Here’s a thing, you know you’re getting old when Barbie’s newly launched celebrity doll leaves you scratching your head.
Gigi Hadrid? Anyone?
I can’t even say the name without getting my tongue in a twist. A quick internet search proves her to be an internationally famous model and erstwhile girlfriend of equally famous Zayn Malik. Which leaves just one more question. Who is Zayn Malick? Oh dear, this could go on until Mattel bring out their 2019 “celebrity” doll.
That’s the whole point of celebrity dolls; they represent the zeitgeist of the day. We’ve been commemorating our heroes in miniature since the beginning of time. While early civilisations didn’t have Love Islanders, they did have their own skimpily-clad gods and goddesses to immortalise. Doll historian Ellen Tsagaris suggests Venus (of Willendorf) was the first commemorative doll with some figures dating back 40,000 years.
Before the 20th Century, ‘celebrity’ dolls really were not fluffy models but heads of state. From the 19th century, heroic and inspirational figures – American presidents and war commanders – were also produced for their admirers.
In the article The Peculiar History of Celebrity dolls, Hadley Meares speculates that these dolls were destined for display rather than the nursery.
“These dolls were typically sold as souvenirs, either of the nostalgic or patriotic sort,” she says.
“Much like the commemorative plates and trinkets that were popular during times of national celebration or anniversaries.”
According to Hadley, Hollywood studios took celebrity marketing through dolls to a ‘whole new level’. Actress Mary Pickford is credited with one of the first promotional dolls.
Pollock’s History of English Toys and Dolls, outlines the nine-month ‘baffling’ problem of creating a likeness (eight artists and sculptors tried and failed). Artist Christian von Schneidau decided to take a ‘life mask’.
‘Sixty different models were made, and also one life mask which almost turned into a death mask,’ Pollock writes.
‘Mary Pickford nearly suffocated in the process, and her face was so badly bruised by the weight of the plaster that for several days it was impossible for her to appear before the camera.’
Beatrice ‘Madame’ Alexander was an early pioneer of celebrity and character dolls. She realised her gorgeous creations would have greater appeal if they were based on the very people everyone was talking about – from the fictional March sisters (Little Women) to a set of 36 Queen Elizabeth dolls to commemorate the 1953 coronation.
Naturally, UK doll manufacturers were also keen to exploit the public’s interest in the cute royal princesses. The likeness of a five-year-old Princess Margaret Rose was sold by Dean’s Rag Book Company in 1935. Three years later, Chadd Valley fashioned the instantly recognisable figures of sisters Elizabeth and Margaret Rose from felt (see above). Both companies were keen on celebrity dolls; Dean’s Rag even produced a Lupino Lane – the English actor famous for his song ‘Lambeth Walk’.
It was another musical hall comedian who spawned a thousand dolls. Even today, a quick eBay search reveals a host of Charlie Chaplin dolls being sold from the 1930s – a cardboard dancing doll – to Campbells soup promotional dolls re-issued in the 1990s.
Today, almost everyone has their own Barbie doll; JK Rowling, Nicki Minaj, The Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, Faith Hill, Don Draper and Farrah Fawcett.
In fact, I am modelling for Barbie next week – just hoping they don’t still use the life mask method.
Celebrity Doll Quiz
Charlie Chaplin is instantly recognisable, even in doll form; but can you name the celebrities commemorated by the following dolls? I have included figures which display all sorts of doll-making skills from vintage classics, to limited-edition ‘mint’ dolls popular in the 1980s.
There’s also a re-painted Barbie and two bespoke dolls made by talented crafters.
I’d like to say a full house will earn you a prize of a ‘Gigi Hadrid’ Barbie but the only one I can find on the UK market (she’s an American production) is on eBay for £99.99. You may just have to settle for giving yourself a good old English pat on the back.
Guess Who? This sexy blonde screen icon was born in 1926 in LA, she spent most of her own childhood in orphanages and foster homes. Her first brush with celebrity was as a pin-up, nude, model. Her troubled life came to an end prematurely at the age of 36 in 1962. Twenty one years later, this doll was made in her image.
Famous quote: ‘What do I wear in bed? Why Chanel No 5, of course.’
Guess Who; Born in 1928 in Santa Monica she ‘signed’ her first move contract at the age of four. After three hit movies, the star’s parents argued she wasn’t being paid enough – especially in lieu of all the merchandise. It’s estimated that the dolls alone achieved $45m in sales before 1941. The money she made from licensed products – including cereal bowls – doubled the income she earned from the movies. Interestingly, the star had a huge collection of dolls including those in her own image. The youngster was sent thousands of dolls by fans; her mum kept the best and donated the rest to charity.
Famous quote: “I stopped believing in Santa Claus when I was six. Mother took me to see him in a department store and he asked for my autograph.”
Guess Who? Born in Minnesota in 1922, her family name was the slightly comedic ‘Gumm’. This star was the commensurate all-rounder who could sing, dance, act and tell jokes. Persistently told by movie exec’s that she was unattractive and too heavy – she was forced to diet during the filming of her most famous film and would suppress her appetite with tobacco. This beleaguered star suffered from self-abuse issues which led to her death at the age of 47.
Famous quote: “If I am a legend, then why am I so lonely?”
