History is full of legendary figures from the great frontier that went on to achieve folk hero status. In the 1950s, the Disneyland TV series did its part in helping to popularize Davy Crockett - thanks to a mini-series that featured Fess Parker in the lead role. The coonskin hat-wearing hero was such a hit that the show spawned a #1 hit record, as well as a huge collection of toys and dolls, not to mention record-breaking coonskin hat sales.

Ten years later, the allure of folk heroes was still strong and it seemed only natural for Disney to try their luck with another adventurer, Daniel Boone. To play the legendary frontiersman, Disney would once again turn to Fess Parker to handle the title role, and Daniel Boone, which debuted in 1964, became an instant hit. Time to make room on the toy store shelves once again.

 

Milton Bradley did their part by contributing a popular board game called Trail Blazers. Included was your very own application for the Trail Blazers, a Daniel Boone fan club. A doll likeness was introduced which came with a full array of frontier-necessary accessories including a bag, powder horn and, of course, a coonskin cap. The merchandising didn’t end there though. Inflatable toys, card games, lunchboxes, penknives, even a pencil case, were all soon available. And as an added bonus, if you purchased the pencil case, a leaflet inside led you to even more merchandise, including a wallet, ring binder, and the ambiguous “caboodle kit”.

The Daniel Boone series ended in 1970 after a successful six-year run, but not before crates of Daniel Boone toys could be sold to all of the adoring young fans of the show and its hero. The popularity of the toys remains strong among collectors to this day, proving that a great folk hero never really dies – he lives on perpetually through the vast amount of merchandise he eventually spawns.