The first appearance of the creature we think of as Raggedy Ann had come earlier, in 1910, but only in the background of a drawing of another Gruelle character, Mr. Johnny Gruelle had patented his doll - who did not look much like Raggedy Ann and did not bear that name - the year before, although his first book and dolls did not appear on the market until 1918. But she was 14 then and long past being interested in fairy stories. Gruelle did have a daughter, Marcella, who died in 1916 of mysterious complications from a smallpox vaccination. It was that piece of information that seduced playwright William Gibson and became the germ of his new musical "Raggedy Ann, the Musical Adventure." Licensing agents for Raggedy Ann books and products have used the dying daughter story for well over half a century in their promotion material, and it has been printed as fact in numerous publications. It seems that Johnny Gruelle, the artist and illustrator who created her near the turn of the century, had a little girl who was dying, and he made up stories about her rag doll to entertain her as she lay in pain. By Washington Post Staff Writer August 24, 1986įor most of this century, children and adults alike have been touched by the sentimental story of Raggedy Ann, America's most famous rag doll, who is now about to hit the stage.
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