Actress. Through the early 1920s, she appeared in the initial thirteen "Alice" comedies, becoming the Disney Studios' first star. In 1923, Walt Disney was a struggling young cartoonist in Kansas City with the idea of having a young girl interact with animated characters on the screen; Walt found the little girl he wanted when he spotted young Ginny in advertisments for Warneker's Bread. She was to make her movie debut in the 1923 short-feature "Alice's Wonderland", which was partially shot in the Davis home. Disney's Laugh-O-Gram Films soon went bankrupt, and he moved to California to start over; the Davis family followed, with contract stipulations that Ginny continue as Alice. Leaving Disney (in a pay dispute) after the first set of Alice episodes, she worked at other studios, first as a child, later as a bit-player. In 1925, she had roles in "The Viennese Medley", and "The Man From Red Gulch"; later she was to be the younger version of Joan Blondell in 1932's "Three on a Match", as well as taking roles in such fare as "Flying Down to Rio" and "Vivacious Lady". Ginny returned to Disney after her graduation from Hollywood High School, working in the art department, and voicing some small parts in "Pinocchio". She married Naval aviator Robert McGhee in 1943, begining the usual nomadic life of a military wife, though she did have a role in MGM's 1946 "The Harvey Girls". In later years, she earned a degree from the New York School of Interior Design, and worked as a decorator prior to starting a career in real estate during the 1960s. She died at home of age-related complications. Ginny would often remind people: "It all started with Alice, not Mickey Mouse".
Actress. Through the early 1920s, she appeared in the initial thirteen "Alice" comedies, becoming the Disney Studios' first star. In 1923, Walt Disney was a struggling young cartoonist in Kansas City with the idea of having a young girl interact with animated characters on the screen; Walt found the little girl he wanted when he spotted young Ginny in advertisments for Warneker's Bread. She was to make her movie debut in the 1923 short-feature "Alice's Wonderland", which was partially shot in the Davis home. Disney's Laugh-O-Gram Films soon went bankrupt, and he moved to California to start over; the Davis family followed, with contract stipulations that Ginny continue as Alice. Leaving Disney (in a pay dispute) after the first set of Alice episodes, she worked at other studios, first as a child, later as a bit-player. In 1925, she had roles in "The Viennese Medley", and "The Man From Red Gulch"; later she was to be the younger version of Joan Blondell in 1932's "Three on a Match", as well as taking roles in such fare as "Flying Down to Rio" and "Vivacious Lady". Ginny returned to Disney after her graduation from Hollywood High School, working in the art department, and voicing some small parts in "Pinocchio". She married Naval aviator Robert McGhee in 1943, begining the usual nomadic life of a military wife, though she did have a role in MGM's 1946 "The Harvey Girls". In later years, she earned a degree from the New York School of Interior Design, and worked as a decorator prior to starting a career in real estate during the 1960s. She died at home of age-related complications. Ginny would often remind people: "It all started with Alice, not Mickey Mouse".
Bio by: Bob Hufford
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In Loving Memory
McGHEE
Robert A. Virginia D.
1921-2005 1919-2009
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