DAVY CROCKETT, KING OF THE WILD FRONTIER (1955) 20121

Original Walt Disney Productions Six Sheet Poster (73.5 x 75 inches - this is an unusual size for a six sheet) for the Norman Foster family western adventure, DAVY CROCKETT, KING OF THE WILD FRONTIER (1955) starring Fess Parker and Buddy Ebsen. The Davy Crockett story rivals the hula-hoop as one of the epic pop culture events in the post-war years of the 1950s. This film first appeared in three parts on the ABC Television program DISNEYLAND. A little known but good-looking Fess Parker, a former University of Texas student, was tapped to play the frontier hero. Davy Crockett became one of the highest rated programs on ABC up to that time - prompting Disney to re-edit the TV episodes into a single feature length film, which could be seen in color. Soon kids and their parents were flooding theaters to see what they had missed while watching the Ed Sullivan Show. Davy Crockett coonskin caps, comics, lunch kits, t-shirts, cap pistols and various "b'ar" huntin' accessories were seen in every retail outlet from Neiman Marcus to Woolworths. It was a merchandising bonanza. The film itself is very entertaining, and the success of three different versions of the TV show's song, "The Ballad of Davy Crockett", impelled Uncle Walt (at last) to start his own record company, Disneyland Records. Parker is seen on the six sheet with his trusty rifle, Old Betsy. The poster's overall condition: Fine plus condition. The poster was likely never used. There is a 2" tear in the top of the lower left section (it falls in the background above the first "C" of "CROCKETT" in the title). Otherwise, the poster only has minor fold and border wear and shows some extra creasing at the folds. This first class piece of Disneyana would look great in a home theater with a western motif.