Was anyone else here also in love with her when you were a kid?

Yeah. I doubt she was well known outside the States, unless they played the Mickey Mouse Club and the Beach Party movies outside the states. She had some atrocious pop singles.

Yes... at 9 years old I was interest in stuffing a wild bikini I just didn't know how yet.

those beach movies were pretty bad, but I went to a lot of 'em..

When I was a young college dropout turned reporter in LA I had, I believe, one of the last interviews Walt Disney did; he died soon after. We had lunch in the Disney commissary; he was quite a firm-minded man -- no bullshit. Towards the end of our lunch, he saw Annette enter the comissary and waved her over. "Hi Mr. Disney," she said and she sat down with us for a few minutes after we'd been introduced. In the late Sixties and the Seventies I came to know many of the movie greats but few filled me with as much awe as meeting the star of the Mickey Mouse Club. Ah the power of television re-runs!

I felt quite sad when we got the news of her death today. I hadn't quite realized her age because she just always "looked like Annette."



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013-04-09 00:25 by stonesrule.

Nice story, stonesrule.

I have had a "connection" with Disney since I was a small boy. My grandfather was an entrepreneur and a friend of Walt. He ran the food services from opening day at Disneyland. For many years, I would call him and he would get me and friends into Disneyland free of charge. When I was 15, I was dining with him at one of the restaurants, the Polynesian Terrace, and he walked over to a nearby table and, lo and behold, it was Mr. and Mrs. Disney having dinner. He then introduced me to them. As the years have gone by, I have realized what a significant moment that was for me.

Loved the Mouse Club. You're right, Annette never seemed to lose her youthful look.

[www.youtube.com]

I met her in '87 when I was publicity director at an LA-area track. She was married at the time to a harness racehorse driver (I believe Glen Holt was his name) and was good enough to come out and do a promo for a big national race for us. A childhood fixture, too! And she passed the same day as Margaret Thatcher; used to write & edit news stories about her back in early 80s!

Annette Funicello - Tall Paul[1959]





The poor woman suffered from MS for 25 years:

Former Mouseketeer Dead at 70

RIP Annette. She's off at that big game of Beach Blanket Bingo in the sky. Look out for Brian, he cheats.

forget it - image won't post.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013-04-11 20:13 by Green Lady.

My wife - the lovely Karen Annette - was named for her.

Her parents liked her on TV and in movies.

M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E....RIP, little Mouseketeer.

I loved all those Beach Blanket Bingo movies, used to come home from school and watch them on the 4 O'Clock movie show. Annette was so cute and wholesome, the perfect girlfriend. RIP Annette.