Virginia Davis was born on December 31, 1918, in Kansas City, Missouri, to a family with a father who spent much time away from home, often leaving his wife, Margaret, to focus all her attention on their young daughter. This led to Virginia being enrolled in dancing lessons and modeling auditions at the tender age of two. With her striking features, long curls, and charming personality, she soon began appearing in advertisements that played between films in local theaters.
As a child, Virginia entered Georgie Brown's Dramatic School in Kansas City, where she studied drama and dance, honing her skills and preparing herself for a future in the performing arts. Her big break came in the summer of 1923, when 22-year-old Walt Disney, a struggling but ambitious director, saw her in an advertisement in a Kansas City theater and immediately decided to hire her.
Disney contacted Margaret Davis, who was eager to advance her daughter's career, and the two began working together on the first short film of the Alice series, Alice's Wonderland (1923). Filmed at the Davis home in Kansas City, the film marked Disney's first live appearance in one of his own cartoons, as did Margaret Davis's brief appearance alongside her daughter.
After filming, Disney returned to Hollywood and began building his movie empire with only forty dollars and one short film starring little Virginia Davis. The Davis family soon followed Disney to Hollywood, although their daughter's career was not the only reason for the move; Virginia had suffered a series of health problems, including pneumonia, and her doctor told her parents that she would be healthier in a drier, warmer climate.
Virginia signed her first contract with Disney for a salary of $100 a month and began filming the Alice shorts in Walt Disney's first studio, his uncle's garage. Her brother-in-law, Roy O. Disney, was the cameraman, and the Disney family dog, Peggy, appeared in many of the films. The Alice shorts became very popular, providing Disney with his first national success.
However, as the series progressed, Disney became more interested in the animation aspect, which minimized Virginia's live-action role; she only made about thirteen of the Alice shorts before her contract was severed. She later auditioned for the role of voice of Snow White in Disney's film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937),but her mother refused to accept the frugal salary.
Virginia had some small roles in full-length films, including The Harvey Girls (1946),before she left acting to earn a degree from the New York School of Interior Design. She later became an editor for the 1950s magazine "Living for Young Homemakers" and worked for real estate agents in Connecticut and later California.
In 1992, interest was renewed in the Alice series, and Virginia, living in retirement in Montana, was suddenly overwhelmed by the number of fans seeking to honor her and the remarkable role she played in the birth of Walt Disney Studios. She was the guest of honor at the Pordenone Silent Film Festival in Italy in 1992 and was inducted as a Disney Legend in 1998.
Virginia also became very active in silent film festivals and events at Disneyland and Walt Disney World, ensuring that her legacy continued to be celebrated for generations to come.
