Annette Funicello! Not since the early days of Debbie Reynolds has there been a girl like this . . . absolutely normal, absolutely sweet, non-phony, endearing, with all the big virtues in great big wonderful quantities.
By now nearly all of you know the facts and figures of her life and career — born in Utica, New York, nearly seventeen years ago; came to California at age four; studied tap and ballet at the Margie Rix School in Hollywood; was signed by Walt Disney to become TV's cutest Mouseketeer when she was twelve; is now on her way to becoming a movie star, etc., etc.
But to get back to that personality of hers, have any of you figured what makes that tick?
We hadn't been able to — not until we'd read the two letters.
Both letters arrived in our office last week, within two days of one another.
Both are about Annette.
One is from Hollywood and a young fellow named Steve Stevens. Steve's eighteen, an actor, a friend of Annette's. His reason for writing to us is honest, blunts — "I just want her to know what I think of her, and I want other people to know the kind of gal she is, too. I hope you'll print what I've written."
The second letter is from a twelve-year-old girl named Marie. Marie lives in a Catholic home for underprivileged children in Boston, Massachusetts. Her reason for writing? "Annette said things to me that changed my whole life. Maybe there are other people like me who need the kind of help she gives, but who aren't lucky enough to get to talk to her. So maybe, if you have the room, you'll print this."
Both letters follow — Steve's first, then Marie's.
See if you don't agree with us after reading them that to know Annette a little is to love her at lot. . . .
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