Alamo History, Visitor Info, Pictures, & Much More
Davy Crockett and the Alamo
By TheAlamoFilm.com
One of America's greatest heroes is Davy Crockett, self-proclaimed "King of the Wild Frontier". Crockett has been the subject, or perhaps more accurately, the victim of fictional portrayals even before his death.
David Crockett (though, he was often referred to as "Davy" in American folk literature) was born in Greene County, Tennessee, on August 17, 1786. He was not educated well, but in 1813 he was able to serve under General Andrew Jackson in the campaign against the Creek Indians. Jackson would eventually become President.
In 1828, the little educated Davy would go on to be a Congressman where he supported the rights of Native Americans who were being exterminated as a result of Andrew Jackson's new Indian Removal Act. Because of his opposition to Jackson, Crockett was defeated when he ran for re-election in 1831. Crockett would win only once more-in 1833-before he would be defeated twice again. It was during this time in 1834 that Crockett wrote a book titled, "A Narrative of the Life of David Crockett" and went to the East to promote it. Seeing that he probably could not win political campaigns any longer, Crockett parted the East by saying a phrase that, even today, still stands the hair on the back of every Texan's neck: "You may all go to hell, and I will go to Texas."
He did just that and went Westward, joining the Texas Revolution in their fight for Independence from Mexico.
Crockett took part in the Battle of the Alamo on February 23 through March 6, 1836, where for many years he was believed to have gone down fighting. However, new evidence has been unearthed since 1955 depicting Crockett as having been executed along with around a half dozen other men who were taken prisoner after the battle by the Mexican Army.
"Since you have chosen to elect a man with a timber toe to succeed me, you may all go to hell and I will go to Texas."
~ David Crockett after losing an election
~ David Crockett after losing an election
Davy Crockett stands on a ramp at the Alamo in the 2004 film, The Alamo.
One of America's greatest heroes is Davy Crockett, self-proclaimed "King of the Wild Frontier". Crockett has been the subject, or perhaps more accurately, the victim of fictional portrayals even before his death.
David Crockett (though, he was often referred to as "Davy" in American folk literature) was born in Greene County, Tennessee, on August 17, 1786. He was not educated well, but in 1813 he was able to serve under General Andrew Jackson in the campaign against the Creek Indians. Jackson would eventually become President.
In 1828, the little educated Davy would go on to be a Congressman where he supported the rights of Native Americans who were being exterminated as a result of Andrew Jackson's new Indian Removal Act. Because of his opposition to Jackson, Crockett was defeated when he ran for re-election in 1831. Crockett would win only once more-in 1833-before he would be defeated twice again. It was during this time in 1834 that Crockett wrote a book titled, "A Narrative of the Life of David Crockett" and went to the East to promote it. Seeing that he probably could not win political campaigns any longer, Crockett parted the East by saying a phrase that, even today, still stands the hair on the back of every Texan's neck: "You may all go to hell, and I will go to Texas."
He did just that and went Westward, joining the Texas Revolution in their fight for Independence from Mexico.
Portrait of David Crockett
Crockett took part in the Battle of the Alamo on February 23 through March 6, 1836, where for many years he was believed to have gone down fighting. However, new evidence has been unearthed since 1955 depicting Crockett as having been executed along with around a half dozen other men who were taken prisoner after the battle by the Mexican Army.
One of his sayings, which were published in almanacs between 1835 and 1856 (along with those of Daniel Boone and Kit Carson) was, "Be always sure you are right, then go ahead."
In 1954 his legend was again popularized by Walt Disney, who made four movies and a television series about him (starring Fess Parker); the Ballad of Davy Crockett and coonskin caps like the one he wore in those films were all the rage for young boys for a time. After that fad had waned, John Wayne starred as Crockett in the 1960 feature film The Alamo (the first film he also directed).
Today, Crockett's legend still lives strong and the story of the Alamo is one of the most filmed subjects in the History of Cinema with Crockett bein portrayed by: Charles K. French (1909), Allan Sears (1915), Dustin Farnum (1916), Cullen Landis (1926), Jack Perrin (1937), Lane Chandler (1937), Robert Barrat (1939), George Montgomery (1950), Trevor Bardette (1953), Fess Parker (1954), Arthur Hunnicutt (1955), James Griffith (1956), John Wayne (1960) Brian Keith (1987), Merrill Connally (1988), Johnny Cash (1988), Tim Dunigan (1988 & 1989), David Zucker (1991), John Schneider (1995), Scott Wickware (2000), Justin Howard (2002), Billy Bob Thornton....and many more!