In 1954, some of the best viewing available on television screens was the popular "Disneyland" show on Sunday evenings, and probably the most popular feature on the show was "Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier."

Davy Crockett was portrayed by Fess Parker, a 6-foot-6-inch Texan with a friendly, unassuming manner well suited to the small screen.

Parker was welcomed into living rooms and soon captured the hearts of Americans, especially the post-war "baby boomers" who were then just children.

Every boy -- and many girls -- wanted a coonskin cap, and wore it proudly.

When the Crockett theme started playing, proclaiming that their hero was "born on a mountaintop in Tennessee, greenest state in the land of the free," kids in the Volunteer State could be forgiven for feeling a touch of kinship, and a large measure of pride.

The series was "true to life," as Walt Disney said, so when Crockett was killed at the Alamo on one Sunday night episodes of the TV show, kids all over America all but went into mourning.

Then, the next year, Davy Crockett was reborn in a full-length motion picture that was just as good as the TV series, edited from it, but bigger on the big screen, and in color.

It has been listed as one of the most patriotic movies ever produced by Hollywood.

The movie premiered not far from the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, but it was simultaneously released in Greeneville, and shown here at the Capitol Theatre on June 8, 1955.

An article in The Greeneville Sun on June 2, 1955 noted that Parker was greeted by crowds of children in Greeneville the day before, and he repeatedly had his car slow down so he could wave and speak to them.

The article said that Parker "won the hearts of the homefolks, with his friendly grin, easygoing personality, and just plain kindly attitude."

The article noted, "On one occasion, he appeared to be deeply touched and said, 'I am simply overcome by the way these children have received me. I do not want to disappoint any of them, and I only wish I could shake hands with each one.'"

The article went on to say, "One youngster, who approached Fess while his car was getting gasoline, could hardly believe his eyes, when he saw the huge, buckskin-clad figure. The wide-eyed boy said in a hushed voice, 'Gosh, Daddy, I thought he was dead.'

"With that, Parker reached over and picked up the youngster in his arms, and after giving him a hug, he signed an autographed picture for him."

Parker stood on top of a fire truck to greet "a crowd of several thousand" fans in front of the Capitol Theatre here, and was introduced by the manager, Harry Beekner.

Parker, whom the article repeatedly referred to as "Fess," told his audience, according to The Greeneville Sun, "that he was proud to be able to be in Greeneville and to visit Crockett's birthplace "on the shady banks of the Nolichucky River."

He said, "This is a beautiful spot, and I can readily understand why Davy must have loved it.

"It will be fine when a road is built to the birthplace (which was then still privately owned) and it would be fine if the actual cabin in which he was born could be restored."

The article noted that members of the Limestone Ruritan Club "are meeting this week with Gov. Frank Clement, in an effort to get a state road and recreation center at the site of Davy Crockett's birthplace."

The Greeneville Sun seeks to identify youth standing behind Fess Parker in the newspaper's 1955 photo that is on Page A-1.

If you know the identity of any of the youth, please send an e-mail to webmaster@GreenevilleSun.com with the child's name and location within the picture.

Individuals may also post this information on The Greeneville Sun's Facebook page at GreenevilleSun/Facebook.