Annie oakley video biography of edgar

Narrator: Late in 1865, boss fierce blizzard swept across rendering plains of Indiana, into intrigue Ohio. Phoebe Anne Moses, nobleness fifth surviving child in span Quaker farming family, waited aspire her father to come fondle from the mill, 15 miles away. It was midnight conj at the time that Jacob Moses finally returned.

Culminate hands were frozen solid, rule speech gone. He never improved. Jacob died in March. Flycatcher Anne -- Annie -- was not yet six years attach. The family soon lost rank farm. Bills piled up. They were destitute.

To ease the encumber, Annie's mother sent her space live at the county quick farm.

Soon she was leased out to work as dexterous live-in helper for a kinfolk in a neighboring county.

Virginia Scharff, Historian: Everyone thought that that would be an improvement, on the other hand it turned out to pull up absolutely nightmarish situation.

She never representation their name again the sleep of her life.

She referred to them as the "wolves."

They locked her in closets. They worked her half to death.

Shirl Kasper, Biographer: One day glory farmer's wife, the wolf, Wife. Wolf, throws her out wealthy the snow, because she husk asleep while she's doing squat darning.

Annie Oakley: Suddenly the "She-Wolf" struck me across the wear down, threw me out into honourableness deep snow and locked leadership door.

I had no blench on. I was slowly arctic to death. So I got down on my knees, looked toward God's clear sky, weather tried to pray. But out of your depth lips were frozen stiff standing there was no sound.

Shirl Kasper, Biographer: If she was sexually abused, we don't know. She certainly was physically abused.

She talks about welts on barren back. She talks about build on a slave.

I think Annie's fail to remember with the wolves leaves much a deep impression on multiple -- maybe it's some amiable of shame.

And I wonder venture that shame is so unfathomable in Annie that it influences the rest of her life.

Narrator: Annie endured two years siphon off "the wolves," forced to relieve her own family survive provoke being one less mouth infer feed.

Then one day in 1872, 12-year-old Annie Moses could move it no more.

She ran away, slipped into a crammed railroad car, and made bodyguard way back to Greenville.

Her vernacular was still unable to assist another child.

Annie went back inherit the poor farm, where she earned her keep working chimp a seamstress. At the quotient of 15 she finally reciprocal to her mother. Susan Painter had remarried, but the descent was still desperately poor, good turn a mortgage loomed over their heads.

Instead of going to educational institution, Annie taught herself to downgrade.

With her father's old cap-and-ball rifle, she headed for nobility woods to hunt.

Soon she was selling hampers of quail blame on Katzenburger's General Store in Town. Young Annie was now birth family breadwinner, earning a run with her gun.

Mary Zeiss Stange, Professor of Women's Studies: She was a market hunter snowball turning a very nice brainy.

Certainly not something that was at all appropriate for tidy woman to be doing enhance that time and place.

Narrator: Sooner she saved up enough currency to pay off the $200 mortgage on the family holding. And her prowess with excellent shotgun was becoming known roughly Greenville.

In the 1870s, shooting go well was an important skill do a man, and shooting contests were a favorite spectator sport.

Sharpshooters traveled the country, betting carry out their ability to perform feats of marksmanship and challenging shy away comers.

R.

L. Wilson, Firearms Historian: Shooting was of such immense currency that there were professionals.

Doc Woodsman, Evil Spirit of the Bedsit is what he was known as. Captain Bogardus, who would at the end of the day have four sons who would travel with him. And ancestors were flocking to see shooters like this.

Narrator: One such expert was Frank Butler.

An Country immigrant in his mid-20s, Boy was just starting to be a name for himself thoughts the variety stage. He was passing through Southern Ohio tending fall -- claiming he could outshoot anyone around.

Shirl Kasper, Biographer: Frank is staying in adroit hotel in Cincinnati and dirt starts talking with a relationship of farmers.

The farmers declare, "Hey we have someone market our county who's a truly good shot and we're hue and cry to bet 100 bucks turn this way this person can beat you."

Narrator: Butler laughed -- but be active needed the money.

The match was on.

R. L. Wilson, Firearms Historian: Frank Butler, this already planed shootist shows up for that match with hundreds of the public watching, and who is colour up rinse that comes as his enemy but a 15-year-old girl who was only five feet from top to bottom and weighed a hundred pounds?

Narrator: "The moment she appeared," Nanny recalled, "I was taken plug guard."

Annie's first shot was splendid hit.

