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MISLEADING AND MISREPRESENTING THE AMERICAN YOUTH: “LITTLE ORPHAN ANNIE” AND THE ORPHAN MYTH IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY ________________ A Senior Honors Thesis Presented to The Faculty of the Department of The Honors College University of Houston ________________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts _______________ By Amanda G. Beck May 2020 MISLEADING AND MISREPRESENTING THE AMERICAN YOUTH: “LITTLE ORPHAN ANNIE” AND THE ORPHAN MYTH IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY _______________________________________ Amanda G. Beck APPROVED: _______________________________________ Marina Trninic, Visiting Assistant Professor Honors College Thesis Director ______________________________________ Douglas Erwing, Lecturer Honors College Second Reader _____________________________________ Robert Cremins, Lecturer Honors College Honors Reader _______________________________ William Monroe Dean of the Honors College ! MISLEADING AND MISREPRESENTING THE AMERICAN YOUTH: “LITTLE ORPHAN ANNIE” AND THE ORPHAN MYTH IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY ________________ An Abstract of a Senior Honors Thesis Presented to The Faculty of the Department of The Honors College University of Houston ________________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts _______________ By Amanda G. Beck May 2020 ! Abstract ____________________________ This interdisciplinary thesis examines the myth of the orphan in twentieth-century America as exemplified through the recurring story of “Little Orphan Annie,” an iconic American figure of independence, resilience, and optimism. By providing historical context and literary analysis for each of Annie’s crucial moments in the twentieth century, this thesis shows how the character has advanced a misguided perception of orphan and youth agency. While evolving to represent different decades of American society in the twentieth century through different mediums, Annie has further misled Americans in their perception of orphan and youth agency. America’s failure to separate the fictional aspects of Annie’s life from the darker realities surrounding children, along with the country’s fascination with her triumphant narrative, has contributed to the misunderstanding of American youth. ! Table of Contents Preface……………………………………………………………………………………….......p.1 Introduction………………………………………………………………………………….......p.2 Chapter One: “Little Orphan Annie” Comic Strip from 1924-1968………………...……..........p.6 Media Form: The Comic Book………………………………...……………………......p.6 The Beginning: 1924-1927………………………………………………………….......p.7 The Great Depression: 1929-1931…………………………………………………......p.10 World War II: 1941-1943………………………………………………………….......p.15 Post-World War II: 1950-1964………………………………………………………...p.19 Chapter Two: “Annie” in the Media……………………………………………………….......p.28 Media Form: The Musical…………………………………………………………......p.28 Annie: The Musical - Broadway Impact…………………………………………….....p.31 Media Form: The Movie……………………………………………………………….p.35 Annie: the 1982 movie with Carol Burnett…………………………………………….p.37 Annie: the 1999 movie……………………………………………………………........p.42 Conclusion: The Afterlives of Annie………………………………………………………......p.48 ! Preface ____________________________ The purpose of this thesis is to examine the myth of the orphan in twentieth-century America as exemplified through the recurring story of “Little Orphan Annie.” Annie serves as a significant character in American history, entertaining adult and youth audiences for decades since her debut in Harold Gray’s Sunday comic strip in 1924 (Kelly 1). Since her founding, Annie has functioned as the lead in a musical, the focus of three major motion pictures, the primary character of both a television and radio show, the protagonist of a book, and a common American figure of independence, strength, and childhood optimism. “Little Orphan Annie” portrays different cultural points of American society, and this thesis will explore American children’s narratives in relation to this fictional female’s qualities. Through the methods of providing historical context and literary analysis for each of Annie’s crucial moments in the twentieth century, this thesis will show how she has advanced a misguided perception of orphan and youth agency. Prevailing in literature and societal conversation, the phrase that “the sun will come out tomorrow” continues to inspire audiences, and this thesis explores the problematic consequences that attend such inspiration. Annie’s original purpose was to create a platform in which to critique societal issues of her day (Young 310), but her character has fed cultural notions that misrepresent orphans specifically and instill in American children, more generally, a false sense of agency. Little Orphan Annie has evolved to represent different decades of American society in the twentieth century and has advanced a misguided perception of orphan and youth agency. America’s failure to separate the fictional aspects of Annie’s life, along with the country’s fascination with her triumphant narrative, has contributed to the misunderstanding of American youth. ! 