"The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up"

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James(JM) Barrie wrote Peter Pan based on stories he told Liewelyn Davies' children started out as a play. It first opened at the Duke of York's Theatre in London on December 27, 1904, as "The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up". The character is based on the author's own brother, who died in a skating accident when just a teen. As was the tradition in theatres at that time, women were used to playing young boys. Such early greats as Maude Adams and Nina Boucicault played the role with the latter being the first. Walt Disney once played Peter Pan in a school play. To make it look like he was flying his brother Roy used a roped to hoist Walt up over the stage. It is interesting to note that originally Peter and the Lost Boys could fly unaided. After reports of children injuring themselves when attempting to fly off their beds, Barrie added Fairy Dust as a necessary factor so children would understand that they could not fly without this magical addition.