he even wrote to Eisenhower to protest highway funds being cut, as the planned highways would be the evacuation routes out of the cities. When asked what the evacuees were supposed to do once they reached the mountains, the mayor said, "That's not my problem. Once they leave Denver and are in the mountains, they're the state's responsibility." When the air raid sirens sounded, all the mothers were supposed to quickly get in their cars, and drive to the school - pick up a minimum of 4 students, and drive to the mountains.
What a plan.
This doesn't remind you all of something else a little more contemporary, does it?
Duck and cover...
Duck and cover...