Photo: National Archives/public domain
Annie Oakley, the famous sharp shooter who traveled with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, was born 150 years ago today, August 13, 1860.
A letter to President William McKinley from Annie Oakley,
urging him to employ female sharp shooters in the military.
Photo: National Archives/public domain
Although Annie was a real person (a biography, Annie Oakley: Woman at Arms by Courtney Ryley Cooper, is in our collection), in the 21st century we may know her better from a musical by Irving Berlin and Dorothy Fields, Annie Get Your Gun. Annie Get Your Gun premiered on Broadway in 1946 starring Ethel Merman.
Ethel Merman as Annie Oakley, 1946
Photo: public domain
Annie Get Your Gun included such well-known songs as "Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better," "They Say It's Wonderful," "Doin' What Comes Naturally," and "There's No Business Like Show Business."
Click here to listen to
John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman's
magnificent interpretation of
"They Say It's Wonderful"
Now for this week's quiz, consisting of one question:
Which of the following actresses have sung the part of Annie in Annie Get Your Gun?
Lucie Arnaz
Crystal Bernard
Kim Criswell
Doris Day
Judy Garland
Greer Garson
Greer Garson
Dolores Gray
Marilu Henner
Jane Horrocks
Betty Hutton
Judy Kaye
Cheryl Ladd
Patti LuPone
Susan Lucci
Mary Martin
Andrea McArdle
Reba McEntire
Ethel Merman
Bernadette Peters
Suzi Quatro
Debbie Reynolds
Erica Smith
Deborah Voigt
The answer will be posted here on the blog Monday August 16.
Meanwhile, do what comes naturally! Check out one of the several recordings on vinyl and CD from the library and see if anything a soap opera star like Susan Lucci can do, you can do better!
annie get your cake
www.cowgirls.com/oakley.htm
www.broadwaymusicalhome.com/anniegetyourgun
www.bgsu.edu/bbwildwestshow.html
