Yesterday I was discussing litter with a group of people. Someone mentioned that I probably had no idea who the Crying Indian is. He was right. Luckily, I’m pretty resourceful!
The PSA that became known as the "Crying Indian" was a public service announcement in 1971 as part of the Keep America Beautiful campaign. It seems that most people growing up in that era continue to recognize and remember the commercial.
We need something like this for the new generation. Watch the Crying Indian PSA. Do you remember it? Tell us your ideas for reaching the youth of today with anti-litter messages.
7 Responses to “Crying Indian: 1970s Anti-Litter Campaign”
Course I remember it. They did a breif revival of those iconic commericals for a while in NY (and maybe nationally). Didn’t it just hit ya where ya live? I cried for the Indian AND the environment.
BTW, for all the car fast car loving, tree hugging folk out there, here is something that you might find interesting. http://www.latimes.com/classified/automotive/highway1/la-hy-tesla26jul26,0,1225991.story?coll=la-home-headlines
John, you beat me to the Tesla! There will be a post on that soon!
I remember that. It didn’t just run in 1971, it ran for many years.
I will never forget that commercial. I first remember seeing it when I was 5 — about 1975 or so and being really moved by it. When I try to trace back my committment to environmentalism, I believe that was the starting point. (I did find out many years late that the guy who played the “Indian” was an Italian actor.)
We also had “Give A Hoot, Don’t Pollute” ads in the 70s with a guy/gal in a silly owl costume — but it wasn’t nearly as effective a campaign as the Indian Crying ad.
Heck yea. It is up for “Best PSA of all-time” at http://www.jimmyco.com/display.php?codename=psa
It was Iron Eyes Cody.
Campbell/ERS,Environmental company that designs and manufactors products to save the forest and waterways. We are the creators of the Grate Plate that stop garbage at the inlet boxes in the street from washing into our river and waterway. Our company just designed a new product that will keep the TRASH at the guard rail. I would like to bring back THE CRYING INDIAN in a new commerical or Ad showing where we have come since 1971,and to show our new product that the municiple,county,and state can buy. Regards, Cliff Lill