WE'VE HEARD THAT the procurers wanted to do a DAVY CROCKETT Series. Plans called for using former Walt Disney contract player and star of DISNEYLAND TV's DAVY CROCKETT Saga. There were, we believe, 5 hour long episodes telecast in 1955-56.
LEGAL PROCEDURES AND "the Suits" intervened on behalf of Disney and the law prevailed against the proposed new CROCKETT Series. So, would the production company's misfortunes would now number an unwanted Surplus of Buckskin Coats & Pants, Coonskin Caps and Flintlock Rifles?
ALAS, THEY WERE saved by a simple but effective change of venue and moving back a few decades in American History. Instead of Tennessee in the years circa 1820-36, we were now in Kentucky during the 1770's and the American Revolutionary War!
TO THEIR CREDIT, other than the Frontier setting and the plethora of deer hide and furry headpieces, the series is far different from the DAVY CROCKETT Saga on the DISNEYLAND Show.
THE EPISODES WHICH we have seen are more family oriented, widely constituted in subject matter and still action-full.
THIS SERIES GIVES us a more diverse cast of characters in the credits. In addition to Fess Parker (Daniel) and Patricia Blair (Rebecca Boone, wife) we have Darby Hinton (Israel Boone, son), there is great support from several top performers. In recurring roles we have Dal McKinnon (Cincinatius), Abel Fernandez (Little Turtle), Veronica Cartwright (Jemmima Boone), Roosevelt Grier (Gabe Cooper, Black Free Man) and Albert Salmi (Yadkin).
AMONG OTHERS WHO had multiple appearances as the same character were: country singer, Jimmy Dean and a young Curt Russell.
BUT FOR OUR money the most unique and scene stealing character was that of Ed Ames. In a sort of reversal of the Civilized Man's returning 'back to nature', as suggested by Rudyard Kipling's Mowgli (JUNGLE BOOK) or Edgar Rice Burroughs' TARZAN, Ed Ames' Mingo is a Native American Indian, who has been given a college education in England, before returning to the North American wilderness.
LEGAL PROCEDURES AND "the Suits" intervened on behalf of Disney and the law prevailed against the proposed new CROCKETT Series. So, would the production company's misfortunes would now number an unwanted Surplus of Buckskin Coats & Pants, Coonskin Caps and Flintlock Rifles?
ALAS, THEY WERE saved by a simple but effective change of venue and moving back a few decades in American History. Instead of Tennessee in the years circa 1820-36, we were now in Kentucky during the 1770's and the American Revolutionary War!
TO THEIR CREDIT, other than the Frontier setting and the plethora of deer hide and furry headpieces, the series is far different from the DAVY CROCKETT Saga on the DISNEYLAND Show.
THE EPISODES WHICH we have seen are more family oriented, widely constituted in subject matter and still action-full.
THIS SERIES GIVES us a more diverse cast of characters in the credits. In addition to Fess Parker (Daniel) and Patricia Blair (Rebecca Boone, wife) we have Darby Hinton (Israel Boone, son), there is great support from several top performers. In recurring roles we have Dal McKinnon (Cincinatius), Abel Fernandez (Little Turtle), Veronica Cartwright (Jemmima Boone), Roosevelt Grier (Gabe Cooper, Black Free Man) and Albert Salmi (Yadkin).
AMONG OTHERS WHO had multiple appearances as the same character were: country singer, Jimmy Dean and a young Curt Russell.
BUT FOR OUR money the most unique and scene stealing character was that of Ed Ames. In a sort of reversal of the Civilized Man's returning 'back to nature', as suggested by Rudyard Kipling's Mowgli (JUNGLE BOOK) or Edgar Rice Burroughs' TARZAN, Ed Ames' Mingo is a Native American Indian, who has been given a college education in England, before returning to the North American wilderness.