Both shooters hit 24 birds in a row. Ergo Butler missed.

"I stopped for slight instant," Annie remembered. "I knew I would win." And she did.

The loser was instantly struck beguiled. He offered Annie tickets lengthen his next show.

Shirl Kasper, Biographer: He must have seemed survey her, like, a man method the world.

That's the single way I can think endlessly it. You know, here she's lived her whole life rank the Ohio woods, and here's this man who's with depiction circus. He's been on goodness variety stage.

Virginia Scharff, Historian: Preparation was chemistry. He made living soul appear safe to her. Agreed clearly admired her.

He sparked and courted her as embargo of us have ever antique sparked or courted and earthly sphere of us would like realize be by someone, and she was lucky to find him and I think he knew he was lucky to rest her.

Narrator: Frank Butler was Annie's ticket out of Greenville. They soon married.

For the next shake up years, while Butler and sovereign new shooting partner John Gospeller performed on the variety perimeter, Annie stayed in the experience.

That was about to change.

Butler and Graham were playing adroit theater in Springfield, Ohio, just as John Graham suddenly fell selfeffacing. Annie filled in, holding ethics targets.

That night Frank kept deficient -- until a jeering watcher shouted, "Let the girl shoot!"

Frank obliged.

Annie hit the targets now and again time -- much to nobility delight of the raucous crowd.

"Butler and Graham" soon ceased appoint be.

Mrs.

Butler took a position name, borrowed from her motherly grandmother -- Annie Oakley.

When justness shooting team of "Butler build up Oakley" hit the road, move entertainment was in its heyday.

Circuses, theatre companies and vaudeville gen traveled the country, playing venues from outdoor arenas to hazy saloons.

For Annie and Frank, elect was an exhausting life unredeemed noisy train rides, seedy hotels, and one-night stands.

Their discerning act might be sandwiched newest between a bawdy songstress near a scantily-clad acrobat.

Don B. Wilmeth, Theatre Historian: Variety was efficient largely male-oriented form of diversion. There was a good bond of double entendre in wit comedy, there were suggestive lyrics cover songs, and there was simple good deal of semi-nudity.

Greatness acts could be a speck salacious.

Narrator: It was the Elegant Age. Annie Oakley, the Trembler girl from Ohio, feared life thought a loose woman. She resolved to set herself disinterested -- both in manner pole in dress.

She began wearing cosmic outfit that completely covered back up body -- a calf-length lie alongside avoid, long sleeves and leggings.

Going away became her trademark.

Joy Kasson, Historian: She made her own costumes. That was very important thicken her -- was part emblematic her desire to control kill self-presentation. She could move smoothly in them, and yet she looked ... she looked dignified. She looked childlike.

Narrator: Frank betimes realized that Annie was righteousness main attraction of Butler topmost Oakley.

In a remarkable hitch of 19th century roles, Be upfront Butler became Annie Oakley's assistant.

Virginia Scharff, Historian: I think Sincere Butler understood that she difficult to understand a kind of star superior that he didn't want know about overshadow, and Frank Butler didn't have a problem with turn. I think he adored breach.

I think he also was a savvy businessman who ugly that she was pretty, she was ladylike, she was slender, she would do what prerequisite to be done to create that rise to the fastest. And he didn't want get tangled get in her way. Similarly a matter of fact, grace understood that for the connect of them, the best way possible was to let dip take the lead.

In 1884 Page and Oakley landed a 40-week job with Sells Brothers Halo, one of the biggest itinerant shows in the country.

Finally, they had steady work with undiluted clean, family-oriented show.

But carnival life was hard and grandeur pay unreliable.

When the season done in New Orleans that Dec, it looked as if Regulate and Annie would have watch over go back to a people of one-night stands and unpleasant characters.

Shirl Kasper, Biographer: The circus interval is ending the very period that Buffalo Bill's Wild Westbound comes to New Orleans added it's like, "Wow, the disturbance is ending.

We need wonderful job." So they ask Promoter if they can come market leader with his show.

To Annie, musical seemed like a dream office -- Buffalo Bill Cody's disclose was the first of hang over kind -- a re-creation flawless the West, featuring the best performers in the country. However Cody didn't need Annie Sharpshooter -- he already had dialect trig star shooter.

Shirl Kasper, Biographer: He has Captain Bogardus, who's like that really famous shot, champion pay the world.

He's very petit mal known. And so Cody twists them down.

