Until Walt Disney animated the story of Peter Pan in 1953, Tinker Bell had always been portrayed as a spot of light. Walt took the pixie and gave her a sensuous figure to go with her spiteful, jealous personality. Despite stories that she was modeled after Marilyn Monroe, Tink was in fact an animated version of actress Margaret Kelly. Surrounded by magical pixie dust she darted about on screen with the sound of bells.
TV Shows
The coquette did not appear in any more films for some time but she was given a prominent part in the opening sequence of the Disneyland TV show in 1955, a spot she continued to hold for as long as the Disney anthology series ran.
Comic Books
Tink was headlined in only three comic books, two under her own name and one with Jiminy Cricket. She also appeared in many short stories in Walt Disney’s Comics and Stories where she was also given a voice.
Disneyland
When Disneyland opened in July 1955, one of the dark ride attractions was Peter Pan’s Flight in which Tinker Bell played a small part. She also appeared in Walt Disney World’s attraction of the same name when that park opened in 1971. In 1961 Tinker Bell began flying high over Disneyland at the climax of the Fantasy in the Sky fireworks display.
She was first played by former Ringling Bros acrobat, 71-year-old Tiny Kline. Tiny was succeeded by 19-year-old Mimi Zabini, a French circus acrobat, who was followed by Judy Kaye. Tink thus flew from 1961 through 1977 then resumed her flight with the opening of the new Fantasyland in 1983. Two years later she began appearing over Cinderella Castle in Disney World.
Disney Fairies
Tinker Bell began her come back in 2003 when Return to Neverland was released on DVD though she remained in minor roles until becoming part of the Disney Fairies franchise 2005. An extensive line of books and merchandise followed including a series of direct to DVD movies beginning in 2008. Tinker Bell and Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure were the first titles released.
Tink is voiced by Mae Whitman and her personality has changed to become more likeable. A series of books featuring the origins and earlier adventures of Tinker Bell and Peter Pan, from Disney’s Hyperion label, began in 2004 with Peter and the Starcatchers. Her merchandise is consistently amongst the best sellers of character-based items.
Pixie Hollow
In October of 2008 Pixie Hollow was opened in Disneyland near the Matterhorn and later in Walt Disney World’s Mickey’s Toontown. Guests are now able to meet the famous pixie and her friends after walking through a lush vegetation, inspecting bronze statues and seeing the pixie’s homes. Tinker Bell greets her guests from her teapot shaped home, chats and offers photo ops.
Postcards
Tinker Bell appears on numerous Disneyland postcards though often she is hard to find being of diminutive stature. Illustrated are a few cards on which she figures more prominently:
- D-10 – Tink and Sleeping Beauty Castle
- HSC-406841 – Tinker Bell (silver foil)
- 01110476 - “Tinker Bell sprinkles magic stardust…”
- 0008-23492 – Tinker Bell over Sleeping Beauty Castle (lenticular)
- 00017-30597 – Tink and friends from Pixie Hollow (lenticular)
Bibliography
- Encyclopedia of Walt Disney Animated Characters – John Grant
- Official Guide to Disneyland Resort 2009 – Steve Birnbaum
- Disneyland: The Nickel Tour – Bruce Gordon and David Mumford
William Silvester - Most of Bill's writing over the past few years has been for the philatelic press and consists primarily of columns and articles about the ...
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