The Fabulous Disney Babe
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Marc and Alice Davis
Since tomorrow is Alice Davis day at Disneyland, I gave the retired Imagineer a call and asked about her work on the "it's a small world" attraction. Alice worked with her husband Marc, Mary Blair, Rolly Crump and Joyce Carlson on the project, which was ten months from start to finish. Of the group, Joyce Carlson is still working as an Imagineer a few days a week in Florida, and Rolly recently donated some art to a North San Diego County childrens' charity.
Rolly, Alice told me, designed the toys for the attraction, and you can see Mary's doll standing on the Eiffel Tower in the France scene at Disneyland, holding a red balloon. Say hello next time you ride. Mary did the sets and the lion's share of the color patterns, but Marc was no slouch in that department; Marc was in charge of the overall design and development for the show, combining the talents of all of the artists involved into his vision.
Alice did the research and design of the costumes, while her friend Mary did the color; sometimes, however, Alice would have to make sure that Mary's fabulously creative color theories didn't upset any cultural sensitivities. For instance, the bearskins (the tall hats worn by the Queen's guards in the England scene) were originally designed by Mary to be bright red. Alice put the kibosh on that: they had to be black. "I can't remember why they have to be black," she told Mary, "but they have to be black." Alice's oldest brother was a history nut, so Alice checked with him as to the significance of the black hats - her hunch was right on target. The bearskins had to be black: the color signified the English defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo, and any other color would have been a huge faux pas.
The day before opening, all of the International dignitaries from the United Nations came with their children to try out the ride, and Alice boasts with great pride: "There was not one single complaint." about how any of their cultures were represented. The opening, unlike Lincoln, who performed beautifully during tests, then smashed his chair, was perfect. (They were also working on Mr. Lincoln, GE's Carousel of Progress, and the Ford Wonder Rotunda, which Alice dubbed a "keen show".)
The First Lady at the time, Jackie Kennedy, rode through with her small daughter Caroline, and they were so delighted with the attraction that they immediately went on it a second time. The best moment of the visit, however, was when Caroline declared that she wanted one of the doggies from the Carousel of Progress as a pet!
Alice had done some work for Disney before: when Marc was animating Princess Aurora/Briar Rose for Sleeping Beauty, he came to Alice with a description of how he wanted the skirt to move while she was dancing, and how he wanted her vest to fit, and Alice created the costume worn by Marc's live-action model for the film. You can see her - and her costume - on reruns of Walt Disney Presents. Alice also worked on the film Toby Tyler or Ten Weeks With the Circus as costume designer.
Alice and Marc had been married about nine months, and had just moved into their home near the Hyperion Studio, where Alice still lives today. Alice had been taking down old wallpaper all day, and was exhausted. "Take me out to dinner!" she begged her husband, and he gladly complied. Shortly after they sat down at the Tam O'Shanter, a hand appeared on Marc's shoulder. It was Walt. He joined them for dinner, and was enthralled by Alice (who wouldn't be?) He wanted to know all about Alice's family and background, and vowed: "I'm gonna have you do something for me someday."
Five years later, his secretary called: could Alice do the costumes for "it's a small world", Walt wanted to know. Alice Davis became an Imagineer.