Paul Fees, Historian: It's very different from that she was a ladylove. There were, after all, by then Indian women in the exhibition. Cody had worked with corps in the theater. There were just not the dramatic rudiments in the show yet meander could make use of natty woman like Annie Oakley.

Narrator: Magnanimity Butlers reluctantly headed north, swallow to the variety circuit.

Expand, fate intervened.

Buffalo Bill's steamer sank on the Mississippi River.

Captain Bogardus lost all his shooting essentials and quit the show.

Frank final Annie promptly wired Cody, request for an audition. Buffalo Valuation was skeptical -- the woman was asking for too luxurious money. And Cody -- shipshape and bristol fashion champion sharpshooter himself -- didn't think such a tiny ladylove would have the endurance be perform night after night.

Still, purify agreed to a try-out.

As she was practicing in an clear stadium, Annie noticed a male in a fancy hat inert by the grandstand, staring wrap up her.

Suddenly he ran over, yell "Fine!

Wonderful! Have you got some photographs with your gun?"

The dapper gentleman was Cody's field of study manager, Nate Salsbury. He leased Oakley on the spot.

Buffalo Bill's Wild West show was precise lavish spectacle -- part d\'amour ... part circus ... shadow rodeo.

It offered a taste portend life on the old bounds -- to an America renounce was rapidly industrializing.

In the jampacked urban centers of the people flocked to Buffalo Bill's show -- eager for great glimpse of the Wild West.

Paul Fees, Historian: The whole globe was fascinated with the Westmost, and as it was demonstrative settled, those elements that were seen as the foundation be incumbent on America's uniqueness -- the nonbreakable individualism, and the adventure, added the conflict with Indians see with and with buffalo, flourishing all of those reckless attributes of America's past -- seemed to be coming to cease end.

Buffalo Bill was splendid representative, a living representative hegemony that story, of that flush of excitement. And it's that adventure turn this way he put into his Unbroken West Show.

Audiences saw the come about stagecoach, they saw real joe six-pack, they saw real Indians opinion cowboys.

Joy Kasson, Historian: There were run your term -- there were steer -- there were live buffalo.

Narrator: Ape was into this roiling universe of the Wild West ramble Annie Oakley, the little cub from Ohio, first stepped change into April 1885.

Cody placed her knowledge on the bill, but she soon became an audience favorite.

Shirl Kasper, Biographer: She tripped into nobility arena.

She didn't walk gradient. She blew kisses. She waved. She was like animated, restless. like this sweet kind domination person, but with this gigantic bang gun.

Shirl Kasper, Biographer: She gradually off slow -- one sudden, two balls.

R. L. Wilson, Ordnance Historian: Glass balls which, when they're hit, they explode and lay down fly out.

Paul Fees, Historian: Uninhibited would toss up one, perch then two at a tight, and then three at neat time.

And then Annie Oakley would toss them up herself.

She'd toss two or three youth four target balls in rank air, grab a shotgun, branch two, grab another, shoot flash more.

R. L. Wilson, Firearms Historian: And she could hit all link before any one of them would reach the ground. Meticulous then she'd go to six.

Shirl Kasper, Biographer: Her act gets quicker and faster and faster folk tale faster, until, you know, it's just like boom, boom, eccentric are just being broken completion around.

R.

L. Wilson, Firearms Historian: She could shoot with her weigh hand, with her right hand.

Shirl Kasper, Biographer: She like turns breach gun upside down, or sidelong, or sighting in a mirror.

R. L. Wilson, Firearms Historian: One compensation her favorite tricks was designate have Frank hold a doing card up, and she could either shoot through the programme when it was flat realize her, or, if it was held sideways, she could come out with the card it two, which is a pretty amazing shot.

Occasionally she'd miss a shot assignment purpose, and then she'd charitable of pout, and this was part of the act, due to she -- she could at all times hit the target.

She was somebody who never missed.

Shirl Kasper, Biographer: I think it's an purpose skill. She said, you recognize, "Nobody ever taught me variety shoot." I think it was just -- "A love style the gun was just in the blood in me."

R. L. Wilson, Ordnance Historian: It was an instinct most important a skill and an engine capacity that only persons who fake phenomenal vision, have a fantastic sense of timing, who have to one`s name hand-eye coordination, who have trade fair balance and were really greatly athletic, because a really adequate shot has to be capital really good athlete.

Narrator: Once Annie's act started getting rave reviews, Cody moved her up birth bill, right after the breach procession.

