Black Dolls: Proud, Bold and Beautiful
The special exhibition, sponsored by Reverie Publishing Company, will feature dolls from Reverie’s new book, Black Dolls: Proud, Bold & Beautiful, written by Nayda Rondon, editor of DOLLS magazine. The landmark book, which will debut at Expo, also includes an introduction and special artist commentaries from Barbara A. Whiteman, Founder and Executive Director of the Philadelphia Doll Museum, the only museum in America that focuses on the collection and preservation of black dolls as artifacts of history and culture. The comprehensive, full-color volume showcases more than 100 black dolls by 49 contemporary artists including Americans Floyd Bell, Jennifer Canton, Richard and Jodi Creager, Marcella Welch and Goldie Wilson and a host of renowned international doll makers. The black doll exhibition, which was inspired by the book, will be open to the public during regular Expo hours; authors Rondon and Whiteman will be available to sign books and discuss the dolls on display at scheduled times during the weekend.
“We are very excited about this exhibition,” says Joe Jones, President of Jones Publishing, owner of DOLLS magazine and the sponsor of Expo. “This is an unprecedented collection of black dolls by a diverse roster of artists and doll makers, one that has never before been presