Annette Funicello - Tall Paul

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The "sweetheart" of TV's The Mickey Mouse Club, American entertainer Annette Funicello began performing at age 10. The Disney people themselves sensed that Funicello had star quality, building several musical numbers around her on The Mickey Mouse Club and fashioning her own Club show-within-a-show miniseries, appropriately titled "Annette." Funicello's post-Mickey Mouse career was far more successful than that of many of her fellow Mouseketeers--and the reasons cannot be charged up to looks alone. She also was guest-starred on the Disney TV series Zorro and Wonderful World of Color, and was given sizeable roles in such Disney theatrical features as The Shaggy Dog (59) and Babes in Toyland (61).

While still under contract to Disney, Funicello began appearing in American-International's Beach Party series, usually co-starring with Frankie Avalon. Though these films were distinguished by undulating, bikinied females, Walt Disney decreed that Funicello never be involved in any "suggestive" sequences--nor were her two-piece bathing suits permitted to uncover her navel. After playing an extended cameo role as Davy Jones' sweetheart in The Monkees' film vehicle Head (68), Funicello cut down on her professional appearances, preferring to spend time with her family. During the 1970s, she became spokeswoman for a popular brand of peanut butter, her commercial appearances constituting the bulk of her on-camera time during this period. In 1987, she and onetime cohort Frankie Avalon co-financed and starred in the nostalgic musical film Back to the Beach.

In recent years, Funicello has been struggling against the ravages of multiple sclerosis; her courage and high spirits in the face of intense pain and decreasing mobility have been inspirational, as well as beneficial in helping to raise funds for further research of degenerative diseases. In 1994, Annette Funicello published her autobiography, the tone of which perfectly reflected the actress herself: discreet, ladylike and boundlessly cheerful.

~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

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  Education

[John1948OneB]

I had to remove an otherwise positive comment due to it containg profanity. I stick pretty close to what the FCC allowed on broadcast TV in 1960 - zero tolerance.

[John1948OneB]

Dick Clark was a pretty good dancer too, wasn't he? 

[scott g. hanson]

man i wish i would've been living Back In 1959

[Kerry Manderbach]

The things one had to do to be in showbiz, tsk tsk. But she did the ridiculous stuff with grace and determination, a true professional.

[MADDOGVNV29]

I am very lucky to have the original tall paul 45 on my juke box. it is the only record she made on the disneyland record lable, also have first name inital, working on o dio mio, and pineapple princess. thank you annette for all the wonderful music you left behind, . RIP. VAYA CON DIOS

[Frank Conti]

,,,pull harder' on the garter belt',,, and ease' on' down' the trail' !!!

[solartiger346]

rest in peace Annette

[EdwPt]

One of my favorite female singers. I have over 40 of her recordings from the 50's and 60's She is now at peace and out of pain.

[Les Toil]

I was in almost complete disbelief when I saw what happened to this beautiful woman and her body in the last ten years when I watched "Annette's Story" on W5. I just couldn't believe it, Annette lived to dance. She's joined the angels now.

[FredPellon0208]

Bizarre video

[Johnny Keeney]

I just listened to her 1994 interview with Terry Gross where she played a clip of this song. It's a great interview worth checking out. She was as wonderful as she was pretty and will be missed by many, rest in peace lovely Annette.

[Jean O'Boyle]

** sigh ** ... now they're both gone. We'll never have that kind of sweetness again ...

[Jenni Whitney]

I always get the biggest kick out of this song. RIP, Annette. You'll ALWAYS be America's sweetheart!!