| DANIEL BOONE TV SHOW |
THEN |
| DANIEL AND MINGO |
| & |
| NOW |
"Daniel Boone was a man, yes a big man..." the series theme song said. From 1964 to 1970 big Fess Parker starred as the
buckskin-clad frontiersman on NBC-TV. He and co-stars Ed Ames, Patricia Blair, Albert Salmi, Dallas McKennon, Veronica
Cartwright, Darby Hinton and Robert Logan took us back week after week, to colonial America, to the wilderness of Kentucky and
Boonesborough during Revolutionary War times.
Fess Parker had no trouble convincing us that he was the perfect man to play Daniel Boone, because he had already convinced us years
before that he was Walt Disney's Davy Crockett. With his easy-going manner and country good looks Mr. Parker was a natural to play
the two frontiersmen. And he is a big, big man like the theme song says. Did I mention when I got to meet him this October at his winery
in California I got goose bumps? (See the photo at Fess Parker, I am the one in the middle. My friend, Paula Davis is on my right, both
of us Daniel Boone fans, both of us had goose bumps.)
Ed Ames portrayed Mingo, Daniel's best friend and blood brother. Always described as the "Oxford-educated Cherokee" Mingo's
mother was Cherokee, his father was English. "I am a confusion to myself," Mingo said. Mr. Ames' portrayal was masterful,such a
talented actor, tall, dark, and handsome. Did I mention Mingo was my favorite character and Mr. Ames, my favorite actor, singer, and
entertainer? I haven't had the chance to meet Mr. Ames yet, but I hope to say hello and shake his hand one day. I was lucky enough to
be in the audience last year at the taping of the PBS special, My Music: The Fifties, where he performed six songs. Again the word
masterful comes to mind. At age 80 he has lost nothing, still tall, dark, and handsome with a voice as rich and smooth as ever and a
charming smile. Yes, goose bumps again.
buckskin-clad frontiersman on NBC-TV. He and co-stars Ed Ames, Patricia Blair, Albert Salmi, Dallas McKennon, Veronica
Cartwright, Darby Hinton and Robert Logan took us back week after week, to colonial America, to the wilderness of Kentucky and
Boonesborough during Revolutionary War times.
Fess Parker had no trouble convincing us that he was the perfect man to play Daniel Boone, because he had already convinced us years
before that he was Walt Disney's Davy Crockett. With his easy-going manner and country good looks Mr. Parker was a natural to play
the two frontiersmen. And he is a big, big man like the theme song says. Did I mention when I got to meet him this October at his winery
in California I got goose bumps? (See the photo at Fess Parker, I am the one in the middle. My friend, Paula Davis is on my right, both
of us Daniel Boone fans, both of us had goose bumps.)
Ed Ames portrayed Mingo, Daniel's best friend and blood brother. Always described as the "Oxford-educated Cherokee" Mingo's
mother was Cherokee, his father was English. "I am a confusion to myself," Mingo said. Mr. Ames' portrayal was masterful,such a
talented actor, tall, dark, and handsome. Did I mention Mingo was my favorite character and Mr. Ames, my favorite actor, singer, and
entertainer? I haven't had the chance to meet Mr. Ames yet, but I hope to say hello and shake his hand one day. I was lucky enough to
be in the audience last year at the taping of the PBS special, My Music: The Fifties, where he performed six songs. Again the word
masterful comes to mind. At age 80 he has lost nothing, still tall, dark, and handsome with a voice as rich and smooth as ever and a
charming smile. Yes, goose bumps again.
| Fess and Ed at the party held at Mr. & Mrs. Parker's Winery to celebrate the release of the Daniel Boone DVD's in 2006. |
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We have Liberation Entertainment and Fess Parker to thank for having the Daniel Boone Show available on
DVD. All six seasons are available now, as are two special DVD collections just released in November of 2009.
Fess's Favorites is a two DVD set consisting of 8 episodes personally selected by Mr. Parker as his favorites.
The Best of Mingo is a two DVD set, consisting of 8 episodes personally selected by Mr. Ames as his favorites.
