THROW BACK THURSDAY - GENE AUTRY AND ANNIE OAKLEY
THROW BACK THURSDAY - GENE AUTRY AND ANNIE OAKLEY
Plus Class News
Gail Davis was born Betty Jeanne Grayson in McGehee, but moved to LR when her father, a physician,
became state health officer.
She had been singing and dancing since childhood. After graduating from Little Rock High School, she studied
at the Harcum Junior College for Girls in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, and then completed her education at the
University of Texas at Austin.[2] She had a younger sister, Shirley Ann Grayson (August 26, 1937 – February 23, 1971).
She made 14 flicks with Gene Autry and was his protege for Flying A Productions. She chose her new stage
name because Hollywood already had a "Betty" Davis and a "Jeanne" Craine. Gail Davis was the answer to a
long-held dream of Autry's—providing Western programming with a star to whom girls could relate. He said: "Little
boys have had their idols ... from the beginning of the picture business.... Why not give the girls a Western star of
their own?" Davis became that star, but on television rather than in movies, as Autry originally envisioned.
She believed her success as Annie Oakley undermined other opportunities she might have had for other roles in the
future. In 1982, she told a reporter "I tried to find other acting work, but I was so identified as Annie Oakley that directors
would say, 'Gail, I'd like to hire you, but you're going to have to wait a few years, dye your hair and cut off your pigtails.'
Directors just couldn't envision me in a sexy part or playing a heavy. I was always going to be Annie Oakley. So, as they
say, I retired."
While at the University of Texas at Austin in 1945, she met and married her first husband, Bob Davis, with whom she
had a daughter, Terrie. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1952. During her tenure on Annie Oakley, she had an affair
with Gene Autry. Gail Davis has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Gene Autry is "our" Cecelia "Cil" Autry's cousin.
1956 CLASS NEWS:
Dee Dee Bowers has had a rough time of it lately. She has had some heart problems through the years, but recently learned she has conjestive heart failure. She's recuperating at home now and hopes to be able to come up for the Reunion.
* * * * * * *
My wife, Penny Hicks, is in ICU at Sentara Leigh Hospital in Virginia Beach, Virginia. On Monday her foot doctor drained an infected abscess on her right leg. He was unsure if he got it all so to be sure he sent her to Leigh . We were in ER processing for 10 hours.
Assigned an ER room at midnight and a regular room early Tuesday morning. After her first meal she chocked on food and couldn't breathe. She was put on respirator and food was removed where lodged. Next, to be sure food didn't enter lungs another procedure is called for. She is still on respirator. Good news ls that infected leg will not need an operation (no deep infection). Please pray that she can get off the respirator soon with no damage to throat and the leg will heal soon. Thanks.
Jim Jones (James Voland Jones)
CAPT/USN/Ret
SWO/SS/Mustang/Eagle Scout
757-777-5972
ML
Overheard this recently:
IF YOU'RE TRYING TO IMPRESS ME WITH YOUR VEHICLE,
IT BETTER BE A FOOD TRUCK!!!!!