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 issue of mine: Teen Screen, May, 1962 (pictured above).
Lets flip through the pages and take "a closer look" at what's inside..
*Click on images to view larger
*Click on images to view larger
Publication: Teen Screen
Date: May, 1962
Featured Article: "What We Think of Annette"
The featured Annette article in this magazine, "What We Think of Annette", is a five page collection of thoughts and memories shared by some who knew and worked with her. The article opens with a brief biography, touching on all the important milestones in Annette's life and career leading up to her latest project, Babes in Toyland - released to theaters months earlier. She's noted as being: "a sports enthusiast and regular church goer"; "an avid movie fan"; enjoys swimming, horseback riding, ice skating and roller skating and "plays the piano - modestly". Her favorite celebrities are Paul Anka, Frankie Avalon, Fabian, Dick Clark and Ricky Nelson and she's especially interested in the telephone she received for getting straight A's in school.
Guy Williams, Virginia Funicello, Tim Considine, Tommy Kirk (who at this time preferred to go by Tom Kirk), Roberta Shore, Shelley Fabares, Kevin Corcoran and Sharon Baird all contributed, and below are excerpts from what each had to say about Annette in this article.
GUY WILLIAMS
She's a growing girl! And she's turning into a beautiful young woman. Annette has made the transition so gracefully and so fast that it is amazing , for she never seemed to have gone through the so-called "awkward" age. When she first worked in "Zorro" she was an enthusiastic and perpetually happy girl. Now she is a poised, charming, and beautiful young lady.
HER MOTHER
Annette has grown up as one of the family. By that, I mean her career has never interfered with her life at home. She has her daily chores, such as cleaning up her room, and she does her duties willingly. there is, in short, no movie star nonsense in our house. She has been wonderful too, to her two brothers, and helps take care of them beautifully. She won't let anything interfere with her responsibility as a sister.
Annette and I go on many tours together - I have to go with her because it is the law - and we almost have more of a sister to sister relationship than a mother and daughter, but that does not mean I don't have to take on the firm role of a mother on occasions.
TIM CONSIDINE
Annette's a real doll. We've done a lot o shows together in the past, among them "The Shaggy Dog," and I've learned to respect her conscientious attitude towards her job as well as her kindness and consideration of people. For my money, she's developing into a fine actress. Annette and I have had a few dates and I once went to her house for a party. It was a real teen-age bash and Annette had as good a time as anyone else. In that she enjoys herself so thoroughly, she is a fine hostess.
Annette is a lot of fun on a date. She loves to dance - and is a good dancer - and she has enough all around interests to enjoy sports too Once I took her to a Sports Car meet at Paramount and we breezed around the track in my sports car. Annette really seemed to have a lot of fun.
But most impressive about Annette on a date or anywhere else is her ability to carry on a conversation on almost any topic and do so easily. Even more significant is the fact that she never talks about herself. She is more interested in her date than regaling you with all the facts of her career. She is always a good listener.
TOM KIRK
Annette is a stimulating young woman with a great sense of humor. And she is an intelligent conversationalist. I happen to like classical music, for instance, where Annette prefers the pop tunes, but she can at least discuss the classics with me, which is an indication of her varied interests.
I can't think of a nicer girl to date than Annette. I like her taste in clothes - she always flatters a fellow by the way she dresses for a date -. she's considerate, and, above all, she can laugh at herself. Her humor can also help get me out of moods at times.
Occasionally, I get very serious or moody and Annette has a way of pulling me right out of such profound sessions. She can make some light-handed remark that is really amusing and then she'll start laughing and in a few minutes I'm in good humor again.
ROBERTA SHORE
I have always liked Annette ever since we worked together on "The Shaggy Dog," but she was shy and quiet during the picture so I didn't have too much of a chance to get to know her well. She is undoubtedly one of the most sincere people I've ever met, and she is one of the hardest workers I've known.
At times I've noticed, while we were working together, that Annette likes to be by herself. This is not snobbish at all - it is merely that she is concentrating on her job. . . .
For a young girl in her teens, Annette has a lot of sense and understanding and intelligence. She has her fun but she's never giddy or silly. She is someone I've always wanted to know very well because I have such real respect for her as an actress and as a person.
SHELLEY FABARES
Annette is my dearest friend. We get along so well that we've never once had and argument, probably because our careers are so alike and because we share the same interests. But I think it is also because Annette is such an easy-going person. Few things ever upset her and when she does get a little annoyed at something she can always laugh her way out of the situation.
Annette has a wonderful outlook on life - it is kind of a "what will happen" idea, and so she doesn't worry about things. Yet, I don't mean she's lazy and accepts everything that comes. She will fight for what she wants and nobody walks on her.
