Interview with Annie Oakley!

Courtney, Kayla, and Lyndsey

Reporter: Hello, Annie Oakley. How are you doing?



Annie: Quite good, thank you. But so much is different in these modern times than it was back when I was famous.



Reporter: Oh, really? How different? Please explain.



Annie: Well, let me think for a moment, if you will. Well, for one thing, we have all these fancy modern technology. Such as electricity, is that what it's called?



Reporter: Yes, yes it is. So, Annie, what do you think about 'cars'?



Annie: Well, it seems that we have have made leaps and bounds when it comes to getting around. Why, you can be in one place one minute, and in another minute, the next!



Reporter: (Laughing) I see how it would be a bit overwhelming to you.



Annie: Yes, exactly.



Reporter: Please tell us about your childhood.



Annie: Well, all right, I suppose. I had a hard childhood. My mother married and remarried three different times, it seemed as if every time i turned around I had a different father.



Reporter: Were your parents not good to you?



Annie: Well, after marrying so many times, my mother had a lot of children-



Reporter: You were the fifth out of seven, were you not?



Annie: Yes, yes that's right.



Reporter: And then...



Annie: My mother had to send me to a farm, where I was then abused mentally and physically.



Reporter: So that was a hard time for you, right?



Annie: I would say so, yes. But, it actually helped me shape who I am right now. I had to provide meat for my family, what with my father, unable to help.



Reporter: So, you think it's a good thing that you had such a traumatic childhood?



Annie: In a way, yes, yes I do think. I suppose I would have been just fine without being abused, but, I suppose it helped me become who I was.



Reporter: All right, moving on. Tell me about the start of your career.



Annie: After the poverty following the death of my fathers, I decided I needed to make a place in the world for me. I had to quit school early, to provide for my struggling family, and my sharp-shootedness spread throughout the town.



Reporter: You mean you became famous in your town?



Annie: Yes, that's it exactly.



Reporter: I hear you made enough from hunting to pay off your mother's mortgage on her house. Is this true?



Annie: (Blushing) Well, I don't want to to take all the credit...but, yes, it was all me.



Reporter: I see. Well, how did your career launch?





Annie: Well, like I said, I hunted and became well known in my region. Then, I traveled to my first sharp-shooting contest. I beat the man I was going up against, and then I ended up marrying him!


Reporter: Oh, how sweet.


Annie: Yes, well, continuing on, if you don't mind.


Reporter: Why, um, yes of course.


Annie: Well, it all my career exploded as soon as I started working with Frankie. It started out that I was his assistant, then we both agreed that I was a much better marksman.


Reporter: Markswoman, you mean.


Annie: Whatever you say, you're the professional.


Reporter: Exactly. What happened then?


Annie: Well, then everything fell into place. It was just a happy time for me. Everything was going well, I could shoot a cigarette out of a person's mouth-


Reporter: I hear you shot a cigarette out the the Crown Prince of Germany's mouth. True?


Annie: Oh, yes, yes, yes. That was one of the highest moments in my life.


Reporter: I'd imagine so, Mrs. Oakley.


Annie: (Laughing) No need for flatter, really.


Reporter: Of course. So, did you and Frank ever have any children?


Annie: Oh, goodness, no! The little scoundrels!? I'd have rather perished!


Reporter: Why ever not?


Annie: I suppose it had something to do with my childhood. I was abused, you know, mentally and physically.


Reporter: Why would that have anything to do with having children of your own? I mean, wouldn't that make you want to be an even better mother for yourself?


Annie: That's not how it works.


Reporter: And why not?


Annie: It's just not.


Reporter: (Clearing throat) Well, I can see that that's a rather sensitive subject for you-


Annie: Slightly.


Reporter: So, we'll just move on to the next question. Have you been to the "Annie Oakley Days Festival" in Greenville , Ohio?


Annie: No, and I must say, I wish I could have the pleasure.


Reporter: If you do happen to check it out, would you sign up for the karaoke contest?


Annie: Most positively! Where else would I be but singing my ode to sharp-shooting?


Reporter: I see.


Annie: Any more questions? I'm getting rather tired. I am, after all 148.


Reporter: Oh, oh of course. I'd forgotten your age.


Annie: Well, I haven't.


Reporter: Just one more question.


Annie: Yes?


Reporter: Was it terrifying going through a major train-crash?


Annie: Oh, gracious. More than anything. Well, other than being mentally and physically abused, of course.


Reporter: Of course.