Virginia Davis (star of the orginal Alice silent shorts) has died at the age of 90.
Davis began working for Walt Disney's Kansas City company, Laugh-O-Gram Studio, in the summer of 1924. She was hired to act in a film called Alice's Wonderland, which combined live action with animation. When Laugh-O-Gram failed and Disney moved to Los Angeles, on the basis of Alice's Wonderland Winkler Pictures signed Disney for a series known as the Alice Comedies, or Alice In Cartoonland. Disney convinced Davis' family to bring her from Missouri to Los Angeles to star in the series. During this time, Davis resided at the La Brea Apartments in Hollywood, California.
Over time, one of the characters named Julius (a Felix the Cat rip off) began to steal the show. And, as Walt Disney focused more on the animation, Alice's (and thereby Virginia's role) was reduced. Eventually, Virginia was replaced by Dawn O'Day, Margie Gay, and Lois Hardwick. Eventually, Disney abandoned the films altogether to focus on Mickey Mouse and his Silly Symphonies.
Davis gave up acting after her roles "Alice" films concluded with "Alice In The Jungle" in 1925. By 1934, she was performing as a dancer. She had uncredited roles as a chorus girl in Murder at the Vanities (1934) and College Holiday (1936), among others.
Davis also did voice testing for a role in Snow White as well as some of the little boys' voices in Pinocchio, but was not hired. She was inducted as a Disney Legend in 1998.
In 2005, Davis was interviewed by Leonard Maltin for the Walt Disney Treasures Disney Rarities. Davis also made a rare final appearance at the annual Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention in September 2007.
Disney Studios spokesman Howard Green says Davis passed away at her home Saturday in Corona, Calif., from natural causes.
She will be remembered as Walt Disney's first actress.
Davis began working for Walt Disney's Kansas City company, Laugh-O-Gram Studio, in the summer of 1924. She was hired to act in a film called Alice's Wonderland, which combined live action with animation. When Laugh-O-Gram failed and Disney moved to Los Angeles, on the basis of Alice's Wonderland Winkler Pictures signed Disney for a series known as the Alice Comedies, or Alice In Cartoonland. Disney convinced Davis' family to bring her from Missouri to Los Angeles to star in the series. During this time, Davis resided at the La Brea Apartments in Hollywood, California.
Over time, one of the characters named Julius (a Felix the Cat rip off) began to steal the show. And, as Walt Disney focused more on the animation, Alice's (and thereby Virginia's role) was reduced. Eventually, Virginia was replaced by Dawn O'Day, Margie Gay, and Lois Hardwick. Eventually, Disney abandoned the films altogether to focus on Mickey Mouse and his Silly Symphonies.
Davis gave up acting after her roles "Alice" films concluded with "Alice In The Jungle" in 1925. By 1934, she was performing as a dancer. She had uncredited roles as a chorus girl in Murder at the Vanities (1934) and College Holiday (1936), among others.
Davis also did voice testing for a role in Snow White as well as some of the little boys' voices in Pinocchio, but was not hired. She was inducted as a Disney Legend in 1998.
In 2005, Davis was interviewed by Leonard Maltin for the Walt Disney Treasures Disney Rarities. Davis also made a rare final appearance at the annual Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention in September 2007.
Disney Studios spokesman Howard Green says Davis passed away at her home Saturday in Corona, Calif., from natural causes.
She will be remembered as Walt Disney's first actress.
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