Virginia Davis, RIP

Another link to American animation's now-distant beginnings has passed.

Virginia Davis, who appeared in Walt Disney's pioneering "Alice" films, has died at age 90 ...

Davis was hired by Disney in 1923 when he was a struggling filmmaker in Kansas City, Mo., and later worked with him in Hollywood. She was the first of several girls to have the title role in the series of "Alice" comedies that ran from 1923 to 1927. Her moving image was photographed and combined with animated cartoons, predating Mickey Mouse.

We now have one less eye-witness who was there at Walt Disney's professional beginnings, one less individual who can tell us how it actually was when a skinny guy from Kansas City joined his brother in California and began making films.

And the river of history rolls on.