Annie Get Your Gun Historical Guide
Phoebe Anne Oakley Moses (sometimes called Mozee) was born on a run-down farm in Darke County, Ohio, in 1866. She fired her first shot at the age of seven and by age twelve was the chief provider for her large and hungry family. Thanks to her mastery of the rifle, she was paying off the mortgage on the Mozee shack through the sale of surplus quail, grouse and mallards to Cincinnati hotel owners.
The fame of this juvenile sure-shot exploded overnight when she defeated Frank Butler, vaudeville's champion marksman and trick shot, in a live-bird contest rigged to promote his act - although its outcome had the opposite effect of making her the star. One year later, Frank Butler and Anne Oakley (she having dropped her first and last names) joined forces as a headlining double-act. They also joined forces at the altar - and shortly after their marriage Butler gave up his performing career to manage hers. The team prospered on the variety circuits and in small circuses until 1885 when Annie joined Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show.
Touring Europe in the Buffalo Bill Show of 1887, Annie twice gave private demonstrations for Queen Victoria, defeated Grand Duke Michael of Russia in a match arranged by the Prince of Wales, and in Berlin shot a cigarette from the lips of Kaiser Wilhelm. She announced her retirement in 1901, but made intermittent appearances until 1916.
Annie Oakley's feats as a sharpshooter are legendary. At thirty paces she shot a dime from between her husband's thumb and forefinger with a .22 rifle and with this weapon could hit two-inch flying balls by sighting them in the shiny surface of a bowie knife. Once she hit 943 out of 1000 flying balls in a rapid fire demonstration and at the age of 56, using three double-barreled guns, punctured in midair six balls sprung from as many traps.
Annie Oakley died in Dayton, Ohio in 1926. Frank Butler died eighteen days later.
