Meet Marl Davidson:
Doll Dealer and Show Promoter Talks to About.com
Long-time doll dealer and show promoter Marl Davidson. owner of Marl & B recently spoke with your Guide about
life as a doll dealer and doll show promoter. Marl has been a doll dealer for over
eighteen years. Her introduction to dolls was 
when she started
collecting Madame Alexander for her daughter Kimee and got then introduced to the Cabbage
Patch dolls. Marl "thought they were so cute, and I found myself in the middle
of the craze. In the midst of all of that commotion, someone offered me a
small, yet impressive Barbie collection. I had heard a great deal about Barbie and
had a real good feeling about her." So, Marl bought the small collection of
Barbies, and the rest is history!" From that point on (about thirteen years
ago) Marl became a doll dealer specializing in modern and vintage Barbie®. However
in the last few years Marl has expanded her line to include Gene®, Tyler Wentworth,
Willow and Daisy, Chatty Cathy, Candi and other modern fashion dolls which have been part
of the recent fashion doll renaissance.
Marl is a collector as well as a dealer and her favorite dolls are designer Barbies® and Genes®. Marl says that these dolls are her favorites "because each has their own charm and personality. Some of my favorite designers are Ivan Burton, Mark Middendorf, Charles Josef, Charles Mo, Melissa Windham, Bruce Nygren, James Bogue, David Escobedo, Morito, Kathy Moreau, and Bobby Taylor." However, if Marl could only have ONE doll in her collection, the doll she would pick would be a "pristine #1 brunette with bright red lips and pink skin."
The "Joe and Marl" Doll Shows
On top of her busy catalog and web site sales, Marl one of the promoters of the popular "Joe And Marl" shows. Joe is Joe Blitman, a well-known fashion doll dealer on the West Coast. Currently, 11 of these fashion doll shows are planned for all over the United States in 2000. Regarding the "Joe and Marl" shows, Marl told me how they got started and what it is like to do the shows:
"Back in 1992, Joe Blitman phoned me up and said he was gonna do a show in New York, and I said, "Not without me you're not!" I went, and Joe went, and we had such a blast, we decided to do another one, and that one was so much fun, we were hooked." Every show is different, because the people and places are a little different at each location. It's a family affair for me. Dale drives the stuff to the show, everything except Las Vegas, or if he is not available, I take six trunks on the plane. I've never lost my Barbie trunks going to a show, just my clothes."
Marl explains further how much of a family affair the shows are: "My children, Scott and Kimee, and my sisters Nanny, and Linda come to help out. My mother, Irene, made it to Las Vegas. She's my vintage clothing specialist, too. She makes sure all the outfits are together attaches them to the cards, I couldn't do it without her! Sometimes show day is so wild, we eat room service, which is grilled chicken sandwiches, Caesar salad and maybe, a bottle of wine. Whenever we can, we try to get out to a local restaurant." Unfortunately for Marl and family, busy shows don't always allow for such luxuries!
Selling a #1 BarbieAccording to Marl, the most exciting thing that can happen at a show is to sell a Number One Barbie. She says: "it's not the money involved, it's the way the customer reacts. It is just absolutely too great to see the look on someone's face when they get this doll you know they have been dreaming about owning! The glow that comes from the brand new owner of a perfect Number One is something we only get to see a few times, and it makes up for any bad days we might have."
Marl admits that she does shop the shows when she gets a chance. Usually, she says that she has a list of things her customers have asked for, but she also keeps her eyes open for other special goodies. In an exceedingly exciting moment, Marl "recently found "Glimmer Glamour" -- a Sears exclusive mod outfit, circa 1968! It is so rare, I never expected to see one!"
Marl Talks About Joe!Marl says: "Marl & Joe Shows could not happen without Joe Blitman! He is one of my favorite people in the whole world. Joe has a photographic memory, which comes in very handy for a vintage expert. He is a member of Mensa, and he is very handsome, with a killer sense of humor. Joe lives in Hollywood CA, in a pink Mediterranean style home, that his friends call Barbie's Dream Villa. Joe's personal collection is wonderful, he knows just everything about our girl, Barbie. You never know what to expect from Joe, one time I didn't even recognize him when he got to the show, because he'd dyed his hair blonde, and I just loved it, but he changed it back again." Marl is not exaggerating about Joe's pink villa; your Guide once bought a lovely MIB Brunette Bubble Cut Barbie from Joe, and since I was working in Hollywood at the time, I got to visit Joe's villa when I picked up the doll!
At the next "Joe and Marl" show you attend, be sure to stop by and say hello to Marl! She would love to meet you--she says "the best part of shows is meeting my customers face to face."
Shop Marl's site at www.marlbe.com
Find Joe Blitman at www.joebarbie.com/index.html
Joe & Marl Shows: Schedule of Shows
and, a special thank you to Auntie.com for helping to arrange the interview!
(ps: wish Marl a "Happy Birthday"--her birthday is November 21!)
Have you attended a Joe and Marl show? Share your experience in the Dolls Forum!
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Photo: Marl, on the right with her sister Nanny.
