Annie Oakley

For the most part - I thought that this vintage TV Western from the mid-1950s was quite an entertaining view all around.

Of course, I had to be willing to cut this show some slack at times in order to fully appreciate what it had to offer me. But, with that said - I found that my overall enjoyment while watching "Annie Oakley" was not at all reduced to the point of boredom.

And, what I'd also like to add here is to say that what helped to elevate the amusement-factor of "Annie Oakley" to its above-average status was that its 3 principal characters (Annie, Lofty, and Tagg) were actually quite a pleasant and likable trio who certainly did their best to make the role of fair and honest law-enforcement their top priority.

Anyway - When it comes to recommending "Annie Oakley" to other like-minded viewers - I certainly don't hesitate at all about voicing my enthusiastic approval.

Let me start out by saying that this show had absolutely nothing to do with the life and times of the real Annie Oakley. The real Annie was an honest to God deadly markswoman, but who was born and raised in the Wild West of Ohio. I'm not sure where the television Annie did her exploits in the Hollywood Never Never Land of the Old West, but it was definitely west of the Mississippi. Possibly in Colorado because.....

Annie was the niece of the sheriff who we never saw. One of the things I remember about this series was that several times the excuse why the sheriff wasn't around was that he was 'delivering a prisoner to Denver'. Hence I assume that's where the Oakleys resided.

Gail Davis played Annie. I still remember her in those cowgirl outfits in rather juvenile looking pigtails. The fashion may have been some of Dale Evans's castoffs, but it was deliberately so because this wholesome girl in pigtails fooled many an outlaw into not taking her seriously to their regret. Gail Davis was Gene Autry's leading lady in several of his later westerns and he managed her career.

The sheriff left his deputy, Lofty Craig as played by Brad Johnson. Given the mores of the Fifties, Lofty was always in trouble and every week the law needed the assistance of sharpshooting Annie.

If Lofty wasn't in trouble it was her brother Tagg. Tagg was played by Jimmy Hawkins who is probably best known as one of the Bailey children from It's A Wonderful Life. Annie was constantly coming to his aid.

I'm sure a whole generation of feminists saw Annie Oakley as kids and saw a woman could compete in a man's world most successfully. As did the real Annie Oakley in her career.

One of those kids who saw and liked Annie Oakley was my sister Nancy who's no longer with us as is Gail Davis. And this review is dedicated to a show she was crazy about as a child.

This TV series ran from 1954-57, with 82 25min. shows. Star Gail Davis was like the real Annie Oakley in spirit and skills, but the real Miss Oakley didn't inhabit the Wild West, except perhaps in her engagements with Buffalo Bill's Wild West shows. She was a native Ohioan who honed her shooting skills from a very early age, shooting squirrels and rabbits for her sizable family as well as for sale. Her father died when she was 6. Although she wasn't the oldest of the brood, she seemed to have a special knack for bulls eye shooting, even when she was 7 or 8. She was farmed out to several families or institutions in her older childhood, being treated like an orphan, running away at age 15 to seek her fame and fortune.

Gail Davis' fantasy Annie also seems to have been an orphan, although not explicitly stated. She lived with her younger brother, Tagg, and was usually found in the company of Deputy Sheriff Lofty. She didn't seem to have an official judicial position, despite her constant pursuit of trouble. It's like she was a bounty hunter with no interest in collecting the bounty. She usually brought 'em back alive. In the 4 episodes I've recently seen, neither she nor Lofty killed any badmen, although they sometimes shot the badman's gun out of his hand or otherwise wounded him. Strangely, the sheriff never seemed to be around town, so local crime fighting was the exclusive domain of her and Lofty. Lofty usually did the physical fighting with badmen, while both were expert shots. In this respect, they were rather like the team of the real Annie and her husband, who also managed her career.

You can find the series on DVD. Also, many are available at You Tube.

I read that Gene Autry originally did not want her for the part. Unbelievable! I read that the sponsors passed on the first pilot Bullseye, which was as good or better than any other episode. Again, unbelievable! I read that Gene Autry originally did not want her for the part. Unbelievable! I read that the sponsors passed on the first pilot Bullseye, which was as good or better than any other episode. Again, unbelievable!

The kid was annoying but what kid isn't? Its like OMG and he's on here why? The fake fight scenes its like whenever someone was getting ready to fight its like okay fast-forward. Glad the collection i bought had subtitles. The chick was annoying but i hate women & kids. Yeah 35 year old woman, i can't stand either. She was annoying too. I bought the series for a couple of reasons. I thought i'd like Brad Johnson. No. He had the hots for Annie or Gail and it was sickening. Its like okay we know what you're doing. I got it for LQ Jones, Slim Pickens, and gorgeous Angel Eyes Van Cleef and of course so sweet Glenn Strange. Forgot how good he looks in black.