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Marge Champion in her Snow White finery.
Marge Champion in her Snow White finery.
Disney's First Princess Remembers
Becoming Snow White


A graceful young girl twirls across the screen, and movie magic is born. The girl on the screen is Snow White, and the movie in which she appears, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" will make screen history – Disney's first full-length animated feature, a box-office phenomenon, and proof that animation could also be great art.

But behind the fictional dancing princess was a very real girl. Marge Champion was only 13 when she was interviewed to become the live-action model for Disney's first Princess, dancing and acting on film so that the animators could study her movements and make Snow White seem as real as possible on-screen. Now, with "Snow White and Seven Dwarfs" being re-released in a restored Diamond Edition — October 6 on Disney Blu-ray and November 24 on Disney DVD, we sat down and spoke with Marge Champion about modeling Snow White, working with Walt Disney, and coming of age at the Walt Disney Studios. Below, in her own words, is ...
CONTINUED BELOW

DO YOU KNOW DISNEY?
Question: Who presented Walt Disney with his special Oscars® (one big statuette and seven little ones) in 1939?
Answer: Child star Shirley Temple presented the awards.

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This week, we have reason to celebrate -- well, 101 reasons, to be precise! Because on March 4, "101 Dalmatians" debuts as a Platinum Edition DVD, in a beautiful digital restoration loaded with specia...
"Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln" let Guests experience a meeting with the great President. Hail to the Chief at the Happiest Place on Earth -- February 26, 2008
Since it first opened Disneyland has been a genuine American institution - and so have the Disney Parks that followed. So it should come as no surprise that the history of another American institution...
Collector Terry Higgins shows off his spectacular Haunted Mansion pin collection. Big Pin Hunting at Disney -- February 19, 2008
Ask any Disney Pin enthusiast and they'll confess there's no sweeter jackpot than scoring that elusive, must-have pin from the most magical place on Earth -- Disney Theme Parks. The amazing camaraderi...
How do YOU define romance? Find out! Who's Your Disney Dream Date? -- February 12, 2008
Looking for the perfect love match this Valentine's Day? Take our quiz to see which Disney Character best suits your personality, then celebrate with flowers, chocolate, and your favorite heartthrob! ...
Dorothea Redmond's exquisitely detailed renderings come to life in the Dream Suite. 50 Years Later, a Dream Comes True -- February 5, 2008
As the Year of a Million Dreams continues, the surprises keep coming. And nothing could be more surprising than the latest "dream come true" -- because the dreamer was Walt Disney himself! Walt had or...
Sophisticated restaurant Palo is the perfect spot for a grown-up getaway. Adults Afloat -- January 31, 2008
It's no secret that a Disney cruise can be the perfect getaway for a family traveling with kids - activities, tropical islands, and Disney Characters are just a few of the elements on a cruise that al...
Inspired by Jasmine's Bohemian spirit, this is the most requested dress in the collection. Fairy-Tale Gowns for Real-Life Brides -- January 22, 2008
Attentive footmen...pumpkin carriages...a dashing prince. Growing up with classic Disney animated films leaves many little girls dreaming of their wedding, where they get to be a princess for a day. ...
Although it wasn't always easy, "Snow White," like its heroine, has lived happily ever after. Snow White Turns 70 -- January 15, 2008
In 1937, movies cost a dime and the country was in the depths of the Great Depression. Radio was an exciting new phenomenon, while TV was hardly a gleam on the horizon. And a young princess was about ...
See if you have the right stuff for a Disney dream job. Put Fun on Your Resume -- January 8, 2008
For many fans, a Disney job is the ultimate fantasy of them all. Think you have what it takes to make the magic? This year, you have the opportunity to prove it to the world. There's a very special ...
Resolve to join the Year of a Million Dreams. Resolve to Have the Best Vacation Ever in 2008 -- January 1, 2008
With the new year at hand, many of us are making resolutions. This year, rather than resolving to begin another diet or keep the checkbook register up to date, why not resolve to have fun? Planning yo...
Happy U Year A New Year's Created by Kids -- December 25, 2007
This New Year, Disney Channel is going, not to the dogs, but to the kids. Young viewers have spoken, and New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, they'll be watching their favorite episodes of Disney Channe...
Star Nicolas Cage, producer Jerry Bruckheimer, and director Jon Turteltaub contemplate. Behind the Book of Secrets -- December 18, 2007
"Around Thanksgiving or Christmas, it's nice to be able to enjoy a movie with your entire family -- one that kids and grandparents and everyone can go to," says Jerry Bruckheimer. And that is the film...
Mickey and Minnie share the holiday spirit. A Very Disney Christmas -- December 11, 2007

Disney and the holidays have always been a natural match: they're both about magic, fun, and families. It's not surprising that from the very beginning, the holiday spirit has had a home at Disney....

