Davy Crockett is a five-part American television serial produced by Walt Disney Productions that originally aired on ABC from December 15, 1954, to December 14, 1955, as installments of the Disneyland anthology series. The series starred Fess Parker as the real-life American frontiersman Davy Crockett and Buddy Ebsen as his friend George Russell.
Production and Format
The serial was produced as part of a deal between Walt Disney and ABC that allowed Disney to build the Disneyland theme park. Disney wished to highlight historical American figures, and his company developed three initial episodes on Crockett: "Davy Crockett, Indian Fighter," "Davy Crockett Goes to Congress," and "Davy Crockett at the Alamo," broadcast from December 1954 to February 1955. These were shot on color film at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (at the Mountain Farm Museum adjacent to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, near the Qualla Reservation entrance) and at Janss Conejo Ranch in California.
Crockett's death at the Battle of the Alamo is not explicitly shown; instead, Crockett is depicted as the last survivor on the parapet swinging his rifle at oncoming Mexican soldiers, after which the picture fades and the flag of Texas is shown flying as a male chorus reprises the final lines of "The Ballad of Davy Crockett."
Two additional episodes followed in November–December 1955: "Davy Crockett's Keelboat Race" and "Davy Crockett and the River Pirates," filmed in Cave-In-Rock, Illinois. These episodes feature Crockett facing off against the legendary river man Mike Fink.
Episodes
The five episodes are:
- "Davy Crockett, Indian Fighter" (December 15, 1954)
- "Davy Crockett Goes to Congress" (January 26, 1955)
- "Davy Crockett at the Alamo" (February 23, 1955)
- "Davy Crockett's Keelboat Race" (November 16, 1955)
- "Davy Crockett and the River Pirates" (December 14, 1955)
Theatrical Compilations
The first three episodes were edited together and released as the theatrical film Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier (1955). The last two episodes were compiled into a second theatrical film, Davy Crockett and the River Pirates (1956).
Cast
- Fess Parker as Davy Crockett
- Buddy Ebsen as George Russell
- Jeff York as Mike Fink
- Kenneth Tobey as Jim Bowie (in the "Alamo" segment) and as Jocko (in the later episodes)
- George J. Lewis as Chief Black Eagle
- Don Megowan as William Travis
- Pat Hogan as Chief Red Stick
- William Bakewell as Major Tobias Norton
Theme Song
The series is widely known for its theme song, "The Ballad of Davy Crockett," composed by George Bruns with lyrics by Thomas W. Blackburn and orchestration by Edward H. Plumb. The song became a major popular hit.
Popularity and Cultural Impact
According to historians Randy Roberts and James S. Olson, "by the end of the three shows, Fess Parker was very well known, the power of television was fully recognized, and Davy Crockett was the most famous frontiersman in American history." By the end of 1955, Americans had purchased over $300 million worth of Davy Crockett merchandise, including coonskin caps and bubble gum cards, sparking a nationwide "Crockett craze."
The shows also generated debate over historical accuracy and whether Crockett deserved the level of attention he received. Nevertheless, the serial proved highly popular. Parker and Ebsen toured the United States, Europe, and Japan.
Awards
The miniseries won an Emmy Award for Best Action or Adventure Series in 1956.
Legacy
The episodes were repeated on NBC in the 1960s, marking the first time they were broadcast in color on television. In 1971, Disneyland renamed its Indian War Canoes ride to Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes in reference to the series.
A five-episode revival, The New Adventures of Davy Crockett, aired from 1988 to 1989, with Tim Dunigan taking over the role of Crockett and Gary Grubbs playing George Russell. Johnny Cash portrayed an older Davy Crockett in several scenes.
The miniseries was released on DVD in 2001 as part of the Walt Disney Treasures limited tin set, and the two theatrical films were released on Blu-ray in a "60th Anniversary Edition" in 2015.
