Ann Gillis
Born Alma Mabel Conner
in Little Rock, Arkansas
on February 12, 1927
Ann Gillis had appeared in some 20 movies by the time she was 12-years-old, but Warner Brothers' hopes that she would become another Shirley Temple never materialized. Shirley Temple was cast as a sweet little girl who loved everyone, and for the most part Warner Brothers gave Ann Gilis roles as a spoiled brat, thus ruining any chance she might have had.
The photo above shows fan Martha Ann del Valle (Left) with Jane Isbell, Ann's stand-in (center) Ann Gillis (Right) and J. Farrell Macdonald during the filming of Little Orphan Annie. Martha Ann del Valle is a descendant of an old California family. Del Valle Regional Park near Livermore is named after them.
