Gail Davis (born Betty Jeanne Grayson; October 5, 1925 – March 15, 1997) was an American actress and singer, best known for her starring role as

Annie Oakley Annie Oakley (born Phoebe Ann Mosey; August 13, 1860 – November 3, 1926) was an American sharpshooter who starred in Buffalo Bill's Wild West show. Oakley developed hunting skills as a child to provide for her impoverished family in western ...

in the 1950s television series ''

''.

Life and career

Early years

The daughter of a small-town physician, Davis was born in

Little Rock, Arkansas ( The "Little Rock") , government_type = Council-manager , leader_title = Mayor , leader_name = Frank Scott Jr. , leader_party = D , leader_title2 = Council , leader_name2 ...

, but was raised in

McGehee, Arkansas McGehee is a city in Desha County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 4,219 at the 2010 census. History The history of the city of McGehee and the history of the railroad through McGehee are intricately interwoven. The history of th ...

until her family moved to Little Rock. She had been singing and dancing since childhood. After graduating from

Little Rock High School Little Rock Central High School (LRCHS) is an accredited comprehensive public high school in Little Rock, Arkansas, United States. The school was the site of forced desegregation in 1957 after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that segregation by ...

, she studied at the Harcum Junior College for Girls in

Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania Bryn Mawr, pronounced , from Welsh language, Welsh for big hill, is a census-designated place (CDP) located across three townships: Radnor Township, Pennsylvania, Radnor Township and Haverford Township, Pennsylvania, Haverford Township in Delaw ...

, and then completed her education at the

University of Texas at Austin The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin, UT, or Texas) is a public research university in Austin, Texas. It was founded in 1883 and is the oldest institution in the University of Texas System. With 40,916 undergraduate students, 11,07 ...

. She had a younger sister, Shirley Ann Grayson (August 26, 1937 – February 23, 1971).

Film

Betty Jeanne and her husband, Bob Davis, moved to Hollywood to pursue a film career. She told an interviewer how she acquired her professional acting name. "I went under contract to

MGM Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded on April 17, 1924 a ...

around 1946. They told me 'we can't have a Betty Davis, because of

Bette Davis Ruth Elizabeth "Bette" Davis (; April 5, 1908 – October 6, 1989) was an American actress with a career spanning more than 50 years and 100 acting credits. She was noted for playing unsympathetic, sardonic characters, and was famous for her pe ...

, and we can't have a Betty Grayson because of

Kathryn Grayson Kathryn Grayson (born Zelma Kathryn Elisabeth Hedrick; February 9, 1922 – February 17, 2010) was an American actress and coloratura soprano. Ronald Berganbr>Obituary '' London Guardian'', February 19, 2010. From the age of twelve, Grayson trai ...

'.... Then a guy in the casting department said 'how about Gail Davis?' So that's where it came from." In 1947, she made her motion picture debut in a comedy short film. She then appeared in minor roles in another four films, the first being ''

The Romance of Rosy Ridge ''The Romance of Rosy Ridge'' is a 1947 American Western film directed by Roy Rowland, about a rural community bitterly divided during the aftermath of the American Civil War. It stars Van Johnson, Thomas Mitchell, and Janet Leigh in her film d ...

'', then landed a supporting role to that of star

Roy Rogers Roy Rogers (born Leonard Franklin Slye; November 5, 1911 – July 6, 1998) was an American singer, actor, and television host. Following early work under his given name, first as co-founder of the Sons of the Pioneers and then acting, the rebra ...

in the 1948 ''

The Far Frontier '' The Far Frontier '' is a 1948 American Western film starring Roy Rogers. Plot Tom Sharper of the border patrol stops a truck to inspect its cargo. He is knocked cold by the drivers, who report back to their boss, Bart Carroll. Coming fro ...

''. From 1948 to 53, Davis appeared in 32 feature films, all but three of which were in the Western genre. Twenty of the Western films were with Gene Autry, produced by his company, Gene Autry Productions, released and distributed by Columbia Pictures,

Television

In 1950, Davis began to guest star in television Westerns, notably in ''

The Cisco Kid The Cisco Kid is a fictional character found in numerous film, radio, television and comic book series based on the fictional Western character created by O. Henry in his 1907 short story "The Caballero's Way", published in '' Everybody's Magaz ...

