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Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Arkansas' Annie Oakley's daughter at Woodlands this Sunday

Terrie Davis.

Gail Davis.

Gail Davis and daughter Terrie Davis.

Villager Terrie Davis is the daughter of Arkansas Hall of Fame recipient Gail Davis. Gail Davis played Annie Oakley on the ABC television show from January of 1954 to February of 1957.
The 81 black and white shows ran again from 1959 through 1960 and yet again from 1964 through 1965. Each episode runs 25 minutes.
Gail Davis was bon October 5, 1925 in Little Rock and raised in McGehee, Arkansas. She died March 15, 1997, while daughter Terrie was working as in production assistant director on the Barney and Friends, a PBS children’s show, filmed in Dallas.
Terrie is the only child of director/producer Bob Davis and actress Gail Davis. The couple divorced when Terrie was six months old. When Terrie was two her mother won the role of Annie Oakley and Terrie spent a few years with her grandparents in Little Rock. After third grade she was back with her mom.
Terrie said, "my mother did lots of research on the real Annie Oakley before auditioning for the role. Her on camera personality was much like the real Oakley. She knew the real Oakley never used guns on people, my mom refused to allow the television character to ever shoot anyone. Mom loved the real Annie to the day she died and she always honored her."
In addition to starring in the Annie Oakley show, Davis starred in many, many movies with Gene Autry.
When asked what she saw of her mom in herself, Terrie said, "I have her smile and her voice." She added the thing she missed most about her mom was that she was, "unconditional love. Anyone who knew her would say the same. She loved with her whole heart."
Terrie Davis will give a brief presentation regarding her mom as Annie Oakley and answer questions at a free event at the Woodlands lobby on October 17 from 2 to 4 p.m.
Terrie has several items of memorabilia from her mother’s time as Annie Oakley that she has put on display at the Woodlands throughout October and into November’s Players’ presentation of Annie Get Your Gun.
One of Gail Davis’ Annie Oakley sponsors was Coleman Dairy. Colemans still has a truck with Davis as Annie Oakley painted on the sides. Colemans has graciously agreed to bring the vintage milk truck to the Woodlands for the presentation on the 17th.
Tickets for the upcoming production of Annie Get Your Gun will be on sale during the free event. Tickets are also on sale Monday through Friday at the Woodlands box office. Annie Get Your Gun runs from November 3 through 7.

10 comments:

  1. I LOVED GAIL FOR OVER 50 YEARS!!!

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  2. When I was a kid, I was a huge Annie Oakley fan and wanted her to be my big sister!

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  3. You look marvelous TJ!

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  4. Terrie- doubt you'll see this, but if you do...llamachic@msn.com.

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  5. Just wondered if you remember meeting Hawkshaw Hawkshaw's daughter and helping her learn to mount a horse from behind.

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  6. Watched Annie Oakley when I was a kid and now I watch it on channel 16 here in St. Louis Missouri every day. Gail Davis was a great cowgirl, and was she ever pretty. WOW!

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  7. Loved to watch her on the Andy Griffith show, though I'm only 45, I watch these movies, TV shows of that era because it makes me feel closer to my father John who grew up and was born 1950. Terrie your mother was a great actress/actor/cowgirl and just an all around beautiful person. She seems that she was a living and caring woman, she will be missed.

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  8. When I was about ten, i rode with Annie in the Chino rancho ride. She was the grand Marshall. What a wonderful day. I am now 80. J. Ellis

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  9. A Gail Davis / Annie Oakley fan right here! Keep fighting the good fight! Looking good! 👍

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  10. I was little when you're mom was in movies I always liked her you as well as you're mama are very pretty. I didn't know you're mom but I feel like I do. Good luck with everything. Jack D Simmons

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