Captain Jack beckons you and your pirate crew to adventure! Sail the Virtual Seas as a Pirate Bold -- December 4, 2007

Ah, the life of a buccaneer! The danger, the excitement, the loot -- and the freedom. The call of the open sea is irresistible, even for armchair adventurers who would never hoist a flag or swing a...

Sierra Boggess becomes part of Ariel's world. Under the Sea, Onstage at Last -- November 27, 2007
"Ariel is such a beloved Disney Princess -- I always loved her, and all the people who come to the show who I meet afterwards, they just love her. It's because she's so independent and has such a big ...
Amy Adams in one of the magical songs of "Enchanted." Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz brought the music to life. Making Beautiful Music Together – Again -- November 20, 2007

"Enchanted," opening November 21, is many things -- a comedy, an adventure, a spoof, a love story ... and a fairy tale. So perhaps it's appropriate that it brought about a real-life wish come true ...

The Newest Disney Legends Join the Family. The Newest Disney Legends Join the Family -- November 13, 2007

It felt like a family reunion. On October 10, when the 2007 Disney Legends were inducted at the heart of the Disney Studios, there were no paparazzi on the red carpet, and no posh posturing. The cr...

Nicolas Cage and Diane Kruger seek treasure in "National Treasure: Book of Secrets" -- now you can seek it, too! Become an International Treasure Hunter -- Online -- November 6, 2007
The glitter of coins and precious metals ... the thrill of discovery ... the lure of becoming rich overnight. It's no wonder so many of us daydream about finding hidden treasure. And it's one of the r...
The Marrero family exploring Spain on the adventure of a lifetime. A Family Finds Adventure with Disney -- October 30, 2007

"It seems to me that Disney is all about that magic moment - like the fireworks over the castle in Disneyland or Disney World," says 19-year-old Billy Joe Marrero. "And Adventures by Disney really ...

Cuddly Disney Characters ensure Halloween fun without the fright at Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Ten Ways to Spook It Up Disney-Style -- October 23, 2007

It's October and Halloween is in the air. This year, why not take some family-friendly Halloween tips from Disney? We've got some sparkling suggestions for Halloween fun that won't spook the little...

James Marsden in full princely regalia. A Prince of a Guy -- October 16, 2007
They say there are no princes any more, but not too long ago one was walking the streets of Manhattan -- dancing, singing, and bumping into passersby with his puffy princely sleeves.

The roya...
Walt's planned guest suite at Disneyland -- soon to be created at last. Another Year of Dreams to Come! -- October 9, 2007

2007 has seen families entering a fairy-tale realm within the Magic Kingdom to spend a night living like princes and princesses. It's found Guests throughout the Disney Parks gifted with surprises ...

Louis Prima and his band made Making "The Jungle Book" Swing -- October 2, 2007

Like Rodgers & Hammerstein or Lerner and Loewe, Robert and Richard Sherman are one of the great American songwriting duos, with a parade of memorable hits penned for Disney. Sherman brothers' songs...

The Lion King How Well Do You Know Disney Showbiz? -- September 25, 2007
Give our regards to Broadway -- it's a banner year for Disney on the Great White Way. With "The Little Mermaid" coming in November, "Mary Poppins" wowing audiences and critics alike, and "The Lion Kin...
Disney.com Robert Iger Disney.com Among Web Top 10 -- September 18, 2007

Disney.com has been The Walt Disney Company's home on the Internet for more than 10 years – an eternity in Web time, when trends come and go in the blink of an eye. But that doesn't make Disney.com...

A peek behind the scenes at Disneyland is just one of the perks of a Backstage Magic Adventure. Every Day a New Adventure -- September 11, 2007

Most likely right at this moment, somewhere in the world, families are exploring, laughing, and learning. Maybe kids are rolling pastry with an Italian chef, or maybe adventurers are kayaking throu...

