Seymore_D._Fair Knowpia

Seymore D. Fair
Seymore D. Fair
First appearance	June 1, 1983
Created by	1984 Louisiana World Exposition
Portrayed by	Jeff Davis (1983-84)
In-universe information
Alias	Seymour D' Fair
Species	White Pelican
Gender	Male
Family	Critters
Nationality	American
Home	Critter Club House

Seymore D. Fair (alternatively Seymour D. Fair, and sometimes called Seymore de Faire or Seymour d'Fair) is a cartoon animal and costumed character who was the official mascot of the 1984 Louisiana World Exposition. An anthropomorphic white pelican, Seymore typically wears a blue tuxedo jacket, large top hat, spats, and white gloves. His name is derived from the New Orleans phrase "see more of the fair". He was the first character mascot in the World Expositions.^[1]

Seymore promoted the New Orleans World's Fair in Los Angeles, New York, Paris, and London. During the 1984 Republican National Convention, he interacted on stage with George H. W. Bush,^[2]^[3] Vice-President of the United States, and numerous Chiefs of State.^[4]^[5]^[6] In Washington, D.C., he met Billy Joel at the White House, entertaining wives of Russian diplomats.^[7] Seymore appeared on Saturday Night Live, shown guarding an entrance to the White House with Secret Service agents.^{[citation needed]}

Name edit

For the first ten months after he was created, Seymore was simply referred to as Mr. Pelican. Later, fair management worked with a local convenience store chain to create a naming contest, which resulted in over 18,000 submissions. Judges included local celebrities such as Angus Lind and Bob Marshall of the States Item. The winner of the contest was Susan Shambra, a computer operator for a local insurance company. Seymore's name,^[8]^[9] is a derivative of the local Yat dialect translation of "See More of the Fair"' as "Seymore D' Fair."

Seymore D. Fair is the first World Expo Mascot.

Advocacy and education edit

While mainly appearing in the New Orleans World's Fair,^[10] Seymore was in numerous educational, civic, and community causes, most notably Substance Free Lifestyles, Animal Welfare, and Positive Behavior programs. In 1986, he performed with First Lady Nancy Reagan in the national "Just Say No" Rally held in the Louisiana Superdome.

Inspired by the First Lady's anti-drug campaign, Seymore and his friends, the Critters, along with local law enforcements jointly produced a drug education program in 1986 known as "Critters & Kids Just Say NO to Drugs".^[11] The two-part program consisted of a 45-minute live theater presentation and a post program classroom teaching unit. Approximately 100 public, private, and parochial schools from the metro New Orleans area participated, with 40,000 K-6 students attending the live theater presentation. At that time, Harry Lee Jefferson Parish Sheriff proclaimed that the program was the largest singular drug education effort in Louisiana history.^{[citation needed]}

Honors and awards edit

At the end of the fair, Seymore was enshrined alongside Dorothy's ruby slippers in the Smithsonian Institution^[12].^[13] He was inducted into the New Orleans Historic Collection and the Louisiana State Archives where he is prominently displayed. Seymore and his friends were appointed "Ambassadors of Goodwill" for the State of Louisiana by then Governor Edwin E. Edwards. New Orleans Mayor Ernest "Dutch" Morial issued a proclamation in 1986 that issued January 24 as "Seymore D' Fair" day.

The Seymore D. Fair Foundation edit

In 2015, the Seymore D. Fair Foundation was established in 2015 to support community programs.

References edit

^ Expo Museum
^ "Seymore D. Fair Invades the GOP Convention", Wisconsin State Journal, August 22, 1984
^ "Vice President Bush and Seymore Celebrate the Fair", States Item, Times Picayune, September 6, 1984
^ "Seymore makes NY Mayor Koch Jealous", States Item, Time Picayune, July 1, 1984
^ "Birds of a Feather. New York City Mayor Koch and Seymore", States Item, Time Picayune, April 4, 1984
^ "Seymore and Atlanta Mayor Young", States Item, Times Picayune, August 24, 1984
^ "Seymore | Who is he?". Seymore’s Foundation | Non-profit dedicated to delivering drug education solutions for Elementary & Middle Schools!. Retrieved 2022-05-28.
^ "Fair's mascot carries message in new name: Seymore D. Fair", States Item, Times Picayune, October 25, 1983
^ "Fair's mascot gets a name", South Carolina Aiken Standard, October 26, 1983
^ "A Fair Mascot", Syracuse Herald, May 26, 1984
^ "Critters and Kids Say No to Drugs", States Items, Times Picayune, April 21, 1987
^ "Seymore and the Fair's Final Celebration", States Item, Times Picayune, November 11, 1984
^ "Seymore enshrined in Smithsonian Institution", States Item, Times Picayune, November 11, 1984