FAQs
Who played Little Orphan Annie?
Many different actresses have played Annie in a variety of mediums. The Chicago actress Shirley Bell played Annie in the 1930s radio drama Little Orphan Annie. The 1932 film Little Orphan Annie starred Mitzi Green in the lead role. The 1977 Broadway production had Andrea McArdle playing Annie, and the 1982 film version showcased Aileen Quinn as Annie.
What is the name of Little Orphan Annie's dog?
The name of Little Orphan Annie's dog is Sandy. In the 1982 film, the role of Sandy was played by a 6-year-old Otterhound named Bingo. While Otterhounds sometimes give off the appearance of being mixed breed dogs, they are in fact rare, purebred dogs.
Why is the story of Annie so popular?
Annie became popular mostly because of its catchy music and the theme of relentless optimism. The American people needed something to brighten their day during the Vietnam War era. During this time, people seemed to gravitate toward family-friendly productions featuring children, and the timeless appeal of this story and its memorable characters helped cement its place in popular culture.
What happened to Miss Hannigan from Annie?
In the 1982 film version, Miss Hannigan redeems herself as an empathetic and remorseful character after helping Annie escape from Rooster at the end of the film. In the Broadway musical and the 1999 TV film, Miss Hannigan didn't reform because she still hated Annie and the children, so she was arrested for being Rooster and Lily's accomplice.
What was Annie originally based on before it became a musical?
Annie is based on Harold Gray's popular comic strip, Little Orphan Annie. The comic strip premiered in the 1920s in the New York Daily News, and it became one of the most widely read strips in the 1930s and 1940s. The comic itself was based on an 1885 poem by James Whitcomb Riley about a little orphan named Annie.
