American actress
Not to be confused with
Geena Davis
, an American actress born Virginia Elizabeth Davis.
Virginia Davis
|
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Davis in 1924
|
Born
| (
1918-12-31
)
December 31, 1918
|
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Died
| August 15, 2009
(2009-08-15)
(aged 90)
|
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Burial place
| Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City
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Occupation
| Actress
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Years active
| 1923?1946
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Spouse
|
Robert McGhee
(
m.
1943; died 2002)
|
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Children
| 2
|
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Awards
| Disney Legends
(1998)
[1]
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Virginia Davis
(December 31, 1918 ? August 15, 2009) was an American child actress in films. She is best known for working with
Walt Disney
and
Ub Iwerks
on the animated short series
Alice Comedies
, in which she portrayed the protagonist Alice.
Biography
[
edit
]
Davis was born on December 31, 1918, in
Kansas City, Missouri
.
[2]
Her father, a furniture salesman, was often away on business.
[3]
Alice Comedies
[
edit
]
Davis began working for
Walt Disney
's Kansas City company,
Laugh-O-Gram Studio
, in 1923.
[2]
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.
[4]
During this time, Davis resided at the
La Brea
Apartments in Hollywood, California.
The Greater Glory
[
edit
]
In 1925, Davis played the role of Resi in
The Greater Glory
, a
First National Pictures
production. The film's director, Curt Rehfeld, remarked that Davis "... has the technique of a finished artist, the unusual ability to follow direction and the disposition of an angel. Not once during the picture was it necessary for me to explain any angle twice and, with all of her mature understanding, the youthful charm still remains, making a rare and appreciated combination."
While filming
The Greater Glory
, Davis signed a contract with
Harry Carey
and the two actors worked together in
The Man From Red Gulch
(1925).
The Blue Bird
[
edit
]
In December 1929, Davis was in the cast of
The Blue Bird
at the
Pasadena Playhouse
. The fairy play included Janet Horning, a child actress who was only two years old. The cast included 150 children.
Retirement
[
edit
]
Recalling her work on the
Alice Comedies
, Davis said, "It was a great time ? full of fun, adventure, and 'let's pretend.' I adored and idolized Walt, as any child would. He would direct me in a large manner with great sweeping gestures. One of my favorite pictures was
Alice's Wild West Show
. I was always the kid with the curls, but I was really a tomboy, and that picture allowed me to act tough. I took great joy in that."
[2]
[5]
Over the next 20 years, she went on to work at other Hollywood studios as a child actress and, later, as a supporting actress. She sang, danced, and acted in such films as
Flying Down to Rio
(1933),
Young and Beautiful
(1934),
College Holiday
(1936),
Vivacious Lady
(1938),
[
citation needed
]
Three on a Match
(1932),
Week-End in Havana
(1941),
Song of the Islands
(1942) and
The Harvey Girls
(1946) among others. On several occasions, she used the screen name Mary Daily,
[
citation needed
]
and appeared in such films as
Hands Across the Rockies
(1941) with cowboy star
Bill Elliott
. During her Hollywood tenure, she also occasionally worked for her old boss,
Walt Disney
, did a vocal test for
Snow White
, voiced some supporting characters in
Pinocchio
and served a short stint in the Disney Studio's Ink-and-Paint department.
[2]
Personal life
[
edit
]
In 1943, she married Navy aviator Robert McGhee, and the couple had two daughters. During their 59-year marriage, they resided in New Jersey, Connecticut, Southern California, and Idaho. Over a 25-year period, Davis worked as a real estate agent mostly in the
Irvine, California
and
Boise, Idaho
areas.
[2]
Death
[
edit
]
After a year of failing health, Davis-McGhee died of natural causes in her home in
Corona, California
on August 15, 2009, aged 90.
[2]
[3]
Awards
[
edit
]
In 1998, Davis received a
Disney Legends
award for Animation.
[1]
Partial filmography
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
a
b
"Virginia Davis"
.
D23: The Official Disney Fan Club
. Archived from
the original
on July 4, 2022
. Retrieved
July 4,
2022
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
f
Sibley, Brian
(August 21, 2009).
"Child star of the Alice comedies that launched Walt Disney's career"
.
The Guardian
. Archived from
the original
on July 5, 2022
. Retrieved
July 5,
2022
.
- ^
a
b
Martin, Douglas (August 21, 2009).
"Virginia Davis McGhee, Early Disney Star, Dies at 90"
.
New York Times
. Archived from
the original
on July 5, 2022
. Retrieved
July 5,
2022
.
- ^
The Hand Behind the Mouse: The Ub Iwerks Story
,
Leslie Iwerks
,
Walt Disney Pictures
, 1999
- ^
Mclellan, Dennis (August 20, 2009).
"Virginia Davis dies at 90; played Alice in early Disney short comedies"
.
Los Angeles Times
. Archived from
the original
on July 5, 2022
. Retrieved
July 5,
2022
.
Further reading
[
edit
]
- Los Angeles Times
, "New Members of Players' Club", April 20, 1924, p. J3
- Los Angeles Times
, "Older Sisters' Art Emulated", August 23, 1925, p. 20
- Los Angeles Times
, "Tiny Actress in Blue Bird", December 29, 1929, p. 20
- Los Angeles Times
, "Around And About in Hollywood", March 24, 1934, p. 7
External links
[
edit
]
Awards for Virginia Davis
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1990
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1991
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1992
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1993
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1994
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1995
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1996
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1997
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- Lucien Ades*
- Angel Angelopoulos*
- Antonio Bertini
- Armand Bigle
- Gaudenzio Capelli
- Roberto de Leonardis
*
- Cyril Edgar*
- Wally Feignoux*
- Didier Fouret
- Mario Gentilini*
- Cyril James*
- Horst Koblischek
- Gunnar Mansson
- Arnoldo Mondadori
*
- Armand Palivoda*
- Poul Brahe Pedersen*
- Joe Potter
*
- Andre Vanneste*
- Paul Winkler
*
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1998
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1999
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2000
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2001
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2002
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2003
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2004
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2005
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2006
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2007
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2008
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2009
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International
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National
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Other
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