Disney Legend Alice Davis Dies at Age 93
Today, we at MickeyBlog are saddened to learn of the passing of Disney Legend Alice Davis at age 93.
The making of a legend
Alice Estes Davis is a Disney legend who worked for Walt Disney Imagineering when it was still W.E.D.
It is with great sadness to hear of the passing of Disney Legend Alice Davis. To the world, Alice Estes Davis was best known for her work as a costume designer. To us, Alice was an inspiring collaborator, kind-hearted benefactor, and cherished friend. https://t.co/pOARKoMZEz pic.twitter.com/pbgPxFAFy3
— The Walt Disney Family Museum (@WDFMuseum) November 4, 2022
She met her husband, fellow Disney legend Marc Davis, at the Chouinard Art Institute when she was a student and he was a teacher.
After leaving Chouinard, Alice designed lingerie for a Los Angeles fashion house. As head designer she was regarded as an authority on pattern design and fabrics.
According to D23.com, Alice was contacted again by Marc Davis when he needed a costume designed and created.
It was to be filmed in a live-action dancing scene, so Marc would know how to draw the movement of the skirt Briar Rose is wearing in Sleeping Beauty. Thus, Alice’s career with Disney was launched!
Disney career
While Alice worked on many projects for Walt Disney Imagineering, the project she’s best known for are the costumes for it’s a small world.
Walt Disney asked Alice to head the costume design of the audio animatronic figures in the attraction. Alice collaborated with Mary Blair to create more than 150 intricate costumes of children representing the world.
In addition to designing the costumes for the attraction, Alice created the process for creating and maintaining costumes on the Disneyland attractions. These procedures are still in place today, at Disney parks around the world.
Alice went on to design the costumes for Pirates of the Caribbean, Carousel of Progress and so many more iconic Disney attractions.
A family of legends
Alice and Marc married in 1956 and shared forty-four happy years together until his death in January, 2000.
Alice and Marc collaborated on Disney projects many times, including on the costumes for Pirates of the Caribbean.
Alice Davis working on the Redhead's costume pic.twitter.com/IRk3vhfMMX
— The Mickey Wiki (@TheMickeyWiki) June 27, 2018
Marc was the lead designer at Walt Disney Imagineering on Pirates, and Alice made his vision come to life in the costumes the characters wear on the attraction.
In 2012, Alice got her window on Main Street, U.S.A at Disneyland, right next to Marc’s window.
I love this blog post from the Walt Disney Family Museum, which details the Davises love story.
Disney legend Alice Davis
I had the honor of meeting Alice several times when I worked at the Disney Gallery at Disneyland. She was always by Marc’s side at signings. Getting the two of them talking was easy – and the stories they shared were legendary!
My good friend Scott Wolf shared this picture of Alice with him and his family.
One great tidbit he mentioned about Alice was:
She even had a list of various magazines she used for research to ensure the Small World costumes, although miniature, were authentic to each of the countries. The detail was so important, and I remember her telling me that she even had to consider the color of the background behind the dolls when choosing colors for the costumes.
Scott is going to share some videos of his chats with Alice to his YouTube channel, Keeping the Magic Alive. You should definitely check his channel out – he has amazing interviews with Disney legends!
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