How Annie Got Her Gun and Television Shows from 1949 to 1953

FRONT PORCH Before she sported her signature white on the side of milk cartons and on trucks for Stetson hat, Gail Davis called Arkansas local company Coleman Dairy (now Hiland home. Born Betty Jeanne Grayson in 1925, Dairy). Davis was born in McGehee and raised in “For me, she wasn’t Gail Davis; she was Little Rock. Her good looks and talent were Annie Oakley. That was just the way it was for noticed so early on that she was named “Most that age,” says Bob Coleman of the Coleman Beautiful Baby in Arkansas” when she was 2. Dairy family, who grew up watching the Prior to her turn as Annie Oakley, Davis show. “Kind of like how Fess Parker was Davy had already appeared in many feature films Crockett. At that age, you don’t differentiate HOW ANNIE GOT HER GUN and television shows from 1949 to 1953. between the real person and the character.” Gene Autry, the legendary recording artist, However, it was the adults who helped THE DUSTY TRAIL to stardoM that LANDED natiVE ARKANSAN movie star and popular image-maker of the make the series an overall favorite. When GAIL daVIS ON THE HOLLYWOOD WALK OF faME American West, even called her a “perfect production for the series ended in 1956, Western actress.” Davis went on to appear in reruns were syndicated through 1963, while BY ZOIE CLIFT 14 of his features and 14 of his television show Davis continued to appear as Annie Oakley episodes. After years of honing her skills on in traveling shows and rodeos. When Davis film sets, she had become an accomplished died in 1997, she was still answering fan mail. BEAUTIFUL COWGIRL rides rider, trick shooter and singer. That her mother continues to be connected at full gallop, leaving a trail of The “perfect” Western actress she might to the character, nationwide and beyond, is a desert dust in her wake. In one have been, but it took gumption to get cast source of pride for Terrie. smooth, effortless move, she side- as Oakley. Autry wanted to cast an unknown “She would be honored and excited stands in her saddle, aiming a as the star, but Davis couldn’t be deterred. about this exhibit,” says Terrie. “She, of pistol in front of her. In the distance, a cowboy “She walked into the producer’s office course, would be talking about all the other Astands on the side of the trail. She fires in his wearing blues jeans, her hair in pigtails, wonderful actors in the exhibit and taking direction as she rides by. The cowboy looks over at freckles on her nose and a gingham shirt the limelight away from herself. That would the playing card raised in his hand … a bull’s-eye and went to the cattle call,” says Terrie. be my mother. She was so proud of Arkansas. has been shot straight through the card. Her trick “Gene and the producer, Mandy Shaefer, And I am happy I was able to bring her accomplished, the woman stops riding, pulls her were sitting in there and just laughed. They home.” ROOM TO SPARE horse around and greets the cowboy, and viewers, said, ‘If you have the guts to come in after we “Lights! Camera! Arkansas!” will be on REady to DOWNSIZE? HERe’S with a sunny smile. said no and you still want to try out, we can’t display at the Old State House Museum in yoUR NEW HOME SWEET HOME That pistol-wielding, horse-riding phenom help but audition you.’ And she won hands Little Rock from June 8 through February is none other than native Arkansan Gail Davis, down. She was proud of the character. She 2015. Visit oldstatehouse.com for details. though she was known to the world as the wanted to uphold the high standards the real FACED WITH A LACK of space, organization namesake star of the 1950s television hit “Annie Oakley lived by. It’s my favorite story about is an art carefully mastered. You economize. You Oakley.” The show, which ran for 81 episodes from my mother because it shows the strength of discard. You pitch Hallmark cards, old university 1954 to 1957, holds a place in history as the first her character.” binders, clothes and books, with ferocity typically Western to star a woman. That woman—Davis— The series debuted at a time in postwar unheard outside of extreme sports or reality held her own against leading male actors and America when cowboys and the Old West television. It’s a skill that naturally develops when heroes of the day who fired a gun or wore a badge. were all the rage. Davis’ Oakley easily fit living in major metro areas or in dormitory “So many of her character traits were so similar in. Her character was tough and fought off settings. It is not one typically associated with to the real Annie [Oakley] that it was almost like the bad guys, all without her sacrificing her country living. Or wasn’t, anyway. she wasn’t acting,” says Davis’ daughter Terrie femininity. On an acre of land outside of Dover is a house Davis, who lives in Hot Springs Village. “She fit In the role, donning her trademark pigtails that is 128 square feet. (For the sake of contrast, into the character so naturally.” and befringed outfits (some of which were the storage shed next door is about 20 square Terrie’s mother, who has a star on Hollywood designed by her sister), Davis showcased not feet larger.) Contrary to the thinking of many Boulevard and was inducted into the National only Wild West skills but a kind heart, too. folks who’ve called realtor John Newton, this is Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, will be among “I remember mother spending hours in the not a typo. A standout example of the tiny-house those featured in “Lights! Camera! Arkansas!”—a backyard shooting targets,” says Terrie. “But movement, everything about it is based on that new exhibition that highlights the state’s ties to she made sure her contract read that she economy of space, from the ceramic Chinese Hollywood. The goal of the exhibition, opening would not kill anybody on her show. She garden stools that can double as outdoor furniture June 8 at Little Rock’s Old State House Museum, wounded them, and the bad guys were led to the antique airline and restaurant dishes and is to spread the appreciation of Arkansas’ role in away by the sheriff. She refused to kill any utensils owner Jamie Teal found after scouring the American film history. people or wildlife.” Internet. “Maybe the biggest surprise will be how early it Davis was a star during the Golden Age As Teal says in a note from Saudi Arabia, where started,” says exhibition curator Robert Cochran. of television, when Westerns became the she and her family of seven now live, “I think for “The very first cowboy movie star, ‘Bronco Billy,’ most popular of kids’ shows. Many children a single person or for two people who like each was an Arkansan.” learned about ethics and the “Code of the other well enough to not mind constantly being in Nearly three years of planning, artifact- West” from characters such as Oakley, each other’s space, it’s an ideal way to live full time. searching and research went into the exhibition, Hopalong Cassidy and the Lone Ranger, as For a larger family like mine, it’s a great way to live which includes five galleries of film memorabilia, well actors like Gene Autry. for shorter amounts of time.” including scripts, film footage, awards, Davis’ wholesome image as Oakley was For those interested, the house is listed by Russellville’s photographs, theater posters, documentary videos broadcast via commercials and radio spots More artifacts await curious film buffs at the and costumes, such as Gail Davis’ rhinestone for outlets such as Canada Dry, Wonder exhibition, like Natalie Canerday’s director’s River Valley Realty Inc. (rivervalleyrealty.com; (479) outfit made by Nudie Cohn. Bread and Hostess. Her picture also appeared chair from “Sling Blade.” 968-6260) for an asking price of $22,900. —jph 16 ARKANSAS LIFE www.arkansaslife.com JUNE 2013 ARKANSAS LIFE 17.

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