Meet Marge Champion: The Model For Snow White
Ranked #8,468 in Entertainment, #105,215 overall
Marge Champion WAS Snow White
When Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was produced, it was known as Disney's Folly because it was the first full-length animated movie ever made. Walt Disney went ahead and made it despite the controversy. He spared no expense and the movie went on to become one of Disney's most famous movies, to make plenty of money and to help create the Disney Studio we all know and love today.
How much was Marge Champion paid for being the model for Snow White? Does it seem adquate? Marge Champion is the REAL LIFE Snow White.
Fast Facts About Marge Champion
- BORN: (September 2, 1919)
- MARRIED: Thrice
- MOST FAMOUS FOR: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
- OTHER CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Blue Fairy in Pinocchio, Dancing Hippo in Fantasia. Dance movies with husband included Lovely to Look At (1952), Show Boat (1951), Everything I Have Is Yours and The Marge and Gower Champion Show (1957).
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Marge Champion As Snow White on a fantastically remastered blu-ray disc or DVD.
When you watch Snow White's intricate, graceful movements of fingers, arms, and head all in one shot, it is not the technical brilliance of Disney's artists that leaps out at you, but the very spirit of her engaging, girl-woman character.
It's a crowning achievement and should not be missed." -Tom Keogh
Click here to order your copy of
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
from Amazon.
How much do you think Marge Champion was paid for modeling and dancing as Snow White?
Marge Champion's Story
An interesting three-minute video in which you can meet the MODEL for Snow White.
An Interview With Marge Champion
- Marge Champion Goes Back with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
"Well, when you're 13 or 14 years old, you really don't analyze things that way. I had a job where I made $10 a day, two or three times a month and that was all I was concerned with (Laughs). I know that everybody thought it was a pipe dream of "Uncle Walt" that we were going to have a full-length motion picture that was actually going to move people. I don't even know if he believed it, but all I know was that it was very dangerous, financially, for them, because at the same time they wouldn't have been able to continue doing the Silly Symphonies or Mickey Mouse, because they were shorts and they didn't make much money out of them. I don't think anyone knew until opening night on December 21, 1937, that it was going to be a smash." ~ Marge Champion- Marge Belcher Champion, the Secret Weapon Behind Disney's Snow White
"Marge only spent about three days a month on the Disney lot -- after all, she was still attending Hollywood High. She did, however, earn enough money ("the magnificent sum of ten dollars a day") to buy herself a Model A to drive herself to the lot for later work as the Blue Fairy model in Pinocchio, and one of the models for the dancing Hippo in Fantasia."
Do you think Marge Champion was paid enough for being the model for Snow White?
(Now that you know how much she was paid, here's some background information...)
Marge Champion is known today as a dancer, choreographer and teacher. It appears that she was not subject to the restrictions that Walt Disney placed upon the young lady, Adriana Caselotti, who was the voice for Snow White. I suppose, since Snow White is an animated movie, it would be virtually impossible to recognize the real life actress from her movements as an animated character, whereas Ms. Caselotti's very distinctive voice would have been quite noticeable if one heard it in another film. She was reportedly paid $10 a day for her modeling and dancing work.
Anyway, Ms. Champion went on to further success. She was used as a model in three Disney movies, including Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio and Fantasia. She later became legendary for her dance work with her second husband as a dance team for MGM during the 1940s and 1950s. They made several films including Roberta, Lovely to Look At, Show Boat and Everything I have is Yours. In 1957, they had a sitcom called The Marge and Gower Champion Show.
Ms. Champion has also co-authored two books, Catch the New Wind and God is A Verb. Considered 'retired' now she works as both a dance teacher and a choreographer in New York. In 1982 she made a guest appearance in the television series Fame in which she played a prejudiced ballet teacher and in 2001, she was in a Broadway revival of Follies.
Marge Champion will forever be remembered as the model for Snow White, an iconic Walt Disney character.
SOUND OFF: DID WALT DISNEY ROB MARGE CHAMPION?
Here's your chance to have your say...
So what do YOU think? Did Walt Disney ROB Marge Champion when he paid her $10 per day?
Yes, I think...
prosperity66 says:
Aren't $10 in the beginning of the last century $200 or even much much more today?
No way, Monkeybrains!
Susan52 says:
Ten dollars a day actually sounds generous for that long ago.
Marge Champion on eBay
There are not as many signed Marge Champion pieces available as there are Adriana Caselotti pieces. Possibly because the 'voice' of Snow White, Adriana Caselotti, eventually sold her autograph.
Marge Champion Animated and Dance Movies
More Snow White Reading
Was Marge Champion the definitive Snow White?
Picture from Life Magazine, 1938.
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Susan52
Jan 13, 2011 @ 12:51 pm | delete
- What memories Marge Champion has! It's so wonderful that she has lived such a long life, obviously enjoying the memories from her experience.
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tandemonimom Jan 12, 2011 @ 9:28 pm | delete
- I love this type of trivia!
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prosperity66 Jan 10, 2011 @ 8:25 am | delete
- Thank you!
I always thought Snow White character looked human... Now I know why ;)
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SereneSea Jan 9, 2011 @ 12:48 pm | delete
- She looks quite cute and perfect for Snow white.
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stargazer00
Jan 9, 2011 @ 10:56 am | delete
- Interesting to learn some of the history behind this famous movie.
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raphaelo
Jan 9, 2011 @ 10:54 am | delete
- Always love all of your Snow White lenses. You make me surprised with your cool Snow White information that I've ever know before. Thanks for sharing :)
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pkmcr Jan 9, 2011 @ 10:51 am | delete
- Absolutely fascinating. I knew there was a model for Snow White but had no idea that it was this lady - so great to learn about her.
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by Treasures-By-Brenda
Marge Champion was the real life model Snow White for Walt Disney. Learn more about her, her career and her pay check for this role. Snow White was th... more »
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