'', in which she appeared six times in two roles, including that of a niece whose uncle is trying to stop her pending marriage to a gangster. She guest-starred in 1950s episodes titled "Buried Treasure," "Friend in Need" and "Spanish Gold" of ''

The Lone Ranger The Lone Ranger is a fictional masked former Texas Ranger who fought outlaws in the American Old West with his Native American friend Tonto. The character has been called an enduring icon of American culture. He first appeared in 1933 in ...

'' and twice each on ''

The Range Rider ''The Range Rider'' is an American Western television series that was first broadcast in syndication from 1951 to 1953. A single lost episode surfaced and was broadcast in 1959. ''The Range Rider'' was also broadcast on British television durin ...

'', ''

The Adventures of Kit Carson ''The Adventures of Kit Carson'' is an American Western that aired from 1951 to 1955. The show ran for four seasons and consisted of 104 episodes over four years. The original air date was Saturday, August 11, 1951. It concluded on January 22, 19 ...

'' and ''

Death Valley Days ''Death Valley Days'' is an American old-time radio and television anthology series featuring true accounts of the American Old West, particularly the Death Valley country of southeastern California. Created in 1930 by Ruth Woodman, the program ...

''. Beginning in September 1950, through September 1954, she appeared in 15 episodes of ''

The Gene Autry Show ''The Gene Autry Show'' is an American western/cowboy television series which aired for 91 episodes on CBS from July 23, 1950 until August 7, 1956, originally sponsored by Wrigley's Doublemint chewing gum. Overview Series star Gene Autry had a ...

'', sponsored by

Wrigley's The Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company, known as the Wrigley Company, is an American multinational chewing gum (Wrigley's gum) company, based in the Global Innovation Center (GIC) in Goose Island, Chicago, Illinois. Wrigley's is wholly owned by Mars, In ...

Doublemint Doublemint is a variety of chewing gum made by the Wrigley Company; according to early advertisements, it is "double strength" peppermint flavored. It was launched in the United States in 1914, and has had variable market share since then. Th ...

gum. 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. Between 1954 and 1957, Davis starred in the ''Annie Oakley'' series which ran for 81 episodes. An adroit horseback rider, Davis also toured North America in Gene Autry's traveling rodeo. She went on to manage other celebrities. In 1961, she made a guest appearance on ''

The Andy Griffith Show ''The Andy Griffith Show '' is an American situation comedy television series that aired on CBS from October 3, 1960, to April 1, 1968, with a total of 249 half-hour episodes spanning eight seasons—159 in black and white and 90 in color. The ...

'' (season 2, episode 8, titled "The Perfect Female") as

Thelma Lou Thelma Lou, or Thel by boyfriend Barney Fife, is a character on the American television sitcom ''The Andy Griffith Show'' (1960-1968). The character appeared in 26 episodes, starting with the first-season episode, "Cyrano Andy". Thelma Lou was po ...

's cousin. 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."

Recording

While ''Annie Oakley'' was popular on television, Davis made some recordings for Columbia and RCA Victor. Some were targeted toward children, and others were aimed at adults. However, Bob Leszczak wrote in his book, ''From Small Screen to Vinyl: A Guide to Television Stars Who Made Records, 1950-2000'', "Even with two different musical avenues, none of the records caught on with the public."

Later years

Davis and her third husband, Carl Edward Guerriero, retired to the San Fernando Valley.''The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture'' website, see External Links During her retirement Davis made guest appearances at western memorabilia shows and film festivals. Her last public appearance was in 1994, when she received the

Golden Boot award Golden means made of, or relating to gold. Golden may also refer to: Places United Kingdom *Golden, in the parish of Probus, Cornwall *Golden Cap, Dorset *Golden Square, Soho, London *Golden Valley, a valley on the River Frome in Gloucestershir ...

from the Motion Picture and Television Fund.

Family

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. On June 25, 1959, she married Richard Pierce, a recording executive, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Death

Davis, then a widow, died of cancer in Los Angeles at age 71. She is interred there in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in

Hollywood Hills The Hollywood Hills are a residential neighborhood in the central region of Los Angeles, California. Geography The Hollywood Hills straddle the Cahuenga Pass within the Santa Monica Mountains. The neighborhood touches Studio City, Univer ...

