Leapin’ Lizards! Lombard celebrating Little Orphan Annie’s birthday week
The Lombard Historical Society is hosting a weeklong celebration for the 100th anniversary of the beloved character Little Orphan Annie.
“Little Orphan Annie's Birthday Week” on July 30 to Aug. 3 will be filled with fun activities, special events, and appearances by some iconic characters. There will be activities for the whole family.
• Join a creative adventure with “Art @ The Peck” at 1 p.m. Tuesday, July 30, at Sheldon Peck Homestead. Make your decoder and find clues around the museum. Decode the message and win a prize.
• Gather at Lilacia Park for a screening of the 1982 classic “Annie” on Wednesday, July 31. The movie starts at sunset (around 8:30 p.m.). Bring a blanket, some snacks, and your family for an evening of fun under the stars. In partnership with the Lombard Park District. Note: Inclement weather before or during the event may cause cancellation.
• Dive into the fascinating process of curating the “Leapin' Lizards! 100 Years of Little Orphan Annie” exhibition with an exclusive behind-the-scenes program at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 1. Join this insider’s look at the dedication and creativity involved in celebrating the 100th anniversary of this beloved icon.
• Enjoy a musical evening with Angela James with “Music on Maple Street” at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2. Her rich, crooning voice is inspired by singers from her upbringing in Tennessee. Her style is reminiscent of artists like Hazel Dickens and Neko Case.
• On Saturday, Aug. 3, celebrate the grand finale of “Little Orphan Annie's Birthday Week” with “Annie's Birthday Bash” starting at noon at 23 W. Maple St. Enjoy Annie-themed activities, face painting, and a slice of birthday cake. The West Suburban Humane Society will be on site with furry friends available for adoption. And the day wouldn’t be complete without appearances by Annie and Daddy Warbucks!
‘Annie throughout the decades’
“Little Orphan Annie,” the brainchild of Harold Gray, has been a source of inspiration and entertainment for people of all ages. Gray resided in Lombard when he first breathed life into this iconic character, and it is our honor to commemorate his extraordinary contribution to the world of comics and storytelling. The “Little Orphan Annie” comic strip first appeared in syndication in The New York Daily News on Aug. 5, 1924.
Of the more than 40 comic strips running at the time, “Little Orphan Annie” became the fourth to feature a female in a prominent role. Defying gender stereotypes, Annie quickly became a beloved and unexpected heroine, known for her many adventures solving crimes alongside her dog Sandy — often persevering through dangerous situations. By the 1930s, “Little Orphan Annie” was one of the most popular strips in syndication.
“Purely as a character, there is a lot to admire and love,” said Lombard Historical Society Executive Director Alison Costanzo. “That is the mere tipping point for Annie’s relevance and why we created ‘Annie’-Versary. There is much to recognize historically and throughout popular entertainment. We hope to showcase the broad reach of Annie throughout the decades.”
Gray was masterful at using Annie to embed his own conservative, political viewpoints, making “Little Orphan Annie” the first nationally syndicated comic with a political perspective. 1930 brought about another first when “Little Orphan Annie“ became the first comic strip to be adapted for radio and first to be aired coast to coast. Written for children and drawing in six million young listeners, it became the biggest and most profitable children’s program of its time.
Gray illustrated the comic strip until his death in 1968, after which it was continued by other cartoonists until its final installment on Sunday, June 13, 2010. The success of the comic strip spawned two film adaptations in the 1930s, a 1977 Broadway musical, a 1982 film adaptation of the Broadway musical, a 1999 made-for-television adaptation, and the 2014 film Annie produced by Jay-Z and Will Smith.
The “Leapin Lizards! A Hundred Years of Little Orphan Annie” continues through Dec. 23. The exhibition features items from the Lombard Historical Society's archives and collection, as well as items on loan from private collections, Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center, Boston University Libraries, Northwestern University Libraries, and digital assets from Purdue University, the Indiana Historical Society, and the James Whitcomb Riley Museum Home & Visitor Center.
The Lombard Historical Society operates the Victorian Cottage Museum, the Carriage House, and the Society’s Archives at 23 W. Maple St., and the Sheldon Peck Homestead (a National Park Service Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Site) at 355 E. Parkside Ave. in Lombard. The Sheldon Peck Homestead hosts activities and groups and is open for tours Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. The Victorian Cottage is open for tours on Fridays and Saturdays at 1, 2 and 3 p.m. only. The Lilac Emporium Gift Shop is open Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information about hours, membership, volunteer, and donor opportunities, visit lombardhistory.org, email info@lombardhistory.org or call (630) 629-1885.
The Lombard Historical Society is a proud recipient of the 2024 Local Tourism Grant which in part has funded the “Annie”-Versary and “Leapin Lizards: A Hundred Years or Little Orphan Annie” Exhibition.
The village of Lombard has established the Local Tourism Grant Program for the purposes of promoting tourism and conventions within, or otherwise attracting overnight nonresident visitors to town. This program will provide funding toward programs and events that exhibit positive tourism potential to the village. The provision of these funds will assist qualified organizations with the promotion of tourism activities that directly increase overnight stays, and create a positive image and build publicity for the village.