- Marge
and Gower were very popular dancers in the 1940s and 50s. Gower
would choreograph many musicals for Film, TV and Broadway. Ernest
Belcher was Marge's father, a ballet teacher who started his daughter
at an early age of five months.
-- Marge's
first dance partner was Louis Hightower and her first screen appearance
was in the film "Sorority House" in 1939. Gower was
winning dance contests (Palladium) at the age of twelve
way before he met Marge with his first dance partner Jeanne Tyler.
--Marge and Gower's first professional
engagement together was credited as "Gower and Bell"
at Montreal's "Normandie Roof" in April, 1947. Marge
and Gower's
first big show was in the "Persian Room" of the Plaza
Hotel in New York. Their first movie together was in "$ Mr.
Music" with Bing Crosby and their first starring picture
was in "Everything I Have is Yours".
Marge
danced with Herb Ross and Paul Glodkin in the Broadway Play "Beggars
Holiday" in 1946.
--Dick Pribor was the Champions
musical director. Gower was in the U.S. Coast Guard for his stint
in the service. Marge was used by Disney as the model for "
Snow White" and the "Blue Fairy" in Pinnochio and
the "Hippopotamus Ballerina" in FANTASIA. Marge and
Gower were wed on October 5, 1947 and divorced in 1973. Actress,
Lina Basquette was Marge's half sister.
