Winnipeg’s connection to the original ‘Snow White’ film

An illustrated image from 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.' (Image supplied by Kristin Vignal)

As the live-action remake of ‘Snow White’ graces the big screen, many Winnipeggers may be unaware of the original movie’s connection to the city and how a local server may have inspired the titular character.

It all goes back to Charles Thorson, who was born in Winnipeg in 1890.

Inspiration struck in the early 1930s, when Thorson met Kristin Solvadottir, a server at Winnipeg’s Wevel Café, who had also moved to the city from Iceland.

“Kristin was only 20 and Charlie was 42, but he did fall in love with her and apparently proposed several times,” said Kristin Vignal, Thorson’s granddaughter.

“It’s not clear if she returned his affections or not, but he was smitten and would draw cartoons for her, offering the world if she would be his.”

Eventually Solvadottir moved back to Iceland, but before she left, Thorson told her he would immortalize her.

Work at Disney

The story continues in 1934, when Thorson moved to Los Angeles and started to work at Disney as a character designer.

Here, Thorson got a chance to work on the film ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,’ the first feature-length animated film released in the United States. His work included designing the dwarfs and Snow White herself.

Vignal noted that the story goes that her grandfather based the image of Snow White on Solvadottir.

“It’s never been officially acknowledged, and Charlie’s name was not listed in the film credits,” she said.

“But a reason for that would be that he didn’t work on the animation of the film; rather, he worked on the creation of the characters.”

Vignal added there’s no official paperwork that confirms he based Snow White’s look on Solvadottir, but that it’s hard to ignore the resemblance.

“My dad remembers Charlie saying that he had created Snow White, but there’s no written record in any of (my) grandpa’s memorabilia left behind for the family,” she said.

“There’s no proof, but it makes a great love story.”

A legendary career

Along with Disney, Thorson went on to work at Warner Brothers and MGM, where he worked on the designs of Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd, and Tom and Jerry.

Vignal, who is an artist herself, said his inspiration for many of these characters came from his love for animals.

“Apparently when he was growing up, their household was filled with stray cats and dogs and birds and you name it,” she said.

“He just had a way of portraying them.”

As for what it’s like to have a grandfather who is linked to some of the most famous cartoon characters of all time, Vignal said it was many years before she even learned of her family’s history.

“He was just our grandpa,” she said.

“He would draw us lovely greeting cards, picturing animals, saying ‘Happy Birthday,’ etc., etc. We just knew him as a man who could draw really well.”

However, once Vignal did learn of her grandfather’s career, she was “quite amazed,” adding that he left behind a trunk of more than 1,000 drawings of characters he created.

The history of Thorson Cottage

Thorson’s ties to Manitoba live on through Thorson Cottage—a summer cottage in Gimli built in 1918 that was originally owned by Thorson’s father, who was the mayor of the rural municipality. As of 2012, it is a municipally designated historic site.

Today, the home is owned by Andy and Cindy Blicq. The couple bought the house in 1997 and have since had it renovated, restored, and winterized, all while still keeping the historical nature intact.

Andy, who is also a filmmaker, noted the pair had no idea of the historic nature of the cottage when they first purchased it.

“It’s kind of a neat thing,” he said. “We don’t know what association Charlie might’ve had with our building, but it did belong to the family.”

Andy said looking at the history of Thorson Cottage, it shows how they’re just custodians of the building as it changes owners and moves through the generations.

“We take it as our responsibility to maintain it, particularly its historical significance and heritage,” he said.

“We take a lot of pride in that. We love it.”