Rural Civil Defense TV Spots

Rural Civil Defense TV Spots were made by the US Civil Defense office to inform farmers what to do in case of a nuclear attack. They were a part of CONELRAD - an emergency broadcasting system used in the United States during the Cold War, mostly in the 1960s.

They are frequently used in KGTV materials.

CONELRAD

Logo of CONELRAD

CONELRAD (Control of Electromagnetic Radiation) was a method of emergency broadcasting to the public of the United States in the event of enemy attack during the Cold War. It was intended to allow continuous broadcast of civil defense information to the public using radio or TV stations, while rapidly switching the transmitter stations to make the broadcasts unsuitable for Soviet bombers that might attempt to home in on the signals (as was done during World War II, when German radio stations, based in or near cities, were used as beacons by pilots of bombers). U.S. president Harry S. Truman established CONELRAD in 1951. After the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles reduced the likelihood of a bomber attack, CONELRAD was replaced by the Emergency Broadcast System on August 5, 1963, which was later replaced with the Emergency Alert System on January 1st, 1997; all have been administered by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Unlike its successors, the EBS and EAS, CONELRAD was never intended to be used for severe weather warnings or local civil emergencies.

Puppet

Conelrad
Vital statistics
Gender	Male
Status	Old Farmer
Spouse(s)	none
Parents	none
Children	none
Appearances	Smile Guide
Portrayed by	puppet

Conelrad is a character portrayed in the spots. He is also frequently seen in Smile Guide.

Appearances

Conelrad in the original spots

Conelrad lives alone on his farm. The lector instructs him what he should do in order to prepare himself and his livestock for a nuclear incident, and what to do in case one happens.

Conelrad in Smile Guide

In How to efficiently apple two clips from the series are used. One of them shows Conelrad touching a crystal ball (the accompanying audio is from the same source). The other clip shows an empty rocking chair. That clip is originally shown just after a nuclear disaster has occured. In How to make from paper Conelrad makes an appearance just before Agatha's Mother said she picked up the phone. Also, around 03:42, a voice in the background turned out to be an edited fragment of the show. In How to your own hair Conelrad is seen going down the stairs into a shelter while carrying something.