Walt Disney Art Classics Convention 2004 - Part 1
Page 12 of 13
Parker went on to say that whatever Walt said was good enough for him. He related an incident that happened during a car trip with Jeff Hunter from Atlanta to Clayton County, Georgia. Hunter had just won a plum role in John Ford’s The Searchers. And, he added, the role would have gone to Fess Parker if Walt Disney had only agreed.
Hodgkins took this opportunity to ask about the two “prequels�? to Davy Crockett: Davy Crockett’s Keelboat Race, and Davy Crockett and the River Pirates. Parker immediately lauded his fellow performers, saying they were wonderful companions working under terrible circumstances. The heat on locations was intense, with no air conditioning of any kind. The keelboats had low power gas engines whose fumes were nauseating. He spoke warmly of Kenneth Tobey and Hans Conried, saying, “As difficult as it was, it was enjoyable.�?
Location shooting created difficulties for the cast and crew of the Davy
Crockett prequels.
Hodgkins then steered the conversation back to Fess Parker’s Hollywood Bowl experience. Parker shook his head and remarked that what was to be a brief experience by Buddy Ebsen and him kept escalating. First they had to fly from their location in Kentucky to Los Angeles, by way of Chicago. Although they were to be taken straight from the airport to the Bowl, Parker insisted on stopping to shop for thirty minutes. Upon arrival, they were informed that the next day they were to ride in on horseback while carrying guitars, dismount, sing a song, get back on the horses, and ride off. In front of 25 thousand people. Parker lamented that he didn’t know what horses they would be riding, or where they would be set up, or even the song George Bruns had selected, Farewell to the Mountains. “I almost fainted,�? he admitted. Despite the lack of adequate rehearsal, Bruns told him not to worry.
After a sleepless night, said Parker, came Walt Disney Night at the Hollywood Bowl. He laughed that the horses temporarily stole the show. Then his pitch came from a harpist who played in the wrong key. He was also shocked to discover that he was now singing with the entire Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. He concluded by saying that his was probably the longest performance in Bowl history with their orchestra and no rehearsal.
Hodgkins then asked Parker to comment on some later films Parker did for Disney. First up was Westward Ho the Wagons, which featured several of the Mouseketeers.
Mouseketeers Doreen Tracey, Cubby O’Brien and Tommy Cole appeared in Westward Ho
the Wagons in 1956.
Parker mentioned that Walt had a definite actress in mind for the leading lady, saying, “Get that Crowley girl.�? But, said Parker, there were two Crowleys, one 5’7�?, and the other 5’1�?. They got Kathleen Crowley, the shorter one, so they ended up playing several scenes with her sitting in a wagon. He also said that he enjoyed working with the Mouseketeers and other fine actors in the film. Much of it was shot in the San Fernando Valley. “Recently I got lost in Thousand Oaks,�? he admitted. “It was easier when there was nothing there.�?
Next up was the Disney classic Old Yeller. Hodgkins teased, “I love what you say in the DVD commentary.�? After his first scene, Parker comments, “I’ll see you in ninety minutes.�?
Fess Parker played Tommy Kirk’s father in Old Yeller.
Musing about playing the “fatherly bookend�? in the film, Parker’s thoughts went to author Fred Gibson. Gibson, from west Texas, was a friend of Parker’s father. “It was nice to be with Fred on this picture,�? he said. He also enjoyed the “very special�? cast and director Robert Stevenson. “Couldn’t tell he was the director,�? he chuckled, “He was that good!�?
Parker went on to say that this was the start of his break with Disney. After two years producer Ray Stark put him under contract. Walt was busy with Disneyland, and Parker became, as he called it, a “utility player.�? But, he said, Old Yeller was a pleasure, especially because of the other cast members; Tommy Kirk, Dorothy McGuire and Beverly Washburn.
The final film he discussed was The Light in the Forest. Parker enthused that it had the most talented cast he worked with at the studio. James MacArthur introduced him to his mother, Helen Hayes. And Jessica Tandy was in the cast. Parker marveled that he was working with these Broadway legends he had admired for years.
Parker starred with a strong cast in The Light in the Forest.
Hodgkins then turned the conversation to the subject of television series. Parker did a series version of the Frank Capra film Mr. Smith Goes to Washington for the 1963-64 season at Paramount. Parker mentioned that Hal Stanley was the co-producer. Thirty episodes were filmed with such guest stars as Buster Keaton, Harpo Marx, Red Foley and Jim Nabors (his second appearance on television). Parker pointed out that although he co-owned the series with Stanley, he had had no idea where the films were from 1963 until just last year. After Stanley died, they had simply disappeared. But, Parker concluded, he had recently learned that 24 were at UCLA. “So,�? he said, “I will go see them.�?