Fess Parker died This last Thursday At age 85. To millions of boomers & their parents, he was & ever will be "Davy Crockett"
Mr. Parker was the star in the 50's mini series produced by Walt Disney for his weekly TV show Disneyland. Used to promote Disney's new attraction Frontierland at his new theme park, it quickly transcended all if any expectations. Whether it was the cold war times that fit the need for an American hero, or just riding the crest of that new innovation called television, Davy Crockett became the first craze designed just for boomers.
I was one of the many that owned a coonskin cap (actually rabbit skin) & a Davy Crockett t-shirt. For Christmas I got a "Davy Crockett at The Alamo" playset. This was one of many tin litho sets manufactured by Marx Toys. Clothing, books, toy rifles & records (theme from Davy Crockett spent 6 weeks as #1 on the charts) were everywhere. I still have a Davy Crockett ceramic cup.If you haven't guessed by now, Davy Crockett was the "King of the Wild Frontier" & the king of merchandising.
My dad was hospitalized at this time for quite awhile & died from cancer soon after. Maybe it was being in a female dominated home or I needed a father figure type in my life, but at the time, Fess Parker in the persona of Davy Crockett filled the void for a 6 yr old. (Freud,table for one)
Another boomer "hero" has passed along with a little bit of gentler times.
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