Guess Who? Born in ‘British’ India in 1913, she was the only child of Ernest Hartley, an officer in the Indian Cavalry. Her first acting roles attracted such acclaim she baulked at the responsibility of living up to the hype. “I remember the critic very well and have never forgiven him,” she joked.
Despite wanting to play the part of a very famous Southern Belle, she was initially dismissed as ‘too British’. Sadly, the wildness of character which persuaded the film’s producers to give her the part turned out to be manic-depression which plagued her all her life. She died of TB in 1967; Laurence Olivier reportedly suffering ‘grievous anguish’ as he rushed to pay his respects to his recently departed ex-wife.
Famous quote: “Most of us have compromised with life. Those who fight for what they want will always thrill us.”
Guess Who? Born in 1908 in Massachusetts. She is regarded as the greatest, most intense, uncompromising Hollywood actress of all time – though a feuding female star would beg to disagree. At the time of her first marriage to Harmon Nelson, he was earning a respectable $100 a week (1932) but his wife was earning more than $1,000. His career trajectory was not as impressive as hers – they divorced in 1938 when she embarked on an affair with Howard Hughes. Actor Charles Laughton once told her ‘You must continually attempt things that you think are beyond you.” It was said to influence the rest of her career. Her gloriously raspy voice might be attributed to her smoking 100 cigarettes a day – even after four strokes.
Famous quote; “In this business, until you’re known as a monster, you’re not a star.”
Guess Who? Born in 1929 in Pennsylvania, this actress gained stardom playing alongside Hollywood greats Clark Gable and Ava Gardener. She was born into an affluent and influential family – her father had won gold medal winning for sculling. He allegedly saw her career choice as just one cut above street-walking. John Ford, who directed her in Mogambo, was said to be impressed by her breeding, quality and class. As was a European Prince. On visiting Cannes in 1955 – as part of a US delegation – she was asked to take part in a photoshoot at his nearby principality. The rest, as they say, is story book history. Alfred Hitchcock is quoted as saying she was lucky to have found herself ‘Such a good part.’ This screen goddess died in 1982, at the wheel of her car, from a reported stroke.
Famous quote; “I certainly don’t think of my life as a fairy tale.”
Guess Who? Born in Brussels in 1929 to an English banker and a Dutch baroness. Trained as a ballet dancer, she made her movie break-through in ‘Gigi’ (nothing to do with the model) in 1951. Two years later, she pipped Elizabeth Taylor to a starring role in a famous Rome-based movie, for which she won an Oscar. The movie’s director praised her charm, innocence and talent. Malgo’s doll (above) celebrates her subject’s starring role in another iconic film; based on a Truman Capote novella. The muse for Givenchy, she was voted ‘the most beautiful woman of all time’ in 2006.
The actress often spoke of craving affection and her need to give it; no surprise that, in 1989, she became a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF.
Famous quote: “I was asked to act, when I couldn’t act. I was asked to sing when I couldn’t sing…and dance with Fred Astaire when I couldn’t dance – and do all kinds of things I wasn’t prepared for. Then I tried like mad to cope with it.”
Guess Who? Born in Rome in 1934, this beautiful actress was born out of wed-lock – her father was a construction worker of noble descent; they met five times but she could not forgive him for abandoning her mother. The family went to live with her grandmother; who opened a pub in her house near Naples. While mama played piano, our young beauty waited on American GIs. A beauty pageant contestant and bit-part actress, she secured international fame after changing her name from Scicolone – at the suggestion of her mentor Carlo Ponti. The actress married Ponti after a bitter fall-out, on set, with her then lover Cary Grant. In 2007, this eternally beautiful actress posed for the Pirelli calendar. She was 72.
Famous quote: “Everything you see, I owe to spaghetti.”
Guess Who? Born in 1922 in Cincinnati, this all-American actress had the German surname Kappelhoff. She was destined to become a dancer until a car accident put paid to her prospects. While recovering, she listened to a lot of radio and sang along to the greats including Ella Fitzgerald. Her mother was so impressed – she engaged a singing teacher. Her first hit in 1947 – Sentimental Journey – became an anthem of American troops. She secured an acting role in 1948 on the strength of her voice. But it was from 1959 – and throughout the sixties – that this actress hit her stride in a series of romantic comedies with her co-star also immortalised more successfully (above) by Mattel. Since her retirement, she has lived in California where she continues to be a passionate advocate for animal welfare. In fact, her fourth husband complained she ‘cared more for animals’ than she did for him.
Famous quote; “I never met an animal I didn’t like, I can’t say the same about people.”
NB; This actress died at her home in California in May 2019. Indomitable until the last, she was 97 years old.
Guess Who? Famously Christened ‘Marion’, this Hollywood legend was born in 1907 in Iowa. He was a bit-part actor before his break-through role in 1939 for director Tom Ford. He made 169 appearances in films; some of which he produced. On-screen he played gritty men of few words, off-screen he was keen to express a more sensitive, artistic side. Perhaps this is what led the ultimate symbol of American machismo to collect dolls; native American kachina dolls. The doll pictured above has thick locks – unlike the real-life actor. His hair started to thin in 1940 and, by 1948, he had to wear a wig. When asked if it was mohair he replied; “Well sir, that’s real hair. Not mine, but real hair.”
Famous quote: “Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.”
Answers;-
Marilyn Monroe, Shirley Temple, Judy Garland, Vivien Leigh, Betty Davis, Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Sophia Loren, Doris Day and John Wayne.
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