Perhaps you’re wondering how a real life actress can get the credit as playing Tinkerbell in the 1953 Walt Disney animated classic Peter Pan, especially since Tinkerbell didn’t talk in the film. Well here’s how: In the early days of Disney animation, live actors were hired to pantomime the movements of their on-screen counterparts. Margaret Kerry was the actress who was tapped to be old Tink. But to solidify her presence in the actual film, she also provided the voice of one of the red-headed mermaid in the Neverland lagoon. But when I first met Margaret Kerry, I didn’t really know much about her involvement with Peter Pan.
Signed article about Margaret Kerry and Tinkerbell
That’s because to me Margaret Kerry was better known by her original name, Peggy Lynch. As Peggy, she had appeared in three of the Our Gang shorts, two (Teacher’s Beau and The Pinch Singer) at the Hal Roach Studios, and one (Aladdin’s Lantern) at M-G-M.
The Our Gang in 1934. Peggy is on the right. The photo is also signed by Jackie Lynn Taylor, the tall girl in the back.
Peggy in a solo photo from the same shoot as above
My friend Bob first introduced me to Margaret when he took me to her home during my first visit to California in 1988. He had waited for my visit to make some key home-visits to a handful of celebrites whom he was trying to obtain signatures from on a tent banquet group photo of 25 Roach/Our Gang/Laurel & Hardy celebs (including Hal Roach himself). This provided a great opportunity for me to tag along and get to meet several celebs up-close and in-person.
Margaret and me in 1988
Above is the photo from our first meeting. Over the years, I ran into Margaret a few more times. For starters, she was present at the 1992 Way Out West Tent banquet that I attended and I got her to sign my program on July 17, 1992. She was also a guest at the WOW banquet on June 28, 1997, and I attended that one as well.
My encounter with her was a little more intimate when I attended the Hollywood Collectors Show on October 4, 2008. After greeting her in the main area where she was selling signed photos, Bob arranged for us to have breakfast with her the next morning in the hotel restaurant. Margaret ate her tiny meal and regaled us with tales from her movie days, how she settled on her stage name (given to her by Eddie Cantor, her co-star in the 1948 film If You Knew Susie), the book and blog she is working on, and various other tales, jokes, and anecdotes from her life.
Bob and I enjoy breakfast with Margaret in 2008
Margaret, the jokester, is holding up a picture of her and Bob
Since then, I’ve only seen her one additional time – Bob and I ran into her as she visited the Hollywood Show on July 18, 2009. She wasn’t a guest this time, but just visiting the show. Although I can’t say that I actually know Margaret Kerry (even though we are friends on Facebook!), I can say that she has always been one of the kindest and friendliest of any of the celebrities with whom I’ve had the pleasure of spending time.
Celebrity encounters from my 1988 California trip will continue… (under construction)
Celebrities of the 2008 Hollywood Collectors Show will conclude in the next posting…
Return to the 2008 Hollywood Collectors Show…
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