Although there are bootleg copies of the show I can assure they are not the calibre of the Liberation Entertainment
DVDs. They worked very hard in restoring each and every episode. You can tell by the high quality of the sound
and picture. The colors are vibrant and true to the out door locations the show was shot in.
Do yourself a favor and buy the real thing. They can be found on Amazon.com or in stores like Target and Sams.
DVD. All six seasons are available now, as are two special DVD collections just released in November of 2009.
Fess's Favorites is a two DVD set consisting of 8 episodes personally selected by Mr. Parker as his favorites.
The Best of Mingo is a two DVD set, consisting of 8 episodes personally selected by Mr. Ames as his favorites.
Although there are bootleg copies of the show I can assure they are not the calibre of the Liberation Entertainment
DVDs. They worked very hard in restoring each and every episode. You can tell by the high quality of the sound
and picture. The colors are vibrant and true to the out door locations the show was shot in.
Do yourself a favor and buy the real thing. They can be found on Amazon.com or in stores like Target and Sams.
| I'm somewhere in Kentucky, with the dogwood all in bloom A tall man walks beside me, frontiersman, Daniel Boone. A sparkling river winds through the sycamores and pines And the muskrat runs beside it, with the beaver close behind. A cardinal sounds alarms, as a blue jay nears its nest, And the sparrows and the warbler watch, to see who is the best. Large gates rise up before us as we walk around the bend Fortress of security, it marks our journey's end. An Indian walks to meet us, with a look of friendly jest, Mingo wonders why it took so long for us to find our rest. Nature's whispers sink behind us, as human voices rise, I see busy, hearty people: very young, to old and wise. An old man croaks a greeting as we walk through heavy doors He says he's "Cincinnatus", as he sweeps the wooden floors. I rest my gun beside me, as do Boone and Mingo, too, And soon we are "a-talkin", about all the things we'll do. It seems a peaceful picture, and I feel a comfort here, Perhaps I've finally found my home, and now my way seems clear. Yes, I'd like to stay for dinner, and some ale if it's tame, And I've heard Kentucky bass and perch, put all the rest to shame. Where'd I come from? Sure I'll tell you, but it isn't very near and I'm thinking of not going back, cuz I'm likin' it right here. 2009 sounds kind of strange, so I won't share that right now, You wouldn't like it there at all, it'd be strange to you somehow. So now if you'll excuse me, I'll find my way to bed. And the dreams of this frontier life, will whirl inside my head. I hope when I awaken, I'm still here with all of you Instead of where the world's gone mad, the world that I once I knew. So if anyone asks after me, and they say they want me back Say I'm somewhere in Kentucky, and I didn't leave a track. by Susan D. Harris |
| I'm Somewhere in Kentucky by Susan D. Harris |
| *********************************************************** Susan D. Harris is a friend and a fellow member of a blog group called MingoWomen. I thank her for letting me share her wonderful poem. For the many of us who were and still are fans of the Daniel Boone TV show,her sentiments are ours. I don't think it can be said any better. Oh how we all wish we were Somewhere in Kentucky. ******************************************************** |
| Sadly on March 18, 2010 the world lost another hero and a fine human being. Fess Parker passed away from natural causes. Susan Harris, author of the poem, "I'm Somewhere in Kentucky" also created this very nice memorial. |
| A coonskin cap hangs lonesome, on a wall with two long rifles near. And a broad-shouldered buckskin jacket; all memories of the man we held dear. Known to have the “eye of an eagle,” gentle as a newborn fawn. “King of the Wild Frontier,” in an instant he was gone. Heaven needed another hero, one who wore that coonskin cap. Only he would fit the bill, an easy-going sort of chap. Towering over most men, easily six foot, six inches tall. When St. Peter spoke his name, he humbly answered the call. A country boy and a gentleman, sweet and mellow as a fine wine. “Be good to your friends and family,” was the legacy he left behind. He touched a whole generation, as Davy Crockett and Dan’l Boone. With a real-life smile always on his face, Mr. Parker, you left us too soon. Now Old Betsy, Ticklicker and a coonskin cap, rest side by side on that wall. Heaven needed another hero, Mr. Parker, you’re still a hero to us all. by Susie Coffman March 2010 |
