Davy Crockett and Disney's Dream

The Davy Crockett craze was a phenomena created by Walt Disney Productions and ABC Television.   It began in late 1954 with the premiere of Disney's first TV series, aptly named Disneyland.  The show included five episodes featuring the American hero, Davy Crockett.  Fess Parker played the famed frontiersman and Buddy Ebsen costarred as his friend and sidekick George Russel.  The second installment, "Davy Crockett Goes To Washington" was broadcast  two days after my birth.  It scored a 50% audience share and Davy's popularity exploded. 

Davy Crockett captivated America and was the first TV inspired fad.  People couldn't get enough of Davy.  By spring, three versions of the theme song, The Ballad of Davy Crockett reached the billboard magazine music charts.  The popular song was a hit for Fess Parker, Tennessee Ernie Ford and Bill Hayes. All three versions finished in the top 30 songs for the year with Hayes at #6.  Over four million records were sold.  You might remember the chorus.....Daa--vee, Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier.   

The TV series and record sales fueled demand for Crockett themed merchandise.  Production couldn't keep pace; from lamps to lunchboxes, thousands of frontier themed products were sold.  The most popular item was the faux coonskin cap.  Just about every boy in America had one, including me. To this day I am thankful that my parents didn't call me Davy, as I associate the name with a fad long passed.  

All the Davy Crockett hoopla created awareness for the summer 1955 grand opening of Disneyland, in Anaheim California.  The theme park was brain child of Walt Disney who envisioned a "happy place" for children and parents to have fun together.  The park was created on 160 acres of former orange groves near the Santa Ana Freeway.  It was financed in part by ABC Television and took just one year to build.  Disneyland featured five theme lands and 18 attractions.  Admission was $1. 

By most accounts, Disneyland's historic grand opening on July 17, 1955 didn't go smoothly. Some blame the sale of counterfeit event tickets, others say it was just too easy to sneak in. Whatever the reason, the 6,000 invited guests, mostly reporters, dignitaries, celebrities and their families were joined by 22,000 other folks.  Walt called the day "Black Sunday," as it was a day marked by traffic jams, food shortages and numerous near disasters. But, for most patrons, especially the children, it was an exciting day of discovery. 

Disneyland's grand opening was broadcast live during prime-time on ABC Television.  The  ambitious 90 minute production utilized 29 camera's and featured three hosts; Art Linkletter, Bob Cummings and Ron Reagan.  The festivities included Disneyland's first parade and saw Walt Disney on horseback accompanied by who else, but Davy Crockett.     

                                                 

Over a million people visited Disneyland during its first year of operation and it became a cornerstone of the Disney empire.