The venerable Haunted Mansion is being made spookier than ever! Making the Haunts Even Happier -- September 4, 2007
That old, creepy, uninhabited mansion -- you know, the one where you sometimes hear mysterious sounds and see eerie apparitions? I think something's going on up there. Ever since June, I seem to hear...
These young Princess wannabes make us wonder -- just what IS it about Princesses? The Eternal Allure of the Disney Princess -- August 28, 2007

Ever since "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" first graced the screen in 1937, little girls everywhere have been enchanted by Disney Princesses. But don't be fooled into thinking that these ladies,...

Great Disney Art on Call Great Disney Art on Call -- August 21, 2007

The Walt Disney Company is dotted with archives holding the assembled creative treasures of nearly a century of creativity. From the treasure troves of Feature Animation to the Imagineering Library...

Giselle -- and her dress -- enter the all-too-real world of Manhattan. A Star, Enchanted by "Enchanted" -- August 14, 2007
It's about magic. It's about music. It's about what happens when dreams meet the real world.

But, for "Enchanted" star Amy Adams, it was especially about The Dress.

"Enchanted," com...
Castle Suite Parlor It Could Happen to You! Lucky Dreamers Tell Their Tales -- August 7, 2007
"Nobody ever wins those things. And besides, I certainly wouldn't win." Is that how you feel about sweepstakes, contests, and prizes in general? Many of us do - especially when the prizes are as fabul...
Boone Narr and some furry friends. Underdog Has His Day -- July 31, 2007

This summer, Disney's really going to the dogs. Or, at least, to "Underdog"! The heroic caped canine is soaring on to screens nationwide on August 3, and you'll never look at your pup the same way ...

