Friday, August 16, 2019

FRIDAY HALL OF FAMERS 08/16/19 - ANNIE OAKLEY


With this week’s Friday Hall of Famer, we’ve chosen an historical multiversal, but only her portrayals in the greater Toobworld Dynamic, the many dimensions of the TV Universe.




ANNIE OAKLEY

From Wikipedia:

Annie Oakley (born Phoebe Ann Mosey; August 13, 1860 – November 3, 1926) was an American sharpshooter and exhibition shooter. Her talent first came to light when at age 15 she won a shooting match against traveling-show marksman Frank E. Butler, whom she later married.  The couple joined Buffalo Bill's Wild West show a few years later. Oakley became a renowned international star, performing before royalty and heads of state.


Oakley also was variously known as "Miss Annie Oakley", "Little Sure Shot", "Little Miss Sure Shot", "Watanya Cicilla", "Phoebe Anne Oakley", "Mrs. Annie Oakley", "Mrs. Annie Butler", and "Mrs. Frank Butler". Her death certificate gives her name as "Annie Oakley Butler".

For more, click here:


Here are the actresses who played her in various TV dimensions:



  • Gail Davis played Oakley in the television series ‘Annie Oakley’ (1954 to 1956).
  • Sarah Strange played Oakley in the episode "Mild Mild West" (2009) of the Canadian crime drama television show, ‘Murdoch Mysteries'.


O’Bservation:
She would be the same woman as played by Gail Davis.  But the differences in her appearance can be credited to being seen by us via Detective Murdoch’s perception of her.


These next two portrayals are in other TV dimensions to spread the wealth.




  • Jamie Lee Curtis portrayed Oakley in ‘Tall Tales & Legends’ (1985).
  • Reba McEntire portrayed Oakley in ‘Buffalo Girls’ (1996), alongside Anjelica Huston, Melanie Griffith, and Tom Wopat.


While seeing Annie Oakley interacting with already established characters like William Murdoch, I'd like to see Annie's televersion as an old woman.  She lived to the year 1926, after all.  This is a picture of her.  (Maybe Frances Sternhagen is still vital enough to assay the role?)


And the show in which she could appear would probably be the 'Murdoch Mysteries' spinoff 'Frankie Drake Mysteries'.  It's set in Toronto as well, but it takes place in the 1920s. 
 
While Ms. Davis’ portrayal is probably the least accurate historically, it also epitomizes the spirit of Buffalo Bill’s embodiment of “the show business.”  As such, she will be the face of Annie Oakley in the 2019 class of the Television Crossover Hall of Fame.




Welcome to the hall, Little Miss Sure Shot….

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