"David Crockett, celebrity pioneer, went from..." Topic

… wrestling bears to wrestling with his image.

"Americans in the 21st century are all too familiar with celebrity culture. We know what it can do to people who become well enough known — never mind why — to have their lives contorted in its funhouse mirror.

David Crockett — he didn't like being called "Davy" — in an image based on a John Gadsby Chapman portrait.
But David Crockett didn't have a clue. How could he?

A person could be famous in early 19th-century America, of course. Military glory paved Andrew Jackson's way to the presidency. But pure celebrity — defined as widespread public recognition in the absence of significant accomplishment — didn't exist as a concept in 1830, when the future King of the Wild Frontier was in his second term in Congress, representing a raw frontier district in west Tennessee.
Then an actor named James Hackett sponsored a contest for a new play to be built around an original American character. Hackett's prize went to a romantic comedy called "The Lion of the West," whose title character was a Crockett parody named Col. Nimrod Wildfire. "Lion" was the first half of a literary one-two punch — the second would be an unauthorized Crockett biography — that would turn a backwoods politician who never got much done into a living legend. And all this was before he rode off to die a hero's death at the Alamo, a mythic finale that would carry his legend forward to 1954, when Walt Disney put it on TV and sparked the cultural firestorm known as the Crockett craze…"
Full article here.
link

Hope you enjoy the article.
It was intereseting, but I was waiting something about the El Alamo too.

Amicalement
Armand

The portrayal of Crockett by Billy Bob Thornton in THE ALAMO is excellent, and addresses these issues.

Totally agree with you my friend!

Amicalement
Armand

The recent 'The Alamo' was a brilliant film. It's a pity that the totally inaccurate John Wayne film still seems to over-shadow it. I suppose the myth is always more popular than the history. (Do not get me started on Braveheart!)

Although I liked Billy Bob Thornton Crockett film, not sure I agree that the new film is more "historical" than the Wayne film. A lot of speculation and conjecture on Crockett's demise will never be known.

Both films were great gamer films!

A LINE IN THE SAND is an excellent analysis of the Fess Parker and John Wayne Crocketts. As historical or mythological figures, and also as popular culture.

Crockett's autobiography is an interesting read. A lot of the Billy-Bob Thornton portrayal is drawn from the autobiography.

The new "Alamo" is the best film ever done on the topic, even with Crockett's death scene. All historical films are flawed, this one less than most. Billy Bob should have gotten an Oscar nomination for his brilliant handling of the historical and legendary "Davy."

I also liked the latest Alamo film with Billy Bob. However that was riddled with inaccurate elements just like all the films before it. The worst in my opinion is that they made it seem like no one was spared at the Alamo. They never showed Mrs. Dickinson and her child being spared along with Travis's servant. Billy Bob stole the movie though, excellent portrayl.

It seems he looks like this.

TMP link

Very Accurate draw.

Amicalement
Armand

When in Tennessee, stay here:
link

link

fascinating thread i have attempted to potray Crockett as

he was mentioned in the various memoires with a wildcat/ or

coonskin hat and a green coat with grey )( may have been

blue trousers) my best guess.

i have done a small historical piece on gringo40s.blogspot.com

regards

Ged

gringo40s.com
gringo40s.blogspot.com
and 28mm ranges

Love the fact Crockett had a big Gallic beak of a nose, just like me

Ged, your figure is excellent.

thanks Warwizard appreciate the kind comments…

regards

Ged
gringo40s.com
gringo40s.blogspot.com
and 28mm ranges