She was the quintessential girl next door, as presented by Disney, during her stint on The Mickey Mouse Club in the 50's. But, like later starlets like Britney Spears, Annette Funicello stepped out of Walt Disney's shadow with a series of beach movies with fellow pop icon Frankie Avalon in the 60's. After a series of commercials promoting Skippy peanut butter, beginning in 1979, Annette stepped away from the spotlight, returning for the occasional special or movie project.
Today, we celebrate her life and career, as Annette lost her battle with multiple sclerosis at 70.
Not only did Annette venture into movies during the 60's, but also the pop charts, scoring with such hits as "Tall Paul" and "Pineapple Princess". Following, however, is the title tune from the Disney movie, "The Monkey's Uncle". And look who's playing behind Annette-----The Beach Boys!
I can't honestly say how much peanut butter Annette sold in the 80's, but, trust me, if they had asked her to sell anything at all, from bug spray to cough syrup, it'd probably have been big business nonetheless.
Rest in peace, Annette.
2 comments:
RIP Annette! You will be very much missed!
She was a class act from day one. When I was a kid, repeats of the old Mickey mouse club were run for a time and I got to see her and Disney as it was in a very different time. I can understand why Annette stood out from the rest of the Mouseketeers, she had that certain something. Being of Italian heritage as she was, I also thought it was unique to see someone keep their full Italian name during their show biz career.
I also enjoyed her beach movies! They still represent the innocence of another time! Unfortunately spring break has an entirely different connotation today. "Back To The Beach" (the 1987 sequel she made with Frankie Avalon) was hilarious and a fitting followup. It's sendup humor predated the spoofs the Brady Bunch movies.
Having the Beach Boys as your BACKUP? Only Annette could have done that!
IIRC she DID sell a lot of Peanut butter!
Annette can still teach the girls of today a thing or two about class and handling yourself in public.
If only Lindsay, Britney, and the rest could learn from Annette's example.
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