Hamm's Beer bear
Encyclopedia
The Hamm's Beer bear was a cartoon mascot
used in television production and print advertisements for Hamm's beer. Typically, the bear would dance around in a pastoral setting while the "Land of sky blue waters" jingle was sung in the background. Its name (never mentioned in the commercials) is Sascha, after the wife of the founder of the company.
The Hamm's Beer bear was created by Patrick DesJarlait
, an Ojibwa
, in 1952 for an advertising campaign produced by the Campbell-Mithun advertising agency. For a period, a real bear
named Sascha trained by Earl Hammond
appeared in commercials as well.
The idea came from Cleo Hoval, an account person with Campbell-Mithun, who then asked Ray Tollefson to try drawing a bear that he might like after many others had tried. Cleo liked the bear that Ray drew. Ray drew many scenes and situations for Hamm's advertising and ultimately was asked to create a book on "How to draw the Hamm's Bear" since so many artists would need to draw the Hamm's Bear due to demand. Ray created the book and later he went on to create the little flame girl for Minnegasco and Albert & Stanley for Grain Belt Beer.
The Hamm's Beer bear was featured on endless array of signs, glassware, and merchandise such as clocks, ceramic miniatures, and ashtrays. It was so well-known and identified with Minnesota that the St. Paul Pioneer Press
named the bear as a runner-up on its list of "150 Influential Minnesotans of the Past 150 Years" in 2000. By that time, however, parent Miller Brewing
had discontinued it over concerns it might be interpreted as marketing beer to children; R.J. Reynolds Tobacco had recently been forced to discontinue its Joe Camel
character for similar reasons.
The Hamm's Bear is immortalized in David Frizzell
's "I'm Gonna Hire a Wino" whose lyrics include "When the Hamm's Bear says its closing time, you won't have far to crawl."
In 2002, to commemorate the bear's 50th anniversary, a St. Paul, Minnesota-based group of Hamm's memorabilia collectors called the Hamm's Club proposed erecting a six-foot granite statue of the bear. The monument would stand near a waterfall named for William Hamm, a former company president, in Como Park, and would not mention the word "beer," but the City Council declined the offer in 2003, in part because the original location which was near a playground. The statue was placed on the 7th Street Mall in September 2005.
Desjarlait went on to become a successful artist and is well-known for his striking use of watercolors depicting Ojibway life in his ancestral home of Red Lake, Minnesota. Desjarlait's family still reside in Red Lake and he has one daughter, Patricia, living in Laguna Pueblo, New Mexico.
Mascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
used in television production and print advertisements for Hamm's beer. Typically, the bear would dance around in a pastoral setting while the "Land of sky blue waters" jingle was sung in the background. Its name (never mentioned in the commercials) is Sascha, after the wife of the founder of the company.
The Hamm's Beer bear was created by Patrick DesJarlait
Patrick DesJarlait
Patrick DesJarlait, Sr. was an Ojibwa artist, known for his watercolor paintings and his commercial art work.- Background :Born to Solomon and Elizabeth Blake Desjarlait, he was the fourth of seven children. He is a member of the Red Lake Ojibwa. As a child Patrick spent a lot of his time...
, an Ojibwa
Ojibwa
The Ojibwe or Chippewa are among the largest groups of Native Americans–First Nations north of Mexico. They are divided between Canada and the United States. In Canada, they are the third-largest population among First Nations, surpassed only by Cree and Inuit...
, in 1952 for an advertising campaign produced by the Campbell-Mithun advertising agency. For a period, a real bear
Bear
Bears are mammals of the family Ursidae. Bears are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans, with the pinnipeds being their closest living relatives. Although there are only eight living species of bear, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout the Northern...
named Sascha trained by Earl Hammond
Earl Hammond
Earl Hammond was an American theater, radio, film and television actor, and, in his later years, a voice actor for several animated films and TV series.-Best known roles:...
appeared in commercials as well.
The idea came from Cleo Hoval, an account person with Campbell-Mithun, who then asked Ray Tollefson to try drawing a bear that he might like after many others had tried. Cleo liked the bear that Ray drew. Ray drew many scenes and situations for Hamm's advertising and ultimately was asked to create a book on "How to draw the Hamm's Bear" since so many artists would need to draw the Hamm's Bear due to demand. Ray created the book and later he went on to create the little flame girl for Minnegasco and Albert & Stanley for Grain Belt Beer.
The Hamm's Beer bear was featured on endless array of signs, glassware, and merchandise such as clocks, ceramic miniatures, and ashtrays. It was so well-known and identified with Minnesota that the St. Paul Pioneer Press
St. Paul Pioneer Press
The St. Paul Pioneer Press is a newspaper based in St. Paul, Minnesota, primarily serving the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Circulation is heaviest in the eastern metro region, including Ramsey, Dakota, and Washington counties, along with western Wisconsin, eastern Minnesota and Anoka County,...
named the bear as a runner-up on its list of "150 Influential Minnesotans of the Past 150 Years" in 2000. By that time, however, parent Miller Brewing
Miller Brewing
The Miller Brewing Company is an American beer brewing company owned by the United Kingdom-based SABMiller. Its regional headquarters are located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and the company has brewing facilities in Albany, Georgia; Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin; Eden, North Carolina; Fort Worth, Texas;...
had discontinued it over concerns it might be interpreted as marketing beer to children; R.J. Reynolds Tobacco had recently been forced to discontinue its Joe Camel
Joe Camel
Joe Camel was the advertising mascot for Camel cigarettes from late 1987 to July 12, 1997, appearing in magazine advertisements, billboards, and other print media.-History:The U.S. marketing team of R. J...
character for similar reasons.
The Hamm's Bear is immortalized in David Frizzell
David Frizzell
David Frizzell is an American country music singer. He is the younger brother of country music legend Lefty Frizzell. His career first started in the late 1950s, but his biggest success came in the '80s, 30 years into his career....
's "I'm Gonna Hire a Wino" whose lyrics include "When the Hamm's Bear says its closing time, you won't have far to crawl."
In 2002, to commemorate the bear's 50th anniversary, a St. Paul, Minnesota-based group of Hamm's memorabilia collectors called the Hamm's Club proposed erecting a six-foot granite statue of the bear. The monument would stand near a waterfall named for William Hamm, a former company president, in Como Park, and would not mention the word "beer," but the City Council declined the offer in 2003, in part because the original location which was near a playground. The statue was placed on the 7th Street Mall in September 2005.
Desjarlait went on to become a successful artist and is well-known for his striking use of watercolors depicting Ojibway life in his ancestral home of Red Lake, Minnesota. Desjarlait's family still reside in Red Lake and he has one daughter, Patricia, living in Laguna Pueblo, New Mexico.