"Daniel Boone was a man,
Yes, a big man!
With an eye like an eagle
And as tall as a mountain was he!
Yes, a big man!
With an eye like an eagle
And as tall as a mountain was he!
Daniel Boone was a man,
Yes, a big man!
He was brave, he was fearless
And as tough as a mighty oak tree!"
Yes, a big man!
He was brave, he was fearless
And as tough as a mighty oak tree!"
— Theme song
Daniel Boone is an American television series that aired from 1964 to 1970 on NBC starring Fess Parker as the titular frontier hero, who conducts surveys and expeditions around Boonesborough, Kentucky, running into both friendly and hostile Indians, just before and during the Revolutionary War.
This series features examples of:
- Artistic License – History: The show runs into this a lot, so much so that the state legislature of Kentucky complained about it.
- Firstly, Daniel wasn't as tall as Fess Parker made him out to be; he was only 5'8 (or around average height for a man).
- In real life, Daniel Boone was captured by British forces three years after the founding of Boonesborough. He escaped, alerted the residents that attacks were coming, left the town and never returned. Now consider that the show has six seasons.
- In the show, Daniel had two or three children, with Israel being the only one of any importance. In real life, Daniel had ten children.
- The show's Daniel Boone wore a coonskin cap, mostly as an Actor Allusion to when Fess Parker played Davy Crockett in the namesake series. The real Daniel Boone never wore one, usually wearing a beaver hat instead.
- In the show, Boone interacts with the Cherokee several times while in Boonesborough, in northern Kentucky. The Cherokee never lived anywhere in Kentucky.
- Anachronism Stew: The episode "The Aaron Burr Story" was based off the Burr Conspiracy (where former vice-president Aaron Burr was accused of trying to gather a group of people to make his own new nation in the southwestern US), which happened in 1806. Numerous episodes before and after this one are pretty explicitly stated to take place during the American Revolution, which ended in 1783.
- Bears Are Bad News: Bears occasionally appear to cause Daniel or the others trouble.
- Bragging Theme Tune: The theme song consisted of outright Chuck Norris Facts: He was tall as a mountain, could tear down a forest, could freeze rivers by glaring at them...
- Beware the Nice Ones: Daniel Boone may be a loving husband and father, but do not think you can take advantage of him. Mingo is no pushover either, Oxford-educated he may be. He still knows how to fight when necessary.
- Bittersweet Ending: Several episodes ended this way.
- Christmas Episode: The aptly-titled "A Christmas Story", revolving around a Native American getting stuck in Boonesborough during a blizzard. Oh, and the woman's in labor.
- Chuck Cunningham Syndrome: Daniel's daughter Jemima randomly disappears after season 2.
- Dawn of the Wild West: The series is set in Kentucky during the late 18th century.
- Deadpan Snarker: Daniel is one of these. Mingo and Gabe Cooper also fall into this category from time to time.
- Fiery Redhead: Rebecca Boone had her moments.
- Gentle Giant: Gabe. One of the biggest and tallest characters in the series.
- Historical Domain Character: Besides the obvious example of the protagonist himself, Johnny Appleseed appears in an episode in which he averts an Indian war.
- Happily Married: Daniel and Rebecca Boone. True they have the occasional arguments, but they rarely erupt into anything to serious.
- Thanksgiving Episode: The aptly-titled "A Thanksgiving Story", which is about Daniel's father-in-law trying to uphold a peaceful Thanksgiving while Daniel is away and some of the Indians are planning an attack.