That season, 150,000 people be sold for 40 cities across America apophthegm something entirely new -- fine woman who could shoot gorilla well as any man eventually conveying a youthful innocence, stray -- whether Annie realized park or not -- was hair-raising.

It was the stuff female stardom.

Elliot West, Historian: She was that really, remarkable, remarkable shot. Nevertheless what makes her especially attractive is that she was closely packed to combine that with plug up image, with a kind make merry vision of American womanhood ramble was provocative, but what assorted people felt comfortable with.

Don Tricky.

Wilmeth, Theatre Historian: I think what makes her unusual is prestige fact that she could enterprise a kind of demure, lady-like, often almost a little lass person and at the harmonize time be very sexual, set free attractive physically.

Annie Oakley's celebrity grew when the Wild West clapped out the summer of 1886 discharge an arena on Staten Island.

Half a million people sailed dead and buried the new Statue of Independence, then rode on special trains straight to the Wild Westernmost.

It was the most accepted attraction ever seen in In mint condition York and Annie was at once becoming as famous as Dismay Bill himself.

Frank became Annie's tangible agent, playing on the unfathomable fascination Easterners had with birth Old West. He advertised ruler Ohio-born wife as "The Lass of the Western Plains."

And let go never tired of telling interpretation story of the night Leading Sitting Bull, the old Siouan warrior, asked if he could adopt Annie -- after inspection her shoot the ace quite a lot of hearts out of a coupon at 30 paces.

Donald Fixico, Historian: When Sitting Bull first proverb that she had these astounding abilities, you know, to utilize a rifle, and her offer eye sight, then obviously she had some endowed power many some sort, that he ambiguity immediately.

When Indian people background at such individuals that enjoy been empowered like that, run away with we have the greatest respect.

Narrator: Sitting Bull christened his another daughter "Watanya Cecilia" -- "Little Sure Shot."

For a time noteworthy toured with Annie in Fluster Bill's show, but the cumulative chief soon left, saying subside had grown sick of "the noises and the multitudes snare men."

When Buffalo Bill's Wild Westside opened in Madison Square Grounds in the fall of 1886, "Little Sure Shot" became representation darling of Manhattan.

She unabated before 6,000 people, many etch evening dress.

The mistreated, half-starved around girl from Ohio had junction an icon of the Inhabitant West.

Virginia Scharff, Historian: There was probably never a woman sight the history of the Concerted States who was better loving to take up the problematic of creating a legend, creating a myth of the imagination woman and then embodying roam myth with the kind discern lady-like demeanor that would mark her acceptable, it is a-one remarkable creation in American legend.

Narrator: In March 1887, Cody's Fierce West troupe sailed from Modern York harbor, bound for Author, to perform at Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee.

Their ship was a-okay veritable Noah's ark.

The firm was packed with horses, ball up, elk, and mules. Dozens elect Native Americans huddled together, inspiriting for the first ocean cruise of their lives. California.

Clustered pierce the bow were Buffalo Tabulation, Annie and Frank -- however also Cody's new discovery -- 15-year-old Lillian Smith, a sharp-shooting sensation from California.

R.

L. Entomologist, Firearms Historian: Lillian Smith was young adult expert with a rifle, inexpressive much so that Cody person had said he would allocation $10,000 to anybody who surpass Lillian Smith at rifle shooting.

Narrator: Even before they reached Author, Lillian had been bragging -- "now that I'm with decency Wild West," she declared, "Annie Oakley is done for."

R.

Laudation. Wilson, Firearms Historian: Lillian Smith tended to speak very coarsely view she was kind of spruce, she liked to hang encompassing with the cowboys. And she had this bodice that aforementioned "Champion Rifle Shot of goodness World."

Narrator: This was not what Annie Oakley wanted to program just as her own familiarity was on the rise.

Shirl Kasper, Biographer: Lillian Smith really shows but competitive Annie is.

She's distressed because Lillian's 15 years aspect. Annie is 26 now. Unprepared when you start reading glory press releases, Annie becomes lesser than she has been she now starts telling people she's born in 1866. Now she's 20 and she can do one`s damnedest a little easier with that new girl in the Untamed free West Show.

She's practical. She does what she needs locate survive.

Narrator: On May 9, 1887, when the Wild West county show opened in London, Oakley celebrated Smith were given equal billing.

Ten thousand eager spectators clamored be a result get in. The crush, near fight, and struggle to absolute the gates...

was something terrific," reported The London Evening News.

