Career
In 1935 (after a brief stint as a chorus girl at MGM), Walt Disney hired Caselotti in 1936 as the voice of his heroine Snow White. She was paid a total of $970 for working on the film (worth approximately $15,913.30 in 2012). As she was under studio contract from Disney, she was prevented from appearing in film and other media following Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Jack Benny specifically mentioned that he had asked Disney for permission to use her on his radio show and was told, "I'm sorry, but that voice can't be used anywhere. I don't want to spoil the illusion of Snow White."
The only other work Caselotti did following her premiere was an uncredited role in The Wizard of Oz, as the voice of Juliet during the Tin-Man's song, "If I Only Had a Heart", singing the falsetto line "Wherefore Art Thou, Romeo". In 1946, she had an uncredited role, singing in Martini's bar as James Stewart was praying, in Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life.
Caselotti did, however, do several promotional spots for Snow White, signing memorabilia. On November 22, 1972 -Thanksgiving Day-, she guest-starred on an episode of The Julie Andrews Hour saluting the music of Walt Disney, singing "I'm Wishing" and "Someday My Prince Will Come" with Julie Andrews. She also made a guest appearance on the syndicated The Mike Douglas Show. Caselotti also wrote a how-to book, Do You Like to Sing?.
Later in life, she sold autographs, and also made an attempt at an opera career (for example, Rigoletto). In the early 1990s, when the Snow White Grotto at Disneyland was refurbished, Caselotti re-recorded "I'm Wishing" for the Snow White Wishing Well at the age of 75. In 1994, she was named a Disney Legend.
Read more about this topic: Adriana Caselotti
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