Annette is very serious about her work, and she loves every minute of her job. She studies hard and is very self-critical. I think she is basically serious about two things - her work and her religion.
She goes to church every Sunday and several times during the week if she's not working. Her patron saint the Infant of Prague and she has a statue of the saint above her bed. She says her prayers every day and she has found that praying has helped her overcome many problems. Inevitably, if she's faced with a difficult situation, she finds that her prayers bring an answer and usually within a short period of time.
I often spend the week-end at Annette's. Usually, I'll go over Saturday afternoon - or even Friday evening at times - and we'll spend the day shopping. Then we go back to the house for one of Mrs. Funicello's wonderful dinners. After that we go into Annette's room and listen to records and just gab.
Certainly, we talk about our dates, just like most girls do. However, Annette is not serious about anyone now. . . .
I never expect to have a better friend than Annette. She always has the time to listen to your problems but she'll never give you advice unless you ask for it. And you know you can trust her with any secret. Annette is no gossip, and she'll never say anything that will hurt someone. If she can't say something nice about a person she won't say anything. This is the kind of girl anybody would want for a friend.
KEVIN CORCORAN
Annette's my big sister. She's been my big sister since we worked together in "Adventures in Dairyland" TV series some time back. . . . I've always like(d) Annette because she never treated me like a child like some grown-ups do. She talked to me just as I've seen her talk to her brother, Joey. She kind of makes you feel like you are somebody and not just a kid.
I hope when I grow up to be eighteen Annette will still be around and won't mind dating someone a little younger . . .
SHARON BAIRD
I'd trust Annette with anything, with even my most important secret. She is one of the sweetest girls I know and we are together often when she's in town.
Usually, we'll go to Pacific Park or Disneyland - during the summer months of course - and we have a ball. We go on all the rides at Disneyland especially and I think we have the most fun on the cup and saucer ride. We stand up in those things and giggle like a couple of silly kids. Annette likes any amusement ride that is a bit exciting and fast, such as the roller coasters and the bob sled ride at Disneyland.
When I spend the night at her place we talk mostly about the old Mouseketeer days and of the day we had to tell our director goodbye for the last time and how sad we felt. Then we discuss boys, parties, anything and everything and for most of the night.
Annette is like any regular teenager when she gives a party at her house. She likes to dance and at times she'll sing if her friends want her to. She's very excited about the success of her record albums and really enjoys singing.
She has only one problem I can think of - her fondness for fattening foods. We often have gone on a diet together but not too energetically, I'd have to admit. At times we've tried to see who can lose the necessary pounds the fastest. We usually end up in a draw on this.
. . .
Annette is a wonderful friend because friendship means a lot to her and she works at it. Most people take it for granted. She is entirely unselfish and is far more interested in what happens to you than in talking about what is happening to her. You really have to work to get her to talk about herself. She is far too interested in having fun out of life to devote her time to thinking only of herself.
Annette, Tommy Sands, Kevin Corcoran and Tommy Kirk play the leads in Disney's first live-action musical.
It's an exciting adventure into the land of make-believe as two young people in love are thwarted at every turn by a scheming fortune-hunter with an eye on Annette's inheritance.
They eventually find happiness when romance triumphs over all, In the meanwhile there is one hour and 46 minutes of the unforgettable music of Victor Herbert combined with fabulous sets, colorful costumes, exciting dances and it's all in Technicolor.
Disney has lavished production number after production number and left Annette, Kevin and the two Tommy's on the screen long enough to satisfy all.
Paul Anka wanted to drive his new Lincoln maroon convert with the white leather upholstery all the way to Hollywood to show Annette Funicello and give her a ride. Paul got it, natch, for his last birthday.
Annette was already gone on her P.A. tour for "Babes in Toyland." By the time Annette got back, Paul was on his own tour. They tried to meet in Pennsylvania, but missed by one day. This isn't a love - but a real good friendship that's going with Annette and Paul.
The photo is a nice behind-the-scenes shot of Annette waiting between takes on the set of Babes in Toyland.
Annette was already gone on her P.A. tour for "Babes in Toyland." By the time Annette got back, Paul was on his own tour. They tried to meet in Pennsylvania, but missed by one day. This isn't a love - but a real good friendship that's going with Annette and Paul.
The photo is a nice behind-the-scenes shot of Annette waiting between takes on the set of Babes in Toyland.
I hope you've enjoyed this look behind the cover of Teen Screen, May, 1962. We'll take a look at another Annette magazine cover issue sometime in the near future. Until next time...
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