Walt Disney Presents: Annette facts for kids

Walt Disney Presents: Annette was a popular TV show that aired as a serial on The Mickey Mouse Club. It was shown during the third season of the famous club, from 1957 to 1958.

The show starred Annette Funicello as Annette McCleod. She played a kind, orphaned country girl. Annette moves to the city to live with her wealthy Uncle Archie and Aunt Lila.

Other stars included Richard Deacon as Uncle Archie and Sylvia Field as Aunt Lila. Mary Wickes played Katie, the friendly housekeeper. Many well-known Disney child actors, like Tim Considine, David Stollery, and Roberta Shore, played Annette's new friends.

The story for the show was based on the book Margaret by Janette Sebring Lowrey. Lillie Hayward, who also worked on Spin and Marty, adapted the book for television.

You can find Annette on DVD. It was released in 2008 as part of the special Walt Disney Treasures collection.

Annette's Story: Fitting In

The main story is about Annette, a country girl who has recently lost her parents. She moves to the city to live with her sophisticated aunt and uncle.

Most of the show follows Annette's journey. She tries to fit in at her new high school. She also meets many new kids in her new community.

One part of the story involves Laura, a girl who gets jealous. Laura wrongly thinks Annette stole her necklace after a party. But the necklace had actually fallen into the piano Annette was playing! Laura and Annette become good friends after this misunderstanding is cleared up.

Episodes and Original Air Dates (1958)

• "An Introduction"—February 10
• "The Newcomer"—February 11
• "Annette Meets Jet"—February 12
• "An Invitation"—February 13
• "The Escort"—February 14
• "The Party"—February 17
• "Paying The Piper"—February 18
• "The Missing Necklace"—February 19
• "What Happened At School"—February 20
• "Almost A Fight"—February 21
• "Steady Gets An Idea"—February 24
• "The Explosion"—February 25
• "The Turned Down Invitation"—February 26
• "Annette Makes A Decision"—February 27
• "The Hayride"—February 28
• "The Barbecue"—March 3
• "The Fight"—March 4
• "The Farewell Letter"—March 5
• "Mike To The Rescue"—March 6
• "The Mystery Is Solved"—March 7

Meet the Cast of Annette

Here are the main actors and the characters they played in the show:

• Annette Funicello as Annette McCleod
• Tim Considine as Steve Abernathy
• David Stollery as Mike Martin
• Roberta Shore as Laura Rogan (credited as Jymme Shore)
• Judy Nugent as Jet Maypen
• Doreen Tracy as Val Abernathy
• Shelley Fabares as Moselle Corey
• Steve Stevens as Drew Stafford
• Rudy Lee as Olmstead "Steady" Ware
• Sharon Baird as Kitty Blalock
• Barry Curtis as Court Whitney
• Tommy Cole as Jimmy Smith
• Cheryl Holdridge as Madge Markham
• Bonnie Lynn Fields as Pat Boren
• Doris Packer as Mrs. Abernathy
• Mary Wickes as Katie
• Richard Deacon as Uncle Archie McCleod
• Sylvia Field as Aunt Lila McCleod

Songs from the Show

The main song for the show was called "Annette." It was written and first sung by Jimmie Dodd, who was a leader on The Mickey Mouse Club. He performed it in an episode back in 1956.

Later, a new version of the song was released. It included special messages from famous singers like Frankie Avalon and Paul Anka. This version was part of a 1993 music set called Annette: A Musical Reunion with America's Girl Next Door.

Other songs featured in the serial included "Reading, Writing, and Rhythm" and "Meeting at the Malt Shop." There was also "Don't Jump to Conclusions" and "How Will I Know My Love." The song "How Will I Know My Love" was so popular that it was released as a single song. This led to Walt Disney signing Annette to a recording contract with Disneyland Records.

Annette in Comic Books

The TV show was also turned into a comic book! The comic book version was drawn by Dan Spiegle. It was sold by Dell Comics, so fans could enjoy Annette's adventures in a new way.