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.

I just recently started watching the re-runs on the Retro Television Network. While I know it's mostly fiction, this is family entertainment at its finest. Again, while fiction, this show gets you interested in an American icon. I found myself looking up Daniel Boone on the net. My daughter even got interested and did a little report on Boone (not from material in the show, but she went to her school library and started reading about him)! A shame I only knew of this show's existence recently, and as I got into the show, I was saddened to hear of Fess Parker's passing just three days ago.Shows like this are gone as with Mr. Parker. But re-runs and DVD and Blue-ray have made it possible for future generations to appreciate this fine show for family entertainment.

If the real Daniel Boone ever saw this show from some heavenly perch, he would have been amazed to see just how much was attributed to him. Boone in fact did live a very long life (1734-1820) for his era. But he not only was on the scene for just about every event in American history from the French and Indian War to the Jefferson presidency, but he, his family, and friends, never aged. I remember back in the day that had Boone involved in the French and Indian War right up to the Aaron Burr conspiracy of 1805. That's about fifty years difference. Boone apparently knew and met just about every important person in that time period. I thought he had enough to do just settling the state of Kentucky and keeping himself and his family alive in dangerous times and places.But Boone was played with charm and modesty by Fess Parker who after essaying the role of Davy Crockett for Disney seemed like the only choice for this part. The real Daniel Boone by all accounts was a modest and retiring man who was startled by all the fuss made about him. He also lost two sons in fights with the Indians, tragedy dogged him in his long life.Parker had a good cast of regulars to help him, most notably Ed Ames, lead singer of the Ames brothers who went out on a solo career of his own while the show was running. He made a never to be forgotten appearance on the Tonight Show demonstrating the art of tomahawk throwing and scalping somewhat below decks.It was a pleasant enough show, but kids if you see the reruns on TV Guide Channel don't cheat on your history homework by watching this.

"Daniel Boone" is a show that has flown out of almost every pigeonhole into which the TV critics have tried to stuff it.It's not really a Western (most action takes place East of the Mississippi), but it has all the elements of a classic Western.Action/Adventure? Sure, lots of it, but with plenty of food for thought provided by the family and social issues that are woven into most plots.Drama? Yep, but with elements of humor that bring some episodes into the range of Comedy.History? ahem Well, let's just say that this Dan'l must have lived in an alternate world (see, Science Fiction, too!) where time travel allows for episodes where President George Washington appears one week, while the next week the American War for Independence is still being fought.Regardless of how one might label this series, "Daniel Boone" is a show that has something for everyone!