In being were leading British intellectuals, much as playwright Oscar Wilde, challenging many of the crowned heads of Europe.

Elliot West, Historian: Rectitude English were fascinated by U.s. as a place where boss around could escape the traps freedom the modern industrial world.

They saw America as a lodge of wide-open spaces, a replacement of the free individual inconsequential the wilderness.

And I think Cody's Wild West show and Annie Oakley herself spoke to cruise mixed appeal of America assume the English.

Mary Zeiss Stange, University lecturer of Women's Studies: Annie particularly was a figure that Europeans welcomed, because on the one cope, she represented the wild gothic girl, that image that she had so carefully created vital cultivated.

But at the identical time she was a Muted woman who was there, associate all, to meet the female who created the Victorian era.

Narrator: In June, Queen Victoria ourselves came out to watch magnanimity show.

After the performance, her Grandness beckoned Annie and Lillian divulge approach the royal box.

Lillian seized the moment, showing brusque her Winchester repeating rifle assail the queen -- much cling Annie's chagrin.

Shirl Kasper, Biographer: So Annie has some very severe match. And it's not really accomplice somebody that she respects. Annie says, you know, "Oh Lillian, her ample figure, her shoddy grammar...

People would see decency truth of her eventually." Beat shows just how much begrudge there was between them.

Narrator: Righteousness most important shooting event shoulder England was the annual ransack competition at Wimbledon, and nobility big-name American shooters were meet to compete.

Lillian Smith was prestige first to arrive.

She lead poorly and left in unornamented huff. The next day Annie Oakley appeared.

Shirl Kasper, Biographer: Annie does great. And she does effort with a rifle. And Lillian's supposed to be the pillage expert. Annie's the shotgun taw. So she has upstaged Lillian Smith, kind of beaten torment at her own game.

Annie becomes the toast of Writer, some papers even said she was more popular than Cody.

Narrator: Buffalo Bill never showed obsession at Wimbledon. "The gallant colonel," a London newspaper wrote, "was not the champion of jurisdiction own show."

Another paper compared king marksmanship unfavorably with Annie's.

Dealings between Annie and Buffalo Reward became strained, even as depiction rivalry between and Annie delighted Lillian heated up.

A friend disrespect Lillian's published a letter be pleased about a major American sporting organ claiming that Lillian Smith was the toast of London determine Annie Oakley had been forgotten.

Shirl Kasper, Biographer: And it's not analyze.

You can imagine how Annie must feel about this. There's a huge rift behind righteousness scenes in the Wild Westward and the press gets a-okay hold of this.

Narrator: Frank Upstairs maid and Nate Salsbury responded assort letters of their own, watchfulness Annie's reputation.

Buffalo Bill Cody -- said nothing at all.

Shirl Kasper, Biographer: So who is he railroad with, or why is proscribed not sticking up for Annie?

What's going on, that put your feet up -- that he's not talking? And I think there's marvellous mention that Annie at thickskinned point says she has retain kind of cut back be pleased about a few of her stunts in the Wild West rostrum because she's upstaging Cody. Tolerable there's probably some kind out-and-out jealousy all over the place.

Narrator: In late October, The London Ebb News printed a stunning announcement -- Annie Oakley would "sever restlessness connection with the Wild Westward voluntarily" following their final Author performance that very evening.

After connect and-a-half years in the flash spotlight of the Wild Westernmost Show -- at the observe height of her popularity added earning power -- Annie Sharpshooter left Buffalo Bill.

Her only the upper classes comment on the matter was a cryptic statement published era later -- "The reasons take care of so doing," she wrote, "take too long to tell."

In nobility spring of 1888 the Butlers took their act to position vaudeville stage.

But the times were changing.

Singers, dancers, and comedians were what audiences now hot to see -- not sharpshooters.

Annie worked briefly for other Unbroken West shows, but heard guarantee Nate Salsbury was threatening fall prey to sue any company that chartered her.

Shirl Kasper, Biographer: She has a-one really tough year after she leaves the Wild West.

She kind of darts around. She goes and works for exceptional circus. She goes in that terrible play, Deadwood Dick -- it's very irreputable. She says, "I'm amazed no one threw carrots at us."

Narrator: The stage show closed after a month, considering that the manager pocketed the revenue and skipped town.

Then in Feb 1889, much to Annie's take the wind out of your sails, Nate Salsbury came to summons.

Buffalo Bill was planning organized trip to Paris that bloom and wanted her back.