Father, musician, actor, dancer -- Billy Ray does it all. Billy Ray Cyrus Sees Stars -- July 24, 2007
If there's a Renaissance man in these opening years of the 21st century, Billy Ray Cyrus has got to be it. In addition to his award-winning career as a country music artist, he costars with his daught...
The Drog and the Cabunny are just a few of the cute creatures you can adopt at Disney Game Kingdom Online. Room for Imagination -- July 17, 2007
For every kid who's ever dreamed of having a special place of his or her own, with amazing pets, games to explore, and rooms to decorate in any way imaginable, a new kingdom online has opened its door...
Let your young buccaneers set sail for fun this summer! Plan a Swashbuckling Summer -- July 10, 2007
We're well into summer vacation, and across the land the dread forces are gathering. Wild-eyed, destructive hordes ready to rise up and create chaos wherever they appear – looting and pillaging and sp...
Let the mental fireworks fly! Red, White, and Disney Trivia Challenge! -- July 3, 2007
This Independence Day, let the mental fireworks fly as you tackle some tough trivia. Disneyana and Americana just naturally go together -- Walt himself was a product of the American heartland and disp...
Too many cooks don't spoil the soup in "Ratatouille." Brad Bird Whips Up a Little "Ratatouille" -- June 26, 2007
"You're trying to get a lot of different ingredients to work well together -- that's what moviemaking is. It's very much like cooking and trying to make the ingredients balance just right," says Brad ...
Meet Miley Cyrus The Double Life of Miley Cyrus -- June 19, 2007
"I think everyone has a dream that they want to become. What's cool about 'Hannah Montana' is that it shows that a girl can live her dreams. It might not be becoming a rock star, but they can relate t...
DiveQuest is just one of the possible adventures awaiting Disney Guests. Best-Kept Secrets of the Disney Parks -- June 12, 2007
You've come, you've seen, you've experienced. Every Disney Park has its "must-dos." Soarin' Over California. Mission: SPACE. The Haunted Mansion. Expedition Everest. Pirates of the Caribbean. If you'r...
Disney Family.com offers a world of helpful information for families -- and Disney fans. Keeping the Magic in the Family -- June 5, 2007
Parents looking for information on family dilemmas in this digital age have no problem finding it -- the problem is that these days, there's so much information out there that it's hard to know where ...
Remy and Linguini Hanging with the Rat Pack -- May 29, 2007
Mickey and Goofy. Buzz and Woody. Ariel and Flounder. Pinocchio and Jiminy. Marlin and Dory. Both Disney and Pixar have given us many great duos --friends through thick and thin, good times and bad .....
Sao Feng (Chow Yun-Fat) and Capt. Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) -- the more Jack says, the less you should trust him ... At Trilogy's End -- Writing the World of "Pirates" -- May 22, 2007
"How often do you get to watch something that no sane person would ever even attempt to film?" asks Terry Rossio. Thanks to Terry, his writing partner Ted Elliott, and the rest of the team that has cr...
The fleet is almost ready to embark at Disneyland Park. Dive Into Disneyland's Newest Attraction -- May 15, 2007
Behind a wall of secrecy at Disneyland Park, tantalizing sounds have emerged for months now to tease Disney fans. There's something big going on in the old lagoon where the Submarine Voyage once embar...
Warwick and a friend share some "Star Wars" spirit. "Star Wars" Weekends with Star Warwick Davis -- May 8, 2007
For a few weekends every year, Disney/MGM Studios Theme Park becomes an outpost of a galaxy far, far away -- unearthly characters in getups beautiful and bizarre roam the streets, browsers congregate ...
Surprise Mom with a pop-up bouquet, and other Mother's Day delights with a daffy twist. Throw Mom a Marvelously Mad Tea Party! -- May 1, 2007
Burned out on the same old brunches and cards for Mother's Day? This year, why not get a little wild, a little funny -- go a little mad, in fact? She'll go crazy for our "Alice in Wonderland" inspired...
Daniel Powter brings his dreams to life on stage. Daniel Powter's Disney Dream Come True -- April 24, 2007
Ever wonder what it would feel like if you were living in "The World You Dreamed of Lately"? Singer/songwriter Daniel Powter should know -- his song "Bad Day" has become an international sensation and...
The adventurers assemble for their voyage to the edges of the Earth -- and beyond -- in "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End." A World of Excitement Approaches -- April 17, 2007
It's looming on the horizon -- the Jolly Roger fluttering from its mast. It's the adventure of the summer. Although it won't make landfall until May 25, anticipation is already growing for "Pirates of...
Sleeping Beauty Castle Short, Shining Moments with Disney -- April 3, 2007
Every day at the Disney Insider, we hear wonderful stories from the biggest Disney fans of all -- you, our readers. We spotlight your tales of Disney Park proposals, lost-and-found children, and helpf...
Director Steve Anderson also played the role of the Bowler Hat Guy. Wilbur and Walt - the Disney Touch in "Meet the Robinsons" -- March 27, 2007
"I've been a fan of Disney ever since I could remember -- dare I say that I was a 'Disney nerd.' I loved everything, but especially animation and Theme Parks. As a kid, I had two dreams -- one of them...
Mike Wazowski is your host for a show full of laughs that's different every time. Peek at the Latest Walt Disney World Attraction -- March 20, 2007
Ever seen Turtle Talk with Crush at Epcot® or Disney's California Adventure Park®? Kids are spellbound as Crush interacts directly with them -- somehow, the big sea turtle knows they're there ...
Young inventor Lewis in "Meet the Robinsons" -- the movie of the future? Looking Deeper into "Meet the Robinsons" and the Future of Film -- March 13, 2007
Phil McNally looks at things a little more deeply than most people do -- but then, that's his job. As the "stereoscopic supervisor" for the upcoming Disney film "Meet the Robinsons," it's his job to b...
Tinker Bell Restored. Tink and Wendy -- Together Again -- March 6, 2007
