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Annette was an established cover girl early in her career and continued to dominate the face of teen and celebrity newsstand issues on a regular basis through the latter part of the '60s.  When not featured alone, she shared covers with the likes of Elizabeth Taylor, Elvis Presley, Fabian, Sandra Dee, Frankie Avalon, Bobby Darin, Paul Anka, Hayley Mills, Ed Byrnes, Connie Stevens, Bobby Rydell, Richard Chamberlain, Debbie Reynolds, Ann Margret, Patty Duke, Sally Field, Marlo Thomas, Michael Landon, Nancy Sinatra and a number of her Disney co-stars. If you're familiar with our website, you'll know we have an image gallery dedicated to Annette's best and most classic magazine covers that were released throughout her lifetime. For a while now, I've been wanting to share some of the great Annette material found on the pages behind  those colorful covers we've already featured; so we'll begin that ongoing project in this blog entry with a favorite cover is...

It's simply not often enough that I have the opportunity to alert our readers of a brand new Annette related product, but finally, the long dry spell between such releases has come to an end with the book, Annette Funicello: Tributes from Fans and Friends . Rita Rose, former president of Annette's international fan club, has compiled the personal memories and reflections of over forty individuals who are related to, have met, worked with or befriended this most likable star.  While Annette is famously remembered for being the same person in her daily life as she appears on screen, this book takes you deeper and reveals some of the lesser known dimensions of her character and personality.  Find out what it was like to encounter Annette as a fan, to be a guest in her home, to collaborate with her in the recording studio and attend to her on-set or on one of her early promotional tours in the '60s.  Some share how they first learned and reacted to the news of Annette...

When it comes to Annette cut-out dolls, it's fair to say that among the rarest isn't one of the brightly colored doll books produced by Whitman Publishing for retail markets between 1956 and 1962...but rather an Annette doll offered for free on the back of a cereal box!  In 1958, General Mills included an Annette cut-out doll on the packaging of Cheerios breakfast cereal.  The doll, doll stand and a few outfits and accessories were printed directly on the back and left-hand side panel of the box, ready to test one's scissor skills and provide hours of playtime fun. While vintage, uncut cereal box panels with the Cheerios doll will surface from time-to-time on the collectors market, surprisingly, the front panel featuring unique and charming artwork of Annette promoting the doll included with purchase was rarely if ever preserved.  Even rarer are complete, fully assembled boxes which are nearly impossible to find today. Given it's scarcity, I feel especially f...

With Walt Disney's first live-action musical, Babes in Toyland hitting theaters the holiday season of 1961, children had plenty of wonderful film-inspired toy options to enthuse over and select from for their wish lists to Santa that year; but what for the parents?  No worries! As a star of the popular Yuletide family film, Annette had them covered as well, with a selection of great gift ideas perfect for mom and dad in this advertisement published within the pages of Movie Life   magazine.   Lets take "a closer look"... * Click on images to view larger Annette Funicello, now starring (with Ray Bolger, Tommy Sands and Ed Wynn) in Walt Disney's Babes in Toyland , completes her Christmas gifts with one of Max Factor's sophisticated, golden-wrapped Hypnotique Fragrance sets.  This beautiful package, accented with black and white, contains a 2-ounce Parfum Cologne, atomizer and 1/8 ounce Perfume in a striking set box at $4.50 plus tax.  Annette her...

Beginning in 1950, the legendary comedian and Hollywood personality, Bob Hope began making television specials for  NBC.  For these shows, Hope was joined by a variety of celebrity guests and other talent who performed and participated in skits consistent with the incredibly popular variety show format of the time.   Hope's specials were considered must-watch television and were a popular draw through the mid- '80s. Annette Funicello's fans across the country felt especially blessed the Thanksgiving season of 1964 when it was announced that she would be appearing on Hope's upcoming holiday special.   Annette made the appearance to promote her latest picture, Pajama Party (released November 11, 1964) and her Annette at Bikini Beach record album - which she performed two songs from on the show.  I've always found vintage promotional ephemera to be especially interesting... seeing how the creatives of entertainment chose to promote their latest offering t...

Annette Sings Anka (1960)  was Annette's second LP following her self-titled debut album released the year before. Looking to duplicate the chart-topping success of her hit rock 'n' roll single "Tall Paul" (1959), the accomplished young singer/songwriter (and in Annette's words: "musical genius"),  Paul Anka was invited on-board by the legendary composer/record producer, Tutti Camarata to write and compose material for Annette's new album.   At the time, both Annette and Paul were among young Hollywood's most popular teen idols, and at the same time, also happened to be among the nations hottest (rumored or otherwise) teen couples.  The relentless speculation of the press on the status of their purported romance certainly helped to drum up  interest in this collaborative musical effort, which would ultimately prove to be the highest charting LP of Annette's career. The appeal for these recordings was not limited to those living...