Raggedy Ann

Raggedy Ann is a fictional character created by American writer Johnny Gruelle (1880–1938) in a series of books he wrote and illustrated for young children. Raggedy Ann is a rag doll with red yarn for hair and has a triangle nose. The character was created in 1915 as a doll, and was introduced to the public in the 1918 book Raggedy Ann Stories. A doll was also marketed along with the book to great success. A sequel, Raggedy Andy Stories (1920) introduced the character of her brother, Raggedy Andy, dressed in sailor suit and hat.

Contents

History

Origins

Gruelle created Raggedy Ann for his daughter, Marcella, when she brought him an old hand-made rag doll and he drew a face on it. From his bookshelf, he pulled a book of poems by James Whitcomb Riley, and combined the names of two poems, "The Raggedy Man" and "Little Orphant Annie." He said, "Why don’t we call her Raggedy Ann?" [1]

Marcella died at age 13 after being vaccinated at school for smallpox without her parents' consent. Authorities blamed a heart defect, but her parents blamed the vaccination. Gruelle became an opponent of vaccination, and the Raggedy Ann doll was used as a symbol by the anti-vaccination movement.[2]

Raggedy Ann dolls were originally handmade. Later, PF Volland, a Gruelle book publisher, made the dolls. In 1935 Volland ceased operation and Ann and Andy were made under Gruelle's permission by Exposition Dolls, and without permission (during legal limbo) by MollyE's Dolls, resulting in Gruelle v (Mollye) Goldman.

Toys and adaptations into other media

Raggedy Ann & Andy dolls

Although it is said Raggedy Ann and Andy are now considered in the public domain, scores of handmade Raggedy Ann/Andy dolls have been created since the 1940s to present.

McCall's has produced identical #2531 patterns to present date with only a change in cover design. Simplicity Patterns released a licensed doll pattern for a different design doll that included all 4 sizes in the late 90's, though the well-known McCall's Raggedy Ann/Andy pattern was still available. Both patterns are still available today.

Many subsequent books were published and the characters made their way into other media, including:

While Simon & Schuster and Hasbro claim to own trademarks to the Raggedy Ann and/or Raggedy Ann and Andy names, the original 1915 doll design and 1918 and 1920 books are in the public domain, their copyright having expired. Books and films published after 1950 are protected by copyright.

Raggedy Ann was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame in 2002. Raggedy Andy joined her in 2007.

Books

It appears that many books were released and credited to Johnny Gruelle after his death, regardless of who actually wrote and illustrated them. Noted artist Ethel Hays illustrated most of the stories that were published beginning in 1944 by the Saalfield Publishing Company.[3]

Raggedy Ann and Andy in popular culture

Gruelle's home town, Arcola, Illinois, is home to the annual Raggedy Ann & Andy Festival, as well as the Raggedy Ann and Andy Museum.[4]

The Japanese video game company Hudson Entertainment created a character based on Raggedy Ann in its Xbox Live Bomberman game called Raggedy Bomb.

Raggedy Ann was presented as an original musical at New York State Theatre Institute in the 1980s.

On March 27, 2002, Raggedy Ann was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame.[5]

In October 1986, Raggedy Ann, The Musical Adventure, starring Ivy Austin, opened on Broadway at The Nederlander Theater.[6]

References

  1. ^ The Raggedy Ann & Andy Museum
  2. ^ Preventive Medicine, New York Times Book Review, Feb. 4, 2006
  3. ^ Raggedy Ann and More : Johnny Gruelle's Dolls and Merchandise (Hardcover)by Patricia Hall Publisher: Pelican Publishing Company (January 2000)ISBN 1565541022 ISBN 978-1565541023 p.144--
  4. ^ Raggedy Ann & Andy Museum, Arcola, Illinois.
  5. ^ "Raggedy Ann Finally Makes It"
  6. ^ http://www.ivyaustin.com/bio.html

External links

IMDb