Crockett of Gold

By ROBERT HANCOCK THERE are one hundred and eighty-six Crockett days to Christmas. It is unlikely that any parent does not feel the full terror of these words. I will amplify these warning words for uncles, aunts, godparents, grand- parents and all those who are afflicted with giving children presents at Christmas. For some reason that perhaps only the mumbo-jumbo men of child psychology can properly explain, a former American Congressman, Davy Crockett (b. 1786, d. 1836) has become an overnight hero.

Mr. Crockett has been aided in this success story by Mr. Walt Disney's film, Davy Crockett—King of the Wild Frontier. Supporting attractions in Mr. Crockett's grip on the children's imagination and hero-worship are the killing of a bear, pro- nounced boar, 'when he was only three.' Mr. Crockett with the aid of a rifle called 'Old Betsey' was a terrible trouble to redskins. He wore a coonskin cap and a buckskin jacket and trousers. He rode horses at a speed only credible if you know how Hollywood speeds up the gallop. He also appeals to the child in all of us because he righted wrongs about as fast as he rode the horses.

British manufacturers of toys, sweets, and fancy goods have been swift to pay their tribute to Mr. Crockett, via Mr. Disney.

Over 130 manufacturers are paying Mr. Disney up to ls. in the £ royalty for the right to manufacture Crockett goods under licence. Even Mr. Crockett who was, as I have related, an American Congressman, would be surprised to discover the things he is sponsoring for the children's market. Naturally there are coonskin hats and Crockett suits (in suede. suedette or cloth) set off with flintlock rifles, pistols, bows and arrows and hunting knives (harmless). There are Crockett lollipops. soap figures, playing cards, jigsaws, serviettes (sic, Miss Mitford) and a Crockett mackintosh.

A sure way to popularity with an old friend would be to give his child a Davy Crockett `Ukette.' The manufacturers claim that this is a real musical instrument with nylon strings and when you turn a handle it plays the Davy Crockett song. If you haven't heard the song there are fourteen versions of it recorded for you.

Already there have been slight protests about some of the items marketed. London hospitals have complained that eye injuries caused by Crockett archery sets are beating all records. The Sunday Pictorial, whose readers are firmly dedi- cated to the sound principle that, in Britain anyway, every four-footed chum is worth two on two feet. has complained : `Many British animal lovers will be grieved to learn that hundreds of thousands of cat skins are processed every year into fur coats and now Davy Crockett hats.'

The HQ of the Crockett campaign to subdue British parents is at No. 68 Pall Mall, London, a bustle-centre in the calm of clubland. Here questions are charmingly answered on behalf of the Disney British organisation by Mrs. Marjorie Hearse. `Spell it the same way as you do. the funeral thing,' she said brightly as we shook hands. Together we went upstairs to her office to pick up some explanatory literature. There, two girls and one man, were busy with the Crockett campaign. A pretty girl sang Da—aaa—vvv—yyy, Daaa—vvv—yyy Crockett' as she licked envelopes. A voice said sharply, 'Droll that dam song.' It dropped.

Mrs. Hearse, an attractive blonde, was a bit suspicious about journalists. It appeared it was all Lord Beaverbrook's fault, as the Daily Express had revealed that any manufacturer could make a Crockett article without paying a licence fee to Mr. Disney. She explained that it had something to do with copyright but that at the moment Lord B. was right.

Mrs. Hearse was very thorough in explaining how Mr. Disney aided his licensees to sell Crockett gear. This had all been told to the Daily Express 'but you wouldn't expect then' to say anything kind about anyone or anything, would you?' The Davy Crockett film will show at 2,500 cinemas to about thirteen million people. She was very pleased about the film.

`This is one of Mr. Disney's big commercial successes and everyone in the organisation is fond of Crockett. Not like that Fantasia film. Mind you, I've seen it fourteen times but there are still people with Mr. Disney who wince when you mention that one.'

To support the film Mr. Fess Parker, the 6 ft. 5 in. tall American actor who plays Crockett, has toured Britain from Camden Town to the Nant Garw Colliery. He was resplendent in the full Crockett uniform : once or twice he forgot to wear the regalia and appeared in a light-blue tweed suit; on these occasions the children were a little disappointed and some tears were seen among the embryo bear-hunters. To help sales many big stores have established Davy Crockett trading posts where the full range of Crockett equip- ment is on sale. In Glasgow the tiny Crocketts were so carried away by Mr. Parker's visit to a store that they stampeded and did an estimated £1,000-worth of damage before the leaders Were brought down and the rest halted. To cinema managers and Crockett licensees, the young ladies (and one man) in Pall Mall mail a flow of very well-printed coloured propa- ganda. It contains advice like : 'Why not approach the WVS or local Girl Guides? A few of their members might like to help in making up the suits for presentation to the hospital. Here again you would have a newsy picture and story for the local Press.'

There is also advice on how to co-operate with local National Savings Regional Officers who will arrange for posters to be shown coinciding with play-dates for the film. These posters say : Davy Crockett lived by the motto, 'Be sure you're right then go Ahead.' You can go right ahead with National Savings. There are also small coloured posters of Mr. Fess Parker in his Crockett cap which are suitable for cinema foyers. They read : 'Fess is an old Anglo-Saxon word meaning "proud" Which leads us to say that we are "fess" to announce his appearance at this theatre in the title role of Walt Disney's Davy Crockett—King of the Wild Frontier.' Mr. Parker recently went to France where he was again given the full Disney propaganda build-up. Fortunately someone discovered in time that 'fesse' in French means 'buttock' so his name was changed to M. Fier Parker.

Only one small thing worries Marjorie Hearse. Will the kiddies discover before Christmas that Davy was a heel, not a hero?

Davy was, in fact, a Republican Congressman and his Popularity in the US forced Democratic journalists to uncover the truth about Davy. It appears that he was a whisky-swilling oaf who never fired at an Indian in anger—a deserter from General Jackson's forces who even failed to put in his statutory number of attendances in Congress. All might have been for- given but the revelation in the land of the matriarchs that Crockett was very unkind to Mrs. Crockett did the trick for the Democrats.

I asked Mrs. Hearse if this were all true. She looked as if the Wicked Lord Beaverbrook had just called to write a series in Person. She could not tell a lie and she said bravely : 'Yes, I atn afraid it is true.'

She was not discouraged about the future of the Crockett toy and soft goods campaign in Britain as there was another Crockett epic in the film cans which could be released before Christmas to pep up any fall-off in demand. It is called Davy Crockett and the River Pirates. Suddenly she looked sad. You know, my husband wears a Davy Crockett cap in bed, and he thinks it's very funny. Often I don't but I suppose after a day with Crockett at the office I'm sometimes not in the Illood for that sort of joke when I get home.'