Davy Crockett Watch – Nov. 1955

As Christmas 1955 slowly swung into view on the horizon, the Davy Crockett craze was dying down. It had been almost a year since the adventures of the coonskin-capped frontiersman had appeared in several episodes of the Disneyland TV show. The May 1955 release of a big-screen movie cobbled together from the TV segments did big business. But Crockett fatigue was setting in.

But Davy Crockett merchandise was still being offered, as you can see in the Sobel Jewelers ad above that ran in the Lorain Journal on November 17, 1955. What interesting is that the Bradley wrist watch was apparently not an item that was produced and licensed by Walt Disney Productions.

Here's one currently on eBay that somehow managed to survive 70 years.

It's actually quite attractive. It still works, and there's a leather band. It is listed for $150.

And here's another one. This one doesn't work but seems to have the original band. The price? Forty-five bucks.

Interestingly, another listing has both a Bradley watch and the official Walt Disney Productions watch. They're part of an estate sale and are offered for parts or repair.

The Bradley watch is actually more attractive than the Disney version. But the Disney watch has a rendering (however poor) of Fess Parker in his iconic pose as seen on the movie posters, books, etc.

Being born in 1959, I missed the Davy Crockett Craze (although I saw Charlie Brown and his friends wearing coonskin hats in at least one strip in the Peanuts reprint paperbacks). I remember Fess Parker as Daniel Boone, although I don't think we ever watched it in our house. According to the Wiki entry for the show, Parker had tried to buy the rights to Davy Crockett but Disney refused to sell. So the TV show ended up being about Daniel Boone instead.

What's funny to me is the fact that director John Ford had wanted to use Fess Parker for the Martin Pawley role in The Searchers but Walt Disney (who had Parker under contract) wouldn't release him. So Jeffrey Hunter got the role and did a great, memorable job. I think that Fess Parker would have been too similar to Ken Curtis (as Charlie McCorry) so it wouldn't have been so drastic a choice for Laurie (Vera Miles).