Honors

For her contribution to the television industry, Gail Davis has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6385 Hollywood Blvd. In 2004, she was inducted posthumously into the

National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame is located in Fort Worth, Texas, US. Established in 1975, it is dedicated to honoring women of the American West who have displayed extraordinary courage and pioneering fortitude. The museum is an edu ...

in Fort Worth, Texas. Davis' exhibit at the Cowgirl Hall of Fame recalls her impact on young girls through the ''Annie Oakley'' series:

"Back then I knew the show was having a positive impact, especially on little girls. It wasn't until years later that I realized just how much. Little girls had turned into influential women, thanking my portrayal of Annie for showing them the way."Gail Davis exhibit,
National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame is located in Fort Worth, Texas, US. Established in 1975, it is dedicated to honoring women of the American West who have displayed extraordinary courage and pioneering fortitude. The museum is an edu ...
, Fort Worth, Texas

Selected filmography

* ''

'' (1947) - Baggett Daughter (uncredited) * '' The Judge Steps Out'' (1948) - Young Mother with Baby Carriage (uncredited) * '' If You Knew Susie'' (1948) - Ms. Gail (uncredited) * '' They Live by Night'' (1948) - Girl at Parking Lot (uncredited) * ''

'' (1948) - Susan Hathaway * ''

Death Valley Gunfighter ''Death Valley Gunfighter'' is a 1949 American Western film directed by R. G. Springsteen and written by Robert Creighton Williams. The film stars Allan Lane, Eddy Waller, James Nolan, Gail Davis, William "Bill" Henry, Harry Harvey, Sr. and Ma ...

'' (1949) - Trudy Clark * ''

Frontier Investigator ''Frontier Investigator'' is a 1949 American Western film directed by Fred C. Brannon and written by Robert Creighton Williams. The film stars Allan Lane, Eddy Waller, Roy Barcroft, Gail Davis, Robert Emmett Keane and Clayton Moore. The film w ...

'' (1949) - Janet Adams * '' Law of the Golden West'' (1949) - Ann Calvert * '' Brand of Fear'' (1949) - Anne Lamont * '' South of Death Valley'' (1949) - Molly Tavish * ''

Sons of New Mexico ''Sons of New Mexico'' is a 1949 American Western film directed by John English and written by Paul Gangelin. The film stars Gene Autry, Gail Davis, Robert Armstrong, Dick Jones, Frankie Darro and Irving Bacon. The film was released on De ...

'' (1949) - Eileen MacDonald * ''

Trail of the Rustlers ''Trail of the Rustlers'' is a 1950 American Western film directed by Ray Nazarro and starring Charles Starrett, Gail Davis and Tommy Ivo. It is part of the Durango Kid series of films.Pitts p.363 It is also known by the alternative title ''Los ...

'' (1950) - Mary Ellen Hyland * '' West of Wyoming'' (1950) - Jennifer Draper * ''

Six Gun Mesa ''Six Gun Mesa'' is a 1950 American Western film directed by Wallace Fox and written by Adele Buffington. The film stars Johnny Mack Brown, Gail Davis, Riley Hill, Leonard Penn, Marshall Reed and Milburn Morante. The film was released on Apri ...

'' (1950) - Lynne Gregory * ''

Cow Town ''Cow Town'' is a 1950 American Western film directed by John English and written by Gerald Geraghty. The film stars Gene Autry, Gail Davis, Harry Shannon, Jock Mahoney, Clark Burroughs and Harry Harvey Sr. The film was released on May 19, ...

'' (1950) - Ginger Kirby * ''

Indian Territory The Indian Territory and the Indian Territories are terms that generally described an evolving land area set aside by the United States Government for the relocation of Native Americans who held aboriginal title to their land as a sovereign ...

'' (1950) - Melody Colton * ''

Operation Pacific ''Operation Pacific'' is a 1951 black-and-white World War II submarine war drama from Warner Bros. Pictures, produced by Louis Edelman, and written as well as directed by George Waggner. John Wayne and Patricia Neal star and Ward Bond and Philip ...

'' (1951) - Minor Role (uncredited) * ''

Texans Never Cry ''Texans Never Cry'' is a 1951 American Western film directed by Frank McDonald and written by Norman S. Hall. The film stars Gene Autry, Mary Castle, Russell Hayden, Gail Davis, Tom Keene and Don C. Harvey. The film was released on March ...

'' (1951) - Nancy Carter * ''

Whirlwind A whirlwind is a weather phenomenon in which a vortex of wind (a vertically oriented rotating column of air) forms due to instabilities and turbulence created by heating and flow (current) gradients. Whirlwinds occur all over the world and i ...

