...marge champion - live snow white turns 89!!!...

Happy 89th Birthday and many happy returns of the day to Marge Champion (2nd September 1919). She is the other half of everyone's favourite husband and wife dancing team in the fities - Marge and Gower Champion.

She was born Marjorie Celeste Belcher in Los Angeles and learned ballet from her father, Ernest Belcher and became an artists' model for Walt Disney's heroine, "Snow White And The Seven Dwafs" (1937). She was given a small uncredited role as Ginger Roger's friend in the last Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers musical in the 30s - "The Story Of Vernon And Irene Castle" (1939). After a few more uncredited roles in the same year - "Sorority House" and "What A Life", she appreared under the name Marjorie Bell in "All Women Have Secret".

She was back to model for Disney's Blue Fairy in "Pinocchio" (1940) and Hyacinth Hippo in the "Dance of the Hours" segment of "Fantasia" (1940), which she also helped choreograph in an elaborate parody of a Balanchine ballet danced by Vera Zorina in "The Goldwyn Follies" (1938) . Marge even recalls doing some modeling for Mr. Stork in "Dumbo" (1941) .

After Gower Champion's (22nd June 1921 - 25th August 1980) original partner retired and having done some solo bits, he sought out Marge, whom he has known from school for his new partner. The team was married in 1947 and soon found appreciative audiences in clubs and also on the television "Admiral Broadway Revue" (1949).

They then appeared as themselves in Bing Croby's "Mr. Music' (1950). MGM gave them a bigger and better assignment, playing Frank and Ellie in their 1951's big budget musical - "Show Boat" starring my favourite Kathryn Grayson, Howard Keel and Ava Gardner, dancing two numbers enchantingly to "Life's Upon The Wicked Stage" and "I Might Fall Back On You". The following year, their parts were expanded by MGM in "Lovely To Look At" again starring Kathryn Grayson, Howard Keel with Red Skelton, Ann Miller and Zsa Zsa Gabor (making her movie debut). This time around, they get to do the exuberant "I Won't Dance", gliding beautifully in the Kathryn Grayson sung, "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" and energetic finale in a colourful fashion show.

With such credits, the studio decided to try their luck, by giving them their one starring vehicle, "Everything I Have Is Yours", but it was a dud. They were returned to support a bright high energetic musical, pitting their talents against Bob Fosse, Debbie Reynolds and Helen Wood. The couple did "The Challenge Dance" and "It Happens Everytime". In 1955's "Jupiter's Darling" starring Esther Williams as Amytis and Howard Keel as Hannibal, Marge and Gower get to dance with some elephants.

Columbia gave them roles in the "out-going" Betty Grable's musical "Three For The Show" (1955), where they get to do a few numbers, but effortlessly stole the show with their rehearsal number, "Someone To Watch Over Me" and then they were given their own short-lived television show in 1957. They appeared in "The Dinah Shore Chevy Show" and "Toast Of The Town" on television.

Gower went on to become one of the most heralded and greatest Broadway choreographer-directors. Marge went on to do some straight acting when movie musicals went out of style, in Blake Edward's "The Party" (1968) starring Peter Sellers and "The Swimmer" starring Burt Lancaster. She too, went to choreographed some musical numbers in straight movies.

Marge and Gower divorced in 1973 and Gower died in August 1980 on the opening night of his last New York triumph, "42nd Street". Marge was married director Boris Sagal until his death in 1981).

(Scanned autographed photo - property of the author)