a fond farewell to
FESS PARKER
Walt Disney's Davy Crockett,
hero of our 50's youth
FESS PARKER
Walt Disney's Davy Crockett,
hero of our 50's youth
Like all former kids of a certain age, Fess Parker's TV portrayal of Davy Crockett for Walt Disney was a cultural milestone in our young lives.
I had the privilege of interviewing Fess for one of my BBC radio series and even managed to get him to sing me a verse of that famous 'Ballad' by George Bruns and Tom Blackburn that was originally (and ironically) written just to bulk out the TV show which was running under time! A number one hit and several million copies later, it became the song by which many of still remember a particular year in the 1950s!
And, if you weren't part of the Crockett generation, then here's a glimpse into what all the fuss was about...
I had the privilege of interviewing Fess for one of my BBC radio series and even managed to get him to sing me a verse of that famous 'Ballad' by George Bruns and Tom Blackburn that was originally (and ironically) written just to bulk out the TV show which was running under time! A number one hit and several million copies later, it became the song by which many of still remember a particular year in the 1950s!
And, if you weren't part of the Crockett generation, then here's a glimpse into what all the fuss was about...
Fess went on to appear in a several Disney feature films - The Great Locomotive Chase, Old Yeller and Westward Ho, the Wagons! - before playing another iconic western hero, Daniel Boone.
But it is as 'The King of the Wild Frontier" that he will always be remembered.
August 16, 1924 – March 18, 2010
"He's ahead of us all in meeting the test,
followin' his legend right into the West..."
7 comments:
We didn't have television until 1960, so although I can sing the Ballad of Davy Crockett from memory (likely learned from episodes re-aired on The Wonderful World of Disney/Wonderful World of Color, it is as Daniel Boone that I best remember Fess Parker. (And yes, I can sing that "Daniel Boone was a man, was a bi-i-ig man, and he fought for America to make all Americans free -- what a boon, what a doer, what a dream-come-a-truer was he!")
Farewell to that dream-come-a-truer!
Another very sad loss :(
Do you ever feel like this is somewhat of an obituary blog now Brian?! I hope people hold off from popping their clogs for a while to give you a break from the sad posts!
I remember that too even though i'm a little bit younger. No more comments from me for a while... i'm all plasterd up.
broods: fond childhood memories of a particular song
SCB - As a lyric, "dream-come-truer" is almost Disneyesque!
ANDY - Sorry! I'll try not to do so many. I think it's an age thing - the last of my childhood heroes all seem to be finally heading off into the West...
SUZANNE - Hope you'll sober up soon! ;) We'll miss you...
(typed very slowly with 1 hand): thanks for the alcoholic reputation!!!
I actually thought you were doing DIY as in 'plastering'! I really wouldn't have made such a naff joke otherwise -- unless of course, the accident involved too much alcohol!! ;)
I won't ask what happened because you'll only have to embark on another painful typing session. Hope the cast comes off soon!
Like scb I grew up without tv so the radio was vital. Dear old Uncle Mac & Children's Favourites, that's where I learned the words of the Davy Crockett song & many others. Have a look at http://www.whirligig-tv.co.uk/radio/
Another sad broadcasting obit.but great they live on through their work.
Notoro: the sound of a lasso whirling
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