Annette Funicello

The longtime Encino home of actress and singer Annette Funicello , which was damaged in a fire in March, has sold for $714,250, the Multiple Listing Service shows. Sold as a tear-down, the once 3,376-square-foot house had four bedrooms and three bathrooms. Listing details described the 1960s home as "burnt to the studs. " Funicello, 68, appeared on "The Mickey Mouse Club" (1955-57) as one of the original Mouseketeers and went on to became a teen idol with Frankie Avalon in a series of beach-based party films including "Muscle Beach Party" (1964)

The longtime Encino home of actress and singer Annette Funicello , which was damaged in a fire in March, has sold for $714,250, the Multiple Listing Service shows. Sold as a tear-down, the once 3,376-square-foot house had four bedrooms and three bathrooms. Listing details described the 1960s home as "burnt to the studs. " Funicello, 68, appeared on "The Mickey Mouse Club" (1955-57) as one of the original Mouseketeers and went on to became a teen idol with Frankie Avalon in a series of beach-based party films including "Muscle Beach Party" (1964)

People who claim there's no creativity in music packaging anymore might want to look at the new boxed set collecting some of the late '50s and early '60s recordings of pop icon Annette Funicello. One side of the booklet inside the box is cut in the shape of an hourglass figure, a.k.a. the one Funicello modestly showed off in a celebrated series of silly beach movies in her post-Mousketeer, pre-Skippy days. Funicello, a still-youthful 50, claims that she never had "sex appeal."

Of all of the Valley's contributions to pop culture, Annette Funicello is by far the sprightliest. The Valley is where she grew up, became famous and raised her children. She lives in Encino now, gamely carrying on despite a crippling disease that struck her in middle age. Born in Utica, N.Y., in 1942, she was 4 when her family moved west, settling into a home on Fulcher Avenue in North Hollywood. A bashful child, she had beautiful, dusky features and, it turned out, a lucky star.

America's sweetheart Annette Funicello already knows what her favorite birthday present will be Sunday: the CBS airing of a movie based on her autobiography, "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes: The Annette Funicello Story." "I couldn't think of a better birthday gift than this one," says Funicello via fax. "My 53rd will be one of the most memorable!"

Wondering what Metallica's latest video really meant? Need help with your lyrical deconstructions of the Ozzy Osbourne canon? Ask an expert: Annette Funicello. "It's about someone in a hospital who's nothing but a torso," the former Mouseketeer said of the Metallica anthem, "One." "He's come back from Vietnam so terribly injured, so it really is a very, very poignant song."

Annette's Story: Making her first television appearance since she announced she has multiple sclerosis, Annette Funicello says tonight on "Entertainment Tonight" that "I don't want any pity . . . that was a big fear of mine. I didn't want people to be upset over what has happened to me." Funicello tells interviewer Mary Hart that "everyone feels Annette has grown up in Disneyland . . . she has this wonderful fairy-tale life and nothing bad is supposed to happen to Annette."

Annette Funicello, America's most-famous Mouseketeer and star of a bevy of beach party movies, said today she was never comfortable singing despite a successful recording career. Funicello, 46, and five other original Mouseketeers were at Walt Disney World's MGM Studios this week, shooting an anniversary show. The Mickey Mouse Club, which was resurrected in April, 1989, on the Disney Channel, celebrates its first anniversary next month.

Annette Funicello, one of America's favorite Mouseketeers in her youth, now spends much of her time cheering for standardbreds such as Miskiteer and Mickey's Girl at Los Alamitos. Harness racing is the favorite hobby of the former actress, wife of Los Alamitos trainer-owner Glen Holt. She was in the winner's circle Sunday after Holt's sixth victory of the meet, with Mickey's Girl, a 5-year-old mare pacer.

America's sweetheart Annette Funicello already knows what her favorite birthday present will be Sunday: the CBS airing of a movie based on her autobiography, "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes: The Annette Funicello Story." "I couldn't think of a better birthday gift than this one," says Funicello via fax. "My 53rd will be one of the most memorable!"

People who claim there's no creativity in music packaging anymore might want to look at the new boxed set collecting some of the late '50s and early '60s recordings of pop icon Annette Funicello. One side of the booklet inside the box is cut in the shape of an hourglass figure, a.k.a. the one Funicello modestly showed off in a celebrated series of silly beach movies in her post-Mousketeer, pre-Skippy days. Funicello, a still-youthful 50, claims that she never had "sex appeal."

Annette's Story: Making her first television appearance since she announced she has multiple sclerosis, Annette Funicello says tonight on "Entertainment Tonight" that "I don't want any pity . . . that was a big fear of mine. I didn't want people to be upset over what has happened to me." Funicello tells interviewer Mary Hart that "everyone feels Annette has grown up in Disneyland . . . she has this wonderful fairy-tale life and nothing bad is supposed to happen to Annette."

Of all of the Valley's contributions to pop culture, Annette Funicello is by far the sprightliest. The Valley is where she grew up, became famous and raised her children. She lives in Encino now, gamely carrying on despite a crippling disease that struck her in middle age. Born in Utica, N.Y., in 1942, she was 4 when her family moved west, settling into a home on Fulcher Avenue in North Hollywood. A bashful child, she had beautiful, dusky features and, it turned out, a lucky star.

Annette Funicello, one of America's favorite Mouseketeers in her youth, now spends much of her time cheering for standardbreds such as Miskiteer and Mickey's Girl at Los Alamitos. Harness racing is the favorite hobby of the former actress, wife of Los Alamitos trainer-owner Glen Holt. She was in the winner's circle Sunday after Holt's sixth victory of the meet, with Mickey's Girl, a 5-year-old mare pacer.

Wondering what Metallica's latest video really meant? Need help with your lyrical deconstructions of the Ozzy Osbourne canon? Ask an expert: Annette Funicello. "It's about someone in a hospital who's nothing but a torso," the former Mouseketeer said of the Metallica anthem, "One." "He's come back from Vietnam so terribly injured, so it really is a very, very poignant song."

Annette Funicello, America's most-famous Mouseketeer and star of a bevy of beach party movies, said today she was never comfortable singing despite a successful recording career. Funicello, 46, and five other original Mouseketeers were at Walt Disney World's MGM Studios this week, shooting an anniversary show. The Mickey Mouse Club, which was resurrected in April, 1989, on the Disney Channel, celebrates its first anniversary next month.