Becky Goes To The Paralympics: This month, Mattel rolled out Paralympic Becky dressed in red, white and blue and riding a racing-style wheelchair. Becky is set for the Paralympic Games, which follow the Olympics in Sydney, Australia. She retails for $21.99, she comes equipped with wheelchair and helmet, water bottle, towel and a gold medal. Find out more about Becky in Barbie and Friend Help Understanding in the San Francisco Chronicle.

Closing Prices for the UFDC Convention Dolls on eBay: Here are the closing prices for the auctions featured in the last issue of Dolls This Week:
--Windy City Alex closed at $346.
--Chicago Sophisticate Tyler: $595 (although several auctions right now are at the mid-$300s for this doll)
--The little bend-knee Betsy McCall closed at $431!

Dog Days Of Summer Contest: Its almost here! A month-long contest extravaganza held here at Doll Collecting at About.com, but ALSO held on many of the other Hobby sites, including Collectibles and Costume Jewelry! Get a SNEAK PREVIEW of the Doll Collecting contest (and the 105 prizes!) by visiting this special preview page: August Dog Days Of Summer Doll Collecting Contest. Contest begins August 7th.

Blue Ribbon HSN Event Planned: HSN just announced that from 8pm to midnight EST on Friday, September 22 that they will be televising their sixth annual Doll Collectors Blue Ribbon Event. The program will offer many dolls that have been nominated for the DOTY awards from Doll Reader magazine and also the Dolls Awards of Excellence from Dolls magazine.

Sotheby Barbie Auction: The auction of the Barbie Doll Collection of Ingelore Streng just started today, and its a bit disappointing--the starting bids on many of the items appear to be quite close to retail--such as $90 for a Skooter doll in Ballet Lesson and $300 for Midge dressed in the Guenivere outfit. But, there are no reserves. Also, not many items are presented NRFB or MIB. The auction runs through August 16. www.sothebys.amazon.com.

Upcoming Doll Events

• Timeless Treasures: The Story of Dolls in Canada is on display now through March 30, 2003 at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Hull, Quebec. For more information on this huge (over 400 dolls) landmark exhibit, visit http://www.civilisations.ca/cmc/cmceng/pr113aeng.html
• National Gene Convention 2000 will be held Oct. 20-23 at the Arlington Heights Hilton in Arlington Heights, Illinois (a suburb of Chicago). Registration is $325 and limited to 700. For more information, contact genecon99@aol.com
• Fashion Doll Convention 2000 San Diego, California August 12 to 14 2000 at the DoubleTree Hotel. Convention dolls are Daisy and Willow. For more information, http://members.aol.com/fashiondollsd or e-mal fashiondollsd@aol.com

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2000 Past Editions of Dolls This Week:

January
Madame Alexander 16" Fashion Doll; Mattel Execs Leave *
Doll Costumer Guild Announces New Publication; *
Barbie PC; Barbie Auction *
February
Jill Barad Resigns From Mattel *
All The Toy Fair News! *
Toy Fair Recap; Toy Fair Toys are Technological *
March
New Theriault's Auctions; Dorothy Coleman Dies *
TRU Big Event, Virginia Graves Carlson Dies *
April
New Doll Books; New Barbie Releases in Stores *
Jill-Neimrow Nelson Resigns; Americana 2000 Projects; Fashion Doll Convention *
Barbie for President, Sign Language Barbie; Betty Spagetty and eBay Antique Dealers *
Special Online Doll Auctions; Pleasant Co. Toys For Boys, Cool Collecting Barbie*
May
Pleasant Company Founder Retires/Doll Discounts/Harley Ken HOT! *
Who's Brave Enough to Run Mattel/Hello Kitty Barbie/Barbies in stores now *
Toysmart OUT of Business; Where are Asian Barbies; NEW Mattel CEO *
June
Barbie20001 line info; Gene News; Sailor Moon NEW USA Dolls! *
eBay users dislike advertisements; GI Joe in a Dress; new 16" Fashion Dolls *
Barbie Bazaar, ITCA, Simply Gene Platinum, Barbie Convention
July
New Doll Costuming Magazine; Harry Potter Mania; Dollmakers Convention *
UFDC Sky-High Convention Dolls; Online Convention Clubs Voted In; NEW Fashion Dolls Magazine *

For all 1999 editions of "Dolls This Week" please go to the 1999 Dolls This Week Archives.