>Born on a mountaintop in Tennessee ...
>
>Peacefully of old age at 85 - Fess Parker AKA Davy Crockett
>Before anyone knew such a thing was possible, Disneyland (the TV show) launched a marketing juggernaut in 1954.
>
>10 million coonskin hats were sold (not to mention everything else from flintlocks to lunchboxes and trading cards) and "The Ballad of Davy Crockett" was the number one song in the USA for 13 straight weeks !!
>
>I'll bet you 20 million Americans can still sing the song.

Not to mention a few Canadians (at least those who can carry a tune - I can recite it).

>Parker was a very smart man and knew his Crockett role was a one role wonder (though he later had a series as Daniel Boone) He put his earnings into California real-estate in the mid 50s.
>
>Bonus points : the names of the gambler and the Indian at the Alamo, and the King of the River.

The gambler was Thimblerig (hard name to forget), but the indian, I don't remember. I seem to think it was a really simple name like John, but probably not John. The King of the River - well, I can see his face, but I just can't place his name - Something Fink?