Marcella

Marcella appearing in the original books with Raggedy Ann

**Marcella** is Raggedy Ann's "little mistress" and main caretaker of the dolls. She was based on the real life Marcella Delight Gruelle, whose father Johnny Gruelle hoped to keep alive through the Raggedy Ann books after her untimely death in 1915. Since then, Marcella has appeared in just about every form of Raggedy media, including more recent content.

## Background

### Stage

In the many stage adaptations, Marcella is very similar to her appearances in the books or 1977 film.

In the 1983 and 1984 musicals however, her part is much more central and she sees a lot more development. Unfortunately, not much is yet known about the plot of the 1983 musical. In the 1984 Gibson/Raposo *Raggedy Ann* or *Rag Dolly*, Marcella is heavily based on Gruelle's daughter down to a factor most adaptations leave out, that she is deathly ill. Her father is a poor tailor and her mother has left the family to run off with another man, and she waits on her deathbed as Poppa scrounges together his last pennies to pay for her treatment.

## Appearances

### Books

* My Very Own Fairy Stories (1917)
* Raggedy Ann Stories (1918)
* Raggedy Andy Stories (1920)
* Raggedy Ann and Andy and the Camel with the Wrinkled Knees (1924)
* Marcella: A Raggedy Ann Story (1929)
* Raggedy Ann's Picture Book (1940)
* The New Funnies (1942-1946)
* Raggedy Ann Picture-Story Book (1947)
* Raggedy Ann's Adventure (1947)
* Raggedy Ann and Marcella's First Day At School (1952)
* Raggedy Ann's Merriest Christmas (1952)
* Raggedy Ann and Andy Gold Key Comics (1971) (Issues #1-6)
* Raggedy Ann and Andy and the Rainy-Day Circus (1973)
* Raggedy Ann and Friends Cardbook set (1974)
* Raggedy Ann and Andy on the Farm (1975)
* Raggedy Ann at the Carnival (1977)
* Raggedy Ann and Andy Go Flying (1980)
* Raggedy Ann and Andy and the Tunnel of Lost Toys (1980)
* Raggedy Ann's Nighttime Rescue (1987)
* Raggedy Ann and Andy's Grow and Learn Library (1988)
	+ v01: Sunny Bunny Comes Home
	+ v02: Little Bear's Problem
	+ v03: Sam Lamb Moves Away
	+ v04: Raggedy Dog to the Rescue
	+ V06: Babette's Scary Night
	+ V08: Grouchy Bear's Parade
	+ V09: The Box of Tricks
	+ V11: The Jack-In-The-Box
	+ V12: Play Ball!
	+ V13: The Play in the Attic
	+ V16: The Sleepover
	+ V17: The Birthday Surprise
* Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy's Department Store Caper (1988)
* Raggedy Ann & Andy: Old Friends, New Friends (2000)

### Film & TV

* Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure (1977)
* Snowden: Raggedy Ann & Andy's Adventure (1998)
* Raggedy Ann and Andy and the Camel with the Wrinkled Knees (1988)
* The Adventures of Raggedy Ann and Andy (1988-1990)

### Stage

* Raggedy Ann and Andy (1972) [Gar Hildenbrand]
* The Adventures of Raggedy Ann and Andy (1976) [Lyla Hay Owen] (Off-stage voice only)
* Raggedy Ann and Andy in Cookieland (1977) [Lyla Hay Owen] (Off-stage voice only)
* Raggedy Ann and Andy (1981) [Patricia Thackray] (Off-stage voice only)
* Raggedy Ann and Andy (1983) [Tim Mason/Joe Raposo]
* Raggedy Ann/Rag Dolly (1984-1986) [William Gibson/Joe Raposo]
* Raggedy Ann & Andy (1987) [Constance Congdon]

### Albums

* Raggedy Ann & Andy's Dance Party (1980)
* Raggedy Ann & Andy: Birthday Party (1980)
* Raggedy Ann & Andy's Alphabet & Numbers (1980)
* Raggedy Ann: The Musical (Demos) (1985)
* Raggedy Ann & Andy: Treasures from the Heart (2003)

### Read-Along Stories

* Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy (1979)
* Raggedy Ann Learns a Lesson (1979)
* Raggedy Ann & Andy's Rainy Day Songs & Games (1980)
* Raggedy Ann's Birthday Party (1980)
* Raggedy Ann & Andy's Alphabet (1980)
* Raggedy Ann & Andy: At the Circus (1981)