This red-haired little orphan had quite a run on life. For eighty-five years she refused to grow up. Sandy, her dog, is an incredible 595 years old by human years. (Arf). Annie had her great times along the way. She became a Broadway musical called "Annie". It ran for six years! She was in a film "Little Orphan Annie" in 1932. She was parodied and copied, but survived it all.
Annie was adopted by a wealthy industrialist named Daddy Warbucks. He wore a tux and a diamond in his tie. He was shiny bald. They were constantly separated by events and crooks. She also had a faithful giant, some eight feet tall, named Punjab. He carried a blade that was imposing. Punjab was nice to have around. Another lesser character was the Asp.
The creator of this enjoyable strip was Harold Gray. He has been dead for many years. Annie made Gray as wealthy as Daddy Warbucks. "Leapin' lizards" was her favorite slang expression. Some say the "leapin'" referred to Annie being born in a leap year. That being the case, she is now only twenty-one going on twenty-two.
I first met Annie when I was about her age....then..... She was in a Big Little book. Do you remember those? Punjab was my favorite character, though he rarely had anything to say. I just felt safer for Annie when Punjab was around.
Her last day to appear in a strip will be June 13, my birthday! Had I been born in a leap year I would only be NINETEEN! "Leapin' lizards!!!"