'' (1951) - Elaine Lassiter * '' Silver Canyon'' (1951) - Dell Middler * ''

Take Care of My Little Girl ''Take Care of My Little Girl'' is a 1951 drama film directed by Jean Negulesco and starring Jeanne Crain, Dale Robertson, Mitzi Gaynor and Jean Peters. The film, shot in Technicolor, is based on the 1950 novel of the same name written by Peggy ...

'' (1951) - Thelma (uncredited) * ''

Yukon Manhunt ''Yukon Manhunt'' is a 1951 American Northern film directed by Frank McDonald and starring Kirby Grant, Gail Davis and Margaret Field. The film was the sixth in the series of ten films featuring Kirby Grant as a Canadian Mountie.Drew, p. 22 ...

'' (1951) - Jane Kenmore * ''

Flying Leathernecks ''Flying Leathernecks'' is a 1951 American Technicolor action war film directed by Nicholas Ray, produced by Edmund Grainger, (who had produced ''Sands of Iwo Jima'') and starring John Wayne and Robert Ryan. The movie details the exploits an ...

'' (1951) - Virginia Blithe (uncredited) * '' Two Tickets to Broadway'' (1951) - Showgirl in Deli (uncredited) * ''

Valley of Fire Valley of Fire State Park is a public recreation and nature preservation area covering nearly located south of Overton, Nevada. The state park derives its name from red sandstone formations, the Aztec Sandstone, which formed from shifting sa ...

'' (1951) - Laurie * ''

Overland Telegraph The Australian Overland Telegraph Line was a telegraphy system to send messages over long distances using cables and electric signals. It spanned between Darwin, in what is now the Northern Territory of Australia, and Adelaide, the capital o ...

'' (1951) - Terry Muldoon * '' The Old West'' (1952) - Arlie Williams * ''

Wagon Team ''Wagon Team'' is a 1952 American Western film directed by George Archainbaud and written by Gerald Geraghty. The film stars Gene Autry, Gail Davis, Dick Jones, Gordon Jones, Harry Harvey Sr. and Henry Rowland. The film was released on Se ...

'' (1952) - Connie Weldon * '' Blue Canadian Rockies'' (1952) - Sandra Higbee * ''

Winning of the West ''Winning of the West'' is a 1953 American Western film directed by George Archainbaud and starring Gene Autry and Gail Davis.Rowan p.33 Plot Main cast * Gene Autry as Gene Autry * Champion as Champ - Gene's Horse * Gail Davis as Ann Ra ...

'' (1953) - Ann Randolph * ''

On Top of Old Smoky "On Top of Old Smoky" (often spelled "Smokey") is a traditional folk song of the United States. As recorded by The Weavers, the song reached the pop music charts in 1951. It is catalogued as Roud Folk Song Index No. 414. History as folk song ...

'' (1953) - Jen Larrabee * ''

Goldtown Ghost Riders ''Goldtown Ghost Riders'' is a 1953 American Western film directed by George Archainbaud and starring Gene Autry and Gail Davis.Rowan p.33 Plot Cast * Gene Autry as Gene Autry * Champion as Champ, Gene's Horse * Gail Davis as Cathy Wheele ...

'' (1953) - Cathy Wheeler * '' Pack Train'' (1953) - Jennifer Coleman * ''

Alias Jesse James ''Alias Jesse James'' is a 1959 American Western comedy film directed by Norman Z. McLeod and starring Bob Hope and Rhonda Fleming.''Harrison's Reports'' film review; March 21, 1959, page 46. Based on a story by Robert St. Aubrey and Bert Lawre ...

'' (1959) - Annie Oakley (uncredited)

Selected television

References

External links

*
''Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture'' web article
encyclopediaofarkansas.net
The Colt Revolver in the American West—Gail Davis' Single Action Army
theautry.org
"Winsome Annie Oakley", a feature about Gail Davis
''Radio and Television Mirror'' September 1955
"Golden Girl", a feature about Davis
''Radio and Television Mirror'', January 1957 {{DEFAULTSORT:Davis, Gail 1925 births 1997 deaths 20th-century American actresses American film actresses American television actresses Western (genre) television actors Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract players Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) Deaths from cancer in California Little Rock Central High School alumni People from Desha County, Arkansas Actresses from Little Rock, Arkansas RCA Victor artists Moody College of Communication alumni Cowgirl Hall of Fame inductees