Shirley Adrienne Bell Cole (February 21, 1920 (another source says 1921[1]) – January 12, 2010), also known as Shirley Bell, was an American radio actress; best known as the voice of Little Orphan Annie in the eponymous radio show.
Born Shirley Adrienne Bell in Chicago's South Side, she grew up in various apartments as her family endured the Depression. Her mother was described as "the consummate stage mother," while her father "left the family when Shirley was a toddler."[2] She attended Lake View High School in Chicago.[3]
Radio
Cole was first heard on radio at age 6, as a member of the WGN Players.[2] Beginning when she was 10 years old, Bell was the primary voice actress of the character Little Orphan Annie from 1930 to 1940[4][5] (except for a brief time when a problem with her contract kept her out).[6] She also was on Captain Midnight in the role of Patsy.[6]
In 1995, Bell was heard in a reenactment of Little Orphan Annie on Chuck Schaden's Those Were the Days radio show.
Family
She quit acting in 1940 and married Irwin Cole, an automobile dealer.[7] He was born in Chicago, Illinois, where the couple raised three daughters (Randy, Cathy, and Lory[7]) in the affluent Chicago suburb Glencoe. Irwin Cole died in 1998.[5]
Later years
Book
She authored Acting Her Age: My Ten Years as a Ten-Year-Old: My Memories as Radio’s Little Orphan Annie (Stinehour Press, 2005). Designed by Susan Cox, the book won Best in Show, Crystal Book Award of Excellence at the Chicago Book and Media Show, and a Silver Award in Fine Editions at the Gold Ink Awards.
Commercials
In the 1970s, Cole recorded voice-overs for television commercials.[6]
Death
Cole died in Arizona January 12, 2010. She was survived by three daughters and three grandchildren. A memorial service was held in Chicago, Illinois, February 21, 2010.[8]
^ abDeLong, Thomas A. (1996). Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN978-0-7864-2834-2. P. 28.
^ abHevesi, Dennis (February 4, 2010). "Shirley Bell Cole, at age 89; played 'Little Orphan Annie'". Boston Globe. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
^Jensen, Trevor (January 26, 2010). "Shirley Bell Cole: 1920-2010: Radio voice behind 'Little Orphan Annie'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
^Hevesi, Dennis. "Shirley Bell Cole, the Voice of Little Orphan Annie, Dies at 89". The New York Times, January 30, 2010.
^ abJensen, Trevor. "Shirley Bell Cole dies at 89; radio voice of 'Little Orphan Annie'." Los Angeles Times, January 27, 2010.[dead link]
^ abc"Comic strip's 'Annie' gets network niche". Galesburg Register-Mail. July 1, 1977. p. 12. Retrieved May 5, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abWolters, Larry (February 18, 1956). "They Say". Chicago Tribune. p. 2. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
^"Shirley Bell Cole". Chicago Tribune. January 31, 2010. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
January 07, 2023
shirley, bell, cole, shirley, adrienne, bell, cole, february, 1920, another, source, says, 1921, january, 2010, also, known, shirley, bell, american, radio, actress, best, known, voice, little, orphan, annie, eponymous, radio, show, bornshirley, adrienne, bell. Shirley Adrienne Bell Cole February 21 1920 another source says 1921 1 January 12 2010 also known as Shirley Bell was an American radio actress best known as the voice of Little Orphan Annie in the eponymous radio show Shirley Bell ColeBornShirley Adrienne BellFebruary 21 1920or February 21 1921 1 DiedJanuary 12 2010 age 89 OccupationActressYears active1930 1940SpouseIrwin Cole Contents 1 Early years 2 Radio 3 Family 4 Later years 4 1 Book 4 2 Commercials 5 Death 6 See also 7 ReferencesEarly years EditBorn Shirley Adrienne Bell in Chicago s South Side she grew up in various apartments as her family endured the Depression Her mother was described as the consummate stage mother while her father left the family when Shirley was a toddler 2 She attended Lake View High School in Chicago 3 Radio EditCole was first heard on radio at age 6 as a member of the WGN Players 2 Beginning when she was 10 years old Bell was the primary voice actress of the character Little Orphan Annie from 1930 to 1940 4 5 except for a brief time when a problem with her contract kept her out 6 She also was on Captain Midnight in the role of Patsy 6 In 1995 Bell was heard in a reenactment of Little Orphan Annie on Chuck Schaden s Those Were the Days radio show Family EditShe quit acting in 1940 and married Irwin Cole an automobile dealer 7 He was born in Chicago Illinois where the couple raised three daughters Randy Cathy and Lory 7 in the affluent Chicago suburb Glencoe Irwin Cole died in 1998 5 Later years EditBook Edit She authored Acting Her Age My Ten Years as a Ten Year Old My Memories as Radio s Little Orphan Annie Stinehour Press 2005 Designed by Susan Cox the book won Best in Show Crystal Book Award of Excellence at the Chicago Book and Media Show and a Silver Award in Fine Editions at the Gold Ink Awards Commercials Edit In the 1970s Cole recorded voice overs for television commercials 6 Death EditCole died in Arizona January 12 2010 She was survived by three daughters and three grandchildren A memorial service was held in Chicago Illinois February 21 2010 8 See also EditLittle Orphan AnnieReferences Edit a b DeLong Thomas A 1996 Radio Stars An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers 1920 through 1960 McFarland amp Company Inc ISBN 978 0 7864 2834 2 P 28 a b Hevesi Dennis February 4 2010 Shirley Bell Cole at age 89 played Little Orphan Annie Boston Globe Retrieved 16 November 2015 Jensen Trevor January 26 2010 Shirley Bell Cole 1920 2010 Radio voice behind Little Orphan Annie Chicago Tribune Retrieved 16 November 2015 Hevesi Dennis Shirley Bell Cole the Voice of Little Orphan Annie Dies at 89 The New York Times January 30 2010 a b Jensen Trevor Shirley Bell Cole dies at 89 radio voice of Little Orphan Annie Los Angeles Times January 27 2010 dead link a b c Comic strip s Annie gets network niche Galesburg Register Mail July 1 1977 p 12 Retrieved May 5 2015 via Newspapers com a b Wolters Larry February 18 1956 They Say Chicago Tribune p 2 Retrieved 7 May 2015 Shirley Bell Cole Chicago Tribune January 31 2010 Retrieved 16 November 2015 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Shirley Bell Cole amp oldid 1074601459, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