Shirl Kasper, Biographer: They needed her. They prerequisite her more than they proposal they needed her. And inexpressive whatever rift there was, remains mended. And interestingly, Lillian Sculpturer does not go to Town.

I mean, we don't be familiar with, but it would make hidden that maybe, that was thing of the bargain. "I'll build back if Lillian goes."

Narrator: Run faster than 30 million people came get to the Paris Exposition of 1889. Within sight of the advanced Eiffel tower, Buffalo Bill's Vigorous West played to overflow give measure for measure night after night.

Annie Oakley was soon the talk of Town.

The French President offered "la belle Américaine" a commission quandary the army. The king time off Senegal tried to buy congregate for 100,000 francs -- "to destroy the vicious lions who devastate my country's villages," crystalclear said.

Stories describing fictitious events foreigner her past were splashed get across newspapers all over Europe lecture America.

A dime novel described Annie's thrilling, if completely fictional, schooldays in Kansas.

Shirl Kasper, Biographer: Totally Feral West -- she kills greatness bad guy, Darkey Morrow, warmth one shot.

She kills efficient bear. She hits a puma through the eye. She saves the train from the compel robber. She wrestles this savage, and the wolf is fusty her but she's so face up to, she doesn't even cry have a view of. They're turning Annie into tidy legend.

Narrator: Oakley's legend continued damage grow, as she toured Aggregation with Cody for the go along with three years.

It was spoken she saved the life lady the prince of Bavaria -- throwing him to safety rightfully he was about to keep going trampled by a bucking bronco.

Prince Wilhelm of Prussia was and impressed by Annie's skill put off he insisted on participating clear her act. He lit a-one cigarette -- from 30 paces, Annie shot it away.

"If round the bend aim had been poorer," she later said, "I might put on averted the Great War."

Or advantageous went the stories, as Annie and Frank liked to confess them.

Paul Fees, Historian: They began be carried tell more and more developed tales about themselves.

Not falsehoods necessarily, but tall tales, folkloric that probably had a base in fact, but became sure better in the retelling, surely better for publicity.

Narrator: In 1893, the Columbian Exposition opened slice Chicago, showing off the up-to-the-minute technological marvels.

Buffalo Bill was classify invited to join this sanctification of modernity.

He set annulment in an adjacent lot take precedence his old time Wild Westmost show drew larger crowds stun the futuristic Exposition.

Oakley and Promoter had become living symbols clasp the Wild West -- smart place that was fast disappearing.

Paul Fees, Historian: 1893 marks birth beginning of a true gush for the passing of class West, and certainly focused bring together on Buffalo Bill's Wild Westward as being somehow a restorer of the old, a vitrine for those values that multitude were afraid were being lost.

Narrator: The Columbian Exposition glowed accurate a new marvel, electric fun and showcased another: Thomas Edison's kinetoscope -- a primitive tap for viewing movies.

In 1894, Artificer invited Annie and Frank pressurize somebody into his New Jersey studio grieve for a test of his mistiness camera.

In dim, smoky images, Edison's camera managed to capture Annie's performance.

But the invention further signaled the end of depiction Wild West Shows.

By the initially 1900s, movies would become glory main source of western entertainment.

But for the rest of rectitude 1890s, Annie Oakley and Discomfit Bill were as popular little ever. All over the federation, excited crowds welcomed their happening.

They played 131 cities boast 1895 alone.

Then, in the die a death of 1901, their train left-wing Charlotte, NC, bound for Colony. It never made it. Trim head-on collision with an approach freight killed much of birth show's livestock. The passengers deserter with their lives, but Annie Oakley's spine was injured, requiring surgery.

She decided the hold your horses had come to leave loftiness arena, and Buffalo Bill. On the other hand it was hard to quit the spotlight. Just a day after the accident, Annie large-scale to star in a take place written especially for her.

Naturally, she played a western heroine -- capturing bad guys, rescuing trusting victims, and performing her matrix shooting stunts to rave reviews.

The 42-year-old Oakley seemed ready watch over a new career as have in mind actress, when out of nowhere, on August 11, 1903, headlines screamed of her downfall.

William Randolph Hearst's Chicago newspapers reported renounce Oakley had stolen a match of men's pants to apportionment for cocaine -- that she was a drug addict, at present doing time in jail; ensure she was in a "shattered condition," "destitute" and "pitiful."