Fifty-four years ago, a young woman and a young girl met on a large, clammy, empty soundstage to inspire a group of artists to create a masterpiece. The masterpiece was "Peter Pan." The young woman, M...
Big-league action is just one of the attractions at Atlanta Braves Spring Training. Catch the Boys of Summer This Spring -- February 27, 2007
Well, summer may still be a long time off, but you can catch the boys of summer right now, up close and personal -- and take in some glorious greenery and family fun into the bargain. It's all happeni...
The High School Musical Pep Rally gets Wildcats fans whipped up! Get Pepped Up with "High School Musical" Spirit -- February 20, 2007
Just like its spunky online couple, who keep following their dreams past all obstacles, "High School Musical" just won't quit. The Disney Channel original movie has become a genuine pop-culture phenom...
Josh Hutcherson and AnnaSophia Robb found making "Bridge to Terabithia" a great adventure. Friendship and Magic - the Road to "Bridge to Terabithia" -- February 13, 2007
Kids who discover a wonderland where friendship comes first and anything is possible -- that's the heart of the new Disney film "Bridge to Terabithia," which opens this Friday, February 16. And accord...
"Beauty and the Beast" Plan a Sweet Valentine's Evening for the Whole Family -- February 6, 2007
Ah, Valentine's Day -- hearts and flowers, chocolate and champagne, x's and o's. But love doesn't just mean grown-up romance. Parents love kids, children love their parents, and siblings love each oth...
AnnaSophia Robb and Josh Hutcherson in "Bridge to Terabithia." "Bridge to Terabithia" author Katherine Paterson on Seeing the World of Her Book On-Screen -- January 30, 2007
Acclaimed children's author Katherine Paterson has garnered a slew of honors, including two Newbery medals and two National Book Awards among many others, over her long and distinguished career. She h...
Unleash your inner swashbuckler at the Magic Kingdom. Swashbuckling Thrills and Royal Girls -- Now at the Magic Kingdom -- January 23, 2007
Walt Disney World Resort has always been a place where dreams come true. And starting this week, Guests have the chance to live out two of the most popular fantasies around. If you've always wanted be...
The new Disney.com home page is alive with exciting features. Peek Inside the New Disney.com -- January 15, 2007
Big changes are on the way to Disney's Web site, and we wanted our readers to be among the first to get a peek at what's coming, and how you can make the most of all the cool new features. Disney.com...
Let Mickey make your winter merry! Beat the Winter Blahs with Ideas from FamilyFun -- January 9, 2007
The excitement of the winter holidays is over, but Old Man Winter is just getting settled in -- for a long, chilly stay. It can be a hard icy slog to spring, as kids and grown-ups alike get more than ...
Delicious and good for you too -- dining at Disney! Healthy Families Get a Helping Hand for the New Year -- January 2, 2007
This time of year, many of us resolve that it's time to take a hard look at what we're eating, and make some changes for the better. One small piece of the healthy-eating puzzle has gotten a little ea...
Walt the family man reads to his daughters. Walt Disney Family Museum: The Ground Is Broken for a Groundbreaking Place -- December 26, 2006
We are honored to bring our readers some great news -- plans have been announced for on a Walt Disney Family Museum on San Francisco's Presidio. The museum will give new life to a historic building, a...
A cast of hundreds brings We Love a (Walt Disney World Christmas) Parade! -- December 19, 2006
This year's parade will start off with a bang, courtesy of a very special opening number. With a Parade during Disney's Year of a Million Dreams, who better to open things than a group of true America...
Cinderella Bedchamber A Castle Suite Fit for a Princess -- December 12, 2006
For everyone who has ever dreamed of becoming fairy-tale royalty and dwelling in an enchanted castle -- even if only for a night -- the Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort is about to becom...
Happy birthday, Walt! Happy 105th Birthday, Walt! -- December 5, 2006
More than a century ago this week, a young Chicago family welcomed their fourth son into the world. Elias and Flora Disney named their new infant after their pastor, and gave him his father's name fo...
Can you tackle this trivia challenge? Let's Talk Turkey About Trivia -- November 28, 2006
It's time to shake off that Thanksgiving-feast-induced haze and get a good workout! Well, a good mental workout, anyhow. We have more tough Disney trivia questions for you to tackle, this time with a ...
Marines and Voluntears gathered at "The Santa Clause 3" premiere to collect a bounty for Toys for Tots. It's the Most Wonderful Time -- for Toys -- November 21, 2006
Once again, the holidays are upon us -- the gifts, the family gatherings, the good cheer. And once again, The Walt Disney Company is partnering with the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation to help make th...
Epcot is putting on its holiday finery. Time to Talk Turkey at Walt Disney World Resorts -- the Holidays Have Begun! -- November 14, 2006
All around America, Thanksgiving weekend is marked by football, kitchen cleanup, shopping, leftovers for lunch -- and millions of trips to the attic, as families get out their cherished decorations to...
Disney Archivist Dave Smith and a special friend. Dave Smith on Disney -- A to Z and Everything in Between -- November 7, 2006
He's the man who knows it all. The guru of all things Disney. Someone who has met every Disney luminary from Walt Disney (briefly, during a childhood Disneyland trip) to Robert Iger. And the guy who c...
A Haunting History of Disney Halloween Treats A Haunting History of Disney Halloween Treats -- October 31, 2006
Maybe it's because Walt Disney never lost touch with his own inner child, but Halloween -- a favorite holiday for many kids -- and Disney seem like a natural fit. On this Halloween, we thought it woul...
Gavin's Bert with Ashley Brown's practically perfect Mary. Photo Credit: George Holz Chim Chim Cher-ee on Broadway -- October 24, 2006
The new musical previews at Broadway's historic New Amsterdam Theater, ready for its opening on November 16.

