Walt Disney Presents: Annette (1958– )

A country bumpkin goes to live with her upperclass relatives and learns to adapt amongst her peers, without changing who she is.

Stars:

Annette Funicello, Steve Stevens, Tim Considine

Cast

Series cast summary:
Annette Funicello	...	Annette McCloud (19 episodes, 1958)
Steve Stevens	...	Drew Stafford (19 episodes, 1958)
Tim Considine	...	Steven Abernathy (17 episodes, 1958)
Doreen Tracey	...	Val Abernathy (17 episodes, 1958)
Rudy Lee	...	Olmstead 'Steady' Ware (16 episodes, 1958)
Judy Nugent	...	Jet Maypen (16 episodes, 1958)
Shelley Fabares	...	Moselle Corey (15 episodes, 1958)
Roberta Shore	...	Laura Rogan (15 episodes, 1958)
David Stollery	...	Mike (14 episodes, 1958)
Richard Deacon	...	Uncle Archie (13 episodes, 1958)
Sharon Baird	...	Kitty (11 episodes, 1958)
Mary Wickes	...	Katie (11 episodes, 1958)
Barry Curtis	...	Court Whitney (10 episodes, 1958)
Sylvia Field	...	Aunt Lila (10 episodes, 1958)
Tommy Cole	...	Jimmy Smith (7 episodes, 1958)

Storyline

Annette stars as a simple orphan coming from a small country farm to the upper-class suburbs so she can live with an aunt and uncle she hasn't seen in years. At first, she's excited to finally have solid home. Her aunt takes her shopping and gives her a new look, while her uncle makes her school plans ready, and the house maid babies her no end. But it's the other kids in town that at last give Annette something to worry about. Some are snobs, some are obnoxious, and the ones she does get along with are the sort of people her aunt believes are beneath her. With a new crush on the popular boy in school, Annette becomes the target of his jealous girlfriend. Her life may never be simple again.

---

Plot Keywords:

city country contrast | female bonding | friendship between girls | new girl in town | country girl | 

---

Genres:

Comedy

---

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walt Disney Television

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Did You Know?

Trivia

The serial "Annette" ran during the third and final year of "The Mickey Mouse Club" (1955-1958). It consisted of 19 episodes: 1. The Newcomer Feb 11, 1958 2. Annette Meets Jet Feb 12, 1958 3. An Invitation Feb 13, 1958 4. The Escort Feb 14, 1958 5. The Party Feb 17, 1958 6. Paying the Piper Feb 18, 1958 7. The Missing Necklace Feb 19, 1958 8. What Happened at School Feb 20, 1958 9. Almost a Fight Feb 21, 1958 10. Steady Gets an Idea Feb 24, 1958 11. The Explosion Feb 25, 1958 12. The Turned Down Invitation Feb 26, 1958 13. Annette Makes a Decision Feb 27, 1958 14. The Hayride Feb 28, 1958 15. The Barbecue Mar 3, 1958 16. The Fight Mar 4, 1958 17. The Farewell Letter Mar 5, 1958 18. Mike to the Rescue Mar 6, 1958 19. The Mystery is Solved Mar 7, 1958

User Reviews

Deserves to be on DVD

This was a lovely series which I loved even if it was completely uninteresting for my brothers. It had a couple of lovely, simple songs-- "Lonely Guitar," "How Will I Know My Love?" and "Meetin' at the Malt Shop after School." And it's probably the best single program to show why girls loved Annette just as much as or even more than their brothers. Her character's simple sweetness and honesty was what we aspired to.

I never saw this since it was on the original Mickey Mouse Club in the 50s. But some scenes are still vivid in my memory--Annette walking into town with a pretty but old-fashioned be-ribboned hat and a pretty but too-fancy dress and carrying a suitcase and her guitar; Annette singing with Tim Considine (who I had a SERIOUS crush on!); the missing necklace turning up inside the piano. It was a simple, sweet soap opera-ish story in a world that never really existed, but it worked and I'd love to see the whole thing again.

Disney really should put this whole series out on DVD, in the same kind of set that they released the Hardy Boys and Spin and Marty series. The perfect release for Annette would happen just in time for Mother's Day.