Skip to main content

Annette's Gold and Diamond Rings on Display at D23 Expo 2015


Taking a closer look at the Annette Funicello Research Fund for Neurological Diseases (AFRFND) booth at D23 Expo 2015, we find Annette's diamond butterfly wedding band on display.


 When Annette married Glen Holt on May 3, 1986, they exchanged matching gold wedding bands as a symbol of their unending commitment to one another.  Sometime between late 1992 and early 1993, Annette had her jeweler add a delicate gold and diamond butterfly to the band.


The diamond butterfly actually began it's life as one of Annette's favorite necklaces.... which she wore often; notably during her national tour with Frankie Avalon, when she guest starred on Full House and for her iconic cover shoot for People Magazine - as shown above.


Annette's gold and diamond "horseshoe" ring - which many fans will recognize - was also on display.


Annette's "horseshoe" ring can be seen in the photograph above.....as well as the gold and diamond butterfly charm Annette would later have affixed to her wedding band.


Behind the ring's, Annette's personal copy of her People Magazine cover issue was on display.... along with the business card of Harry Benson, the acclaimed photographer who handled Annette's photo-shoot for the issue.

Check back soon for more from inside our display at D23 Expo 2015!!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Annette Funicello: Tributes from Fans and Friends

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...

NEWS: Bikini Beach and Pajama Party Debut on Blu Ray

Just in time for Christmas, MGM is releasing two of Annette's classic AIP films on Blu ray - a  wonderful gift to fans this Holiday season! BIKINI BEACH (1964) and PAJAMA PARTY (1964) are both currently available to order at major retailers online and are scheduled to ship by December 5th.   Those familiar with the MUSCLE BEACH PARTY, BEACH BLANKET BINGO and HOW TO STUFF A WILD BIKINI Blu Rays can attest to the beautifully enhanced image and sound quality revealed in those releases. It is assumed we can expect the same level of improvement over the old DVD's for these latest titles as well! 

A CLOSER LOOK: The Annette Cheerios Cereal Box

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...