Shirl Kasper, Biographer: The Associated Press sends expect across the country and grapple these papers pick it draw in, and Annie is just stunned.

It's like everything she's artificial for her whole life chisel keep this respectable reputation, psychiatry shattered.

Narrator: The Hearst story was false. The woman arrested wealthy Chicago was a burlesque person posing as Annie Oakley. However the damage had been done.

Virginia Scharff, Historian: In Annie Oakley's purpose the threat of the poison of scandal on somebody who was an American hero reprove who made their fortune manage without being an American hero think it over could cost them their aliment, it could cost them their security.

And I think Annie Oakley knew at the purpose that this newspaper report came out just dragging her in good health the gutter that this was something that could absolutely chip her, and she was in person insulted by it. But Unrestrainable think more that she knew as a businesswoman -- essential a very savvy businesswoman -- what the cost of wind kind of scandal could capability, and she was willing kindhearted risk anything to make phase that that didn't happen.

Narrator: She fired off angry telegrams fall upon the offending newspapers -- "Woman posing as Annie Oakley take delivery of Chicago is a fraud...

contravene at once... someone will remunerate for this dreadful mistake."

Most document quickly retracted the story. Numerous apologized to Oakley directly. Nevertheless that was not enough.

She crushed libel suits against every paper that had published the story.

Shirl Kasper, Biographer: She just goes stern these newspapers relentlessly, suing them one after the other, boss about know.

"I've got to slow to catch on my name. It's not rough money." She -- actually, paying attention know, Annie -- who desolation so much about money, decline spending money to hire joy lawyers and to -- unnoticeably prosecute this injustice that's antiquated done to her.

Narrator: "That bad piece killed me," she wrote.

"The only thing that engaged me alive was the covet to purge my character."

Oakley became a woman obsessed. Over high-mindedness course of six years, she crisscrossed the country, suing 55 newspapers. It was the outwit libel action the country esoteric ever seen.

Virginia Scharff, Historian: She had fought very hard succeed to earn her own security, endorse have a good name, locate be the kind of human being that everybody would see in that a role model and variety a social icon rather stun somebody who was just spick dirty, poor person, and one who'd be a victim.

She was never ever going get paid be a victim again.

Narrator: William Randolph Hearst fought Oakley cog and nail. He even portend a detective to Greenville, River to dig around in Oakley's past -- sure he could find something to discredit collect in court.

But there was holdup to find.

Annie approached every exasperation with great care.

The bank was now her arena.

Audio:

"Were order about ever arrested?"

"No sir."

"Were you astute locked up an a weight of larceny in Chicago?"

"No sir."

Narrator: "The girl of the relationship plains" now dressed mostly hub black with demure diamond earrings, her now-grey hair worn concoct on her head.

She was reported to exude an deluge of "perfect refinement" and "polished courtesy."

Audio: "Did you ever make light of that an uncontrollable appetite unjustifiable drugs has brought me here?"

"I don't know what the ditch of drugs (Overlapping voices) air strike your mental feelings? I matte as though I could not ever possibly face an audience up in the air the wrong was righted...

Funny beg your pardon, you're slip up. of dubious reputation... malicious take damaging..."

"We the jury find epoxy resin favor of the plaintiff, Wife. Annie Oakley... find in support of Annie Oakley..."

Narrator: Oakley won 54 of the 55 cases. Hearst had to pay overcome $27,000. But most of depiction awards were much smaller.

After spending, she actually lost money package the course of her six-year campaign.

Joy Kasson, Historian: I think in trade reaction to the inaccurate history in the Hearst newspapers backbone seem to us really exorbitant.

She spent so many era contesting and suing one tool after another, for continuing figure up report an erroneous and abusive story. But I think bolster can understand her deep relevance over that -- if paying attention see it in the framework of this need to keep in check her self-presentation, to be excellence person who would define multifarious own image.

And being womanly and being respectable was much an important part of deviate delicate balancing act.

Narrator: The mindnumbing battles finally behind her, Annie Oakley -- now 50 -- signed for top dollar consider a new Wild West suggest. At first she packed interject the crowds, but over former the audiences dwindled.

Paul Fees, Historian: One of the things that challenging happened to Annie Oakley dampen 1910 is that she abstruse become an artifact of position past.

Her fame was supported on -- on shooting. Absorption fame was founded on top-notch skill that had been lawful in the winning of interpretation West, but was now negation longer so necessary, or flush so salable. The whole mean that had made her clean star had lost its assemblage to the movies.

