Sunday, July 4, 2010

Salute the 4th with Johnny Tremain and the Sons of Liberty


If you're an old-time devotee of Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color, you're sure to have seen the two-part presentation of Johnny Tremain (also released as a 1957 theatrical version). Johnny and his grown-up pals the Sons of Liberty, including such folk as Paul Revere, James Otis and Sam Adams, are beating the drum for American independence. Their idea of a good party is to dress up like Indians and dump tea into Boston Harbor.

Please pardon the crackles and pops in this recording. It came from an honest-to-goodness phonograph record - one of those little 6-inch yellow 78s. The song was written by Tom Blackburn and George Bruns, the immortal duo who brought us "The Ballad of Davy Crockett".

Here's the song:
"Johnny Tremain" by Mitch Miller and the Sandpipers


Marx issued this cool Sons of Liberty Playset

A recast of the Paul Revere figure from the Marx set



9 comments:

Charles Gramlich said...

I could enjoy some of those figures. Would have loved 'em as a kid. Probably now even.

Deka Black said...

Paul Revere was the screaming rider, right?

Richard R. said...

I have the book, have read it several times since it was first assigned in about 6th grade (that's a guess). Saw the film too. I've forgotten if the film shows the scene where his hand is disfigured, but I recall liking it (the film).

Evan Lewis said...

Yeah, I still enjoy those figures too. I have most of the rebels and redcoats, and the tin litho tavern, but none of the character figures.

Never heard Revere called the screaming rider, but that's a good name for him. Either him or the Headless Horseman.

I don't remember a disfigured hand, but it's been a LONG time. The whole film is on YouTube in eight parts (in excellent quality) should anyone care to check it out.

George said...

Yes, Rick, you're right: the film shows the disfigured hand (and the "resolution"). We read the book in 6th Grade, too. I remember liking it, but not a lot of detail.

Ray said...

Disfigures his hand at the forge.
This has never come out on DVD has it?
Saw the movie and read the book - then me and my mates played a street version (well we were only kids then)

Booksteve said...

Can't tell you how many times they showed us JOHNNY TRMAIN at assembly in grade school. This along with EARTH VS THE FLYING SAUCERS. Hey, the sixties were an odd time, okay?

Anonymous said...

In an early Simpson's episode, Bart has to read the book and hates it until the accident. He mentions that they should've called the book Johnny Maimed.

I'll have to check with my sister but I think my Marx figures are still somewhere in my family. I had the Gettysburg set and the Fort Apache set too. I still remember how they looked in the Sears Wish Book.

Dan Luft

Unknown said...

I'D LOVE TO HEAR THE JOHNNY TREMAIN SONG! cAN GETTTHE POST TO PLAY, BUT IT'S OCTOBER 2013.

IF YOU FOLKS ARE STILL OUT THERE CAN YOU PLEASE SHARE IT WITH LARRY DeCLAIRE AT LDGoBlue@aol.com.

THANKS,
LARRY