The New York show features several revised musical numbers, some changed staging t...
This Mean Queen costume is just the thing for a Villains themed Halloween bash! Plan a Perfectly Villainous Halloween Party -- October 17, 2006
When we went looking for a fresh twist on a Disney-themed Halloween bash, we decided to turn to the baddie that started it all -- the first, possibly worst, Disney Villain. "Snow White"'s Evil Queen h...
Even Minnie Mouse gets in on the collecting fun at a Disney collector event. Creating a Disney Collection to Be Proud of -- October 10, 2006

An ever-growing number of Disney fans have taken the jump to owning a slice of Disney for their own. Whether it's a lanyard full of pins to keep and trade, a portfolio of exquisite original Disney ...

Woody and cowboy Where Dreams Really Do Come True! -- October 4, 2006

The Disney Parks have always been places where dreams come true -- you have only to look at the smiles on Guests' faces to know it. Any theme park offers food, thrills, and fun, but Guests at Disne...

Jodie and Ariel Fall in Love with "The Little Mermaid" All Over Again -- September 26, 2006

A flash of red hair, a flick of translucent fin -- children and dreamers everywhere immediately recognize her as Ariel, the little mermaid. Since 1989, "The Little Mermaid" has enchanted audiences ...

Mickey Pumpkin A Whole New Halloween -- September 19, 2006

This year, Disneyland Resort is full of Halloween treats for little boys and ghouls as it has never been before, with the debut of Disney's HalloweenTime. From September 29 through October 31, Disn...

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FEATURED ARTICLE (CONTINUED)
... what she told us: "My father was Ernest Belcher, the dean of the West Coast dancing masters. A representative of Disney came to my father's dance school and picked three of us out of the class to go to the Disney Studio to be interviewed. I was 13 when they interviewed me, and at the end of junior high school. I didn't hear from them all summer and I had totally forgotten about the interview – then suddenly, in September, when I was 14, I got a call asking me to come to the Studio, because they wanted to fit me into a mock-up of the Snow White costume. I had started high school, so being able to get out a day or two every month and go over to Disney was really a hoot!

"Because cartoon characters have a large head in proportion to their bodies, they had this football helmet with a couple of holes punctured into it and her black hair painted on it for me to wear. By noon, I was practically fainting under those lights with this helmet on and it also inhibited my movement a great deal. So they finally took that off and just put a ribbon around my hair.

"They took motion pictures of me and showed me the sections I was going to do. I continued for over a year and a half, going to the Studio a couple of days a month and working on 'Snow White.' By the time I was 15, they were nearly through. We had Louis Hightower as the Prince, we had Paul Godkin as the Wicked Witch, and a lot of dancers, because only dancers with proper training could really move correctly. They even put me in a big floppy coat, and I did a bunch of stuff for Dopey.

"Everybody thought [the idea of a full-length animated movie] was crazy! But they were in love with it, and so was I -- I was brought up on 'Three Little Pigs' and Mickey Mouse. We just had no idea the success that 'Snow White' would have.

"I went on and did the Blue Fairy in 'Pinocchio' and the hippopotamus in 'Fantasia's Dance of the Hours.' That was a whole different job -- really I was doing the choreography, because they had other models more appropriately sized to actually portray the hippo.

"I can see all of my movements in the character of Snow White! That was the way I moved and the way I danced. The interesting part is, when they first showed me the storyboards, Snow White looked a little more like Betty Boop – little tiny waist and big round eyes with eyelashes. And, by the time they started drawing me, the eyes had become almond-shaped. The hair was not my color, because I was sort of ash-blonde – but everything else, the nose and particularly the waistline, is like me. She was a much more real human character when they finished than she was originally imagined.

"Walt Disney saw me a great deal, and he was very protective of me – I called him Uncle Walt. His daughter Diane had studied for two months with my father. He was a very proper gentleman. I don't remember him coming down to the set very much – I think he viewed all the film, every single day, and would make suggestions to the directors.

"My father let me work for Disney because it was a very safe place for me in show business. I got a little Model A Ford by the time I was 15 because you could get a license then if you had been taught to drive. It only went 40 miles an hour, but at least he didn't have to drive me out to the Hyperion Studios every time they wanted me.

"I think working with Disney gave me a great deal of self-confidence that I probably would not have had. I went to New York when I was 18. It helped me not to feel embarrassed if I was asked to do something eccentric or rather over the top.

"I'm still in touch with the people who are left – there aren't many. It's been an extraordinary event in my life, being in movies and television and all the things that I've done, and it really all stemmed out of my beginnings and training at Disney Studios."
RELATED LINKS
 Relive the magic of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" in its restored glory.
 Get more "Snow White' background from the Disney Archives.
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