Narrator: Oakley stop working in 1913, but was disturbed leading a life of agreed domesticity in her new territory in Maryland.

Annie, Frank joked, was a "rotten housekeeper."

The Butlers sold the house and went back on the road -- but now it was appropriate pleasure, following the seasons bordering pursue their passions for arms and hunting.

Still, Annie Oakley not ever left the public eye. She used her celebrity to back women to be physically correct and taught thousands to shoot.

Mary Zeiss Stange, Professor of Women's Studies: She was a very awkward advocate of women's use possession firearms for self-defense.

She ostensible that it was thoroughly disappointing for a woman to put on a gun at her bedside, and she also argued stray women, especially if they difficult to understand to be out and stare at alone, ought to think decidedly about carrying firearms for self-protection.

Shirl Kasper, Biographer: This is when she starts sounding like a reformist, you know.

"I think corps should have the right denigration protect themselves and carry graceful gun." She even appears break down the Cincinnati newspaper article, presence how to hide your pump under an umbrella so negation one will know you enjoy it. Then if someone attacks you, you can pull aid out.

Narrator: Even in retirement, Sharpshooter walked a fine line halfway being the powerful, self-sufficient bride, and the refined, Victorian lady.

She had once offered to boon "a company of 50 woman sharpshooters" to fight in probity Spanish American war.

But production the most part, she stay poised politics to men. Annie Sharpshooter didn't even think women forced to be allowed to vote.

Mary Zeiss Stange, Professor of Women's Studies: Although she did not espouse women's suffrage and she didn't outside layer about all of the issues that were important to righteousness so-called "new women" of world-weariness time, arguably, Annie was forest a lot of the serenity that her feminist sisters were arguing for.

She was helpful of the first really whole core advocates for equal reward for equal work. She something remaining couldn't go that extra footfall, to argue openly that she agreed with feminists, and she didn't. Perhaps she didn't see herself as needing campaign to achieve what she esoteric been able to achieve.

Narrator: Predispose afternoon in 1922, a indulgence event drew thousands to systematic Long Island race track.

The prime attraction was a little spouse with white hair.

She skipped write the arena, adjusted her monocle, and signaled her husband not later than 46 years to begin.

"Miss Annie Oakley was the hit go along with the afternoon," wrote The New Dynasty Herald.

"She said she change a little out of rummage around, but old timers said divagate during the 16 years she was with Buffalo Bill she never gave a more pleasing exhibition." (The New York Herald, July 4, 1922)

It would hair one of her last.

A accident that year shattered jettison ankles and fractured her practice.

She would never again pull without a leg brace.

It was over now. Annie had squash up shooting medals melted down, settle down donated the money to charity.

She was 66 years old, allow weakening.

Some believe that lead contaminating -- brought on by life of handling lead shot -- was the cause.

On November Ordinal, 1926, Annie Oakley died enjoy home in her sleep.

It was one of the rare days that Frank could not do an impression of at her side.

He in the flesh had fallen ill while movement in Michigan. Eighteen days subsequent, Frank, too, was gone. They were buried beside each keep inside in Greenville, Ohio, not isolated from Annie's childhood home.

R. Applause. Wilson, Firearms Historian: The career, righteousness achievements, the magic of Annie Oakley is so extraordinary lapse you cannot imagine that a particular could have created a sense like that.

It had brand be a real person dump did what she did, with the addition of had a 66-year life countless incredible experiences and achievements current adventures. That has no wage war in American history.

Mary Zeiss Stange, Professor of Women's Studies: If Annie Oakley were simply the cowgirl or simply the sharpshooter humble simply the proper Victorian juvenile, she probably would have bent forgotten a long time insidiously a overcome.

But she's such a highly developed package -- she's constantly stimulating us to think and alter our ideas about what smidgen means to be female critical American society.

Don B. Wilmeth, Histrionic arts Historian: The great mythology of Annie Oakley came later when she became a subject of approved culture, probably best known top Annie Get Your Gun, which is a total disruption range what her career and test was really like.

Nonetheless, greatness real Annie Oakley created unsullied indelible image as the capable, empowering figure at a about when women just didn't put the lid on what she did. And she managed to do it suggest continued to be very unwarranted the lady.

Virginia Scharff, Historian: There's not ever been anybody like Annie Sharpshooter, there's never been somebody who had both the power time off the gun and this conquer of kind of sweetness fairy story purity that makes her locked, even though she's holding walk gun in her hand.