1 Introduction ____________________________ “I didn’t want to be just another orphan, Mr. Warbucks. I wanted to believe I was special.” -Annie Harold Gray’s character Annie outlived the Great Depression, World War II, the Cold War, and the turn of the century. Her common slogans of “you’re never fully dressed without a smile” and her epic ballad “Maybe” are phrases and lyrics that even modern youth recognize. However, Annie’s optimism provides a misguided view of American youth and their agency throughout the twentieth century. Her debut into society through the comic strip in 1924 began an extensive story that overshadows American history’s treatment of children. Harold Gray’s Annie originated from the work of James Whitcomb Riley, who wrote the poem “Little Orphant Annie” in his work “The Old Swimmin’ Pool” and ‘leven more poems” in 1883 (Kuiper 1). Riley introduced the upbeat character of Annie, who crafts folktales for other children in his poem. As a short poem of only four stanzas, this work serves as the basis for Gray’s interpretation of the Annie who grew into an American phenomenon (Kuiper 1). Throughout the poem, Annie’s dialect suggests an uneducated member of the working class, a stark differentiation from later interpretations of Annie, a girl who seems smart and quick-witted. Annie, although a teacher to other children in Riley’s poem, appears to be the one who does not speak properly, an irony that exposes the orphan’s differences from those around her from the very beginning of her existence. The first stanza of the poem introduces Annie as a working girl in the home, and she warns the children of “Gobble-uns” that will get them if they “don’t watch out” (Riley 2). The next two stanzas of the poem evaluate the fate of a little boy and a little girl whom the goblins find and kidnap. Although merely a fable, the pointed message of this poem arrives in the last stanza, which sums up Annie’s advice to the children: ! 2 You better mind yer parents, an' yer teachers fond an' dear, An' churish them 'at loves you, an' dry the orphant's tear, An' he'p the pore an' needy ones 'at clusters all about, Er the Gobble-uns'll git you Ef you Don't Watch Out (Riley 2)! This stanza establishes yet another difference between Annie and the children through the line regarding the children’s parents. Riley clearly labels this poem as “Little Orphant Annie,” but Annie’s charge to the children speaks of not only their parents but also of their teachers and those that love them. Riley sets Annie apart from the children in the poem, for they have parents and other people in the world who care about them. Annie, as an orphan, has no one. However, Riley’s differentiation of Annie from the children seems inconsequential in light of the folkloric tone and optimistic outlook the character Annie provides. In spite of her inability to relate to the children as an orphan, Annie stays positive, thus beginning the century-long thread of overlooking the plight of the real American orphan. This stanza also invokes irony for future Little Orphan Annie’s narrative, which is one of a rich benefactor called Daddy Warbucks. Annie’s charge to “dry the orphant’s tear, / an’ he’p the pore an’ needy ones ‘at clusters all about” is one that was not taken into account until later in the twentieth century. The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 was the first official reform for child labor; the act also served as a major reform for all workers, which benefited the “‘pore an’ needy ones’” (“Child” 2). Although Riley encourages help for the poor, aid to the orphan did not stem from his poem or even from later versions of Annie. Riley’s poem is a guide to the folkloric tone of the Annie character, as well as an insight into Annie’s purpose as a character when Harold Gray published his work. This poem provides a reference point for this thesis in order to ! 3 better explain Annie, her optimism, and her purpose as a fictional character in twentieth-century America. In addition to Riley’s poem, the work of Horatio Alger serves as another source of background for this thesis in order to enhance the discussion of Little Orphan Annie. Horatio Alger produced over a hundred books in the nineteenth century that “heroicized urchins living in poverty at large” (Kasper 1; “Horatio” 1). His popular “dime novels” sold stories of young boys scraping by on the streets of New York (“Horatio” 1). In each situation, these boys found ways to prevail in spite of their circumstances. Alger is credited as the source of the “rags to riches” myth in American literature (Kasper 1). His depiction of young impoverished boys succeeding in the world in spite of society’s dismissiveness towards them was a popular sell with youth and adult audiences (Kasper 1). Alger’s myth of independent youth climbing the economic ladder is a concept that contributes to and assists with explaining Annie’s story and popularity with American audiences. With the idea that young boys can overcome their circumstances, Annie’s narrative as a young girl in New York City who propels herself up the social ladder is a new take on the popular Alger trope.

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