Difference between revisions of "Davy Crockett"
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Crockett was a vigorous self-promoter, and nominal author of a number of books (probably ghostwritten) that helped to make him a legend in his own time. | Crockett was a vigorous self-promoter, and nominal author of a number of books (probably ghostwritten) that helped to make him a legend in his own time. | ||
| − | In 1954, the Crockett legend, which had largely faded outside of Texas, was reburnished by Walt Disney. The ''Disneyland'' television series presented the first of an unassuming, low-budget adventure series: "Davy Crockett: Indian Fighter." "Davy Crockett Goes to Congress" and "Davy Crockett at the Alamo" followed. Davy Crockett was played by an actor named Fess Parker, little-known then, and, for the most part—apart from the Crockett series—since. To everyone's surprise, including Disney's, the show was a monumental hit. The bland-but-catchy theme song became a hit in its own right. Faux-raccoon hats, popular with gradeschool boys as "[[Daniel Boone]] hats," experienced a resurgence in popularity and became known then (and to this day) as "[[Davy Crockett]] hats."<ref>[http://www.fiftiesweb.com/tv/davy-crockett.htm Davy Crockett], Fifties Web</ref> | + | In 1954, the Crockett legend, which had largely faded outside of Texas, was reburnished by Walt Disney. The ''Disneyland'' television series presented the first of an unassuming, low-budget adventure series: "Davy Crockett: Indian Fighter." "Davy Crockett Goes to Congress" and "Davy Crockett at the Alamo" followed. Davy Crockett was played by an actor named Fess Parker, little-known then, and, for the most part—apart from the Crockett series—since. To everyone's surprise, including Disney's, the show was a monumental hit. The bland-but-catchy theme song became a hit in its own right. Faux-raccoon hats, popular with gradeschool boys as "[[Daniel Boone]] hats," experienced a resurgence in popularity and became known then (and to this day) as "[[Davy Crockett]] hats."<ref>[http://www.fiftiesweb.com/tv/davy-crockett.htm Davy Crockett], Fifties Web</ref> |
==Notes and references== | ==Notes and references== | ||
Revision as of 17:45, March 30, 2007
Davy Crockett (1786-1836) was an American frontiersman who is best known for his death at the Alamo.
Crockett was born in a cabin in what is now Tennessee. [1] He moved to Virginia when growing up, but returned home around age 19, and married Polly Findlay soon after. After a stint in the military, in which he fought in the Creek War, [2] Crockett served in the Tennessee State Legislature for a couple of terms beginning in 1821, and later in the United States Congress. Originally a Democrat, Crockett ended up switching to the Whig Party.
After being defeated for re-election to Congress, Crockett went to Texas, where he was killed attempting to defend the Alamo. Before leaving, Crockett is reputed to have said, "You can to to Hell. I'm going to Texas." [3]
Crockett was a vigorous self-promoter, and nominal author of a number of books (probably ghostwritten) that helped to make him a legend in his own time.
In 1954, the Crockett legend, which had largely faded outside of Texas, was reburnished by Walt Disney. The Disneyland television series presented the first of an unassuming, low-budget adventure series: "Davy Crockett: Indian Fighter." "Davy Crockett Goes to Congress" and "Davy Crockett at the Alamo" followed. Davy Crockett was played by an actor named Fess Parker, little-known then, and, for the most part—apart from the Crockett series—since. To everyone's surprise, including Disney's, the show was a monumental hit. The bland-but-catchy theme song became a hit in its own right. Faux-raccoon hats, popular with gradeschool boys as "Daniel Boone hats," experienced a resurgence in popularity and became known then (and to this day) as "Davy Crockett hats."[1]
Notes and references
- ↑ Davy Crockett, Fifties Web
External links
- Bear Hunting in Tennessee, an extract from A Narrative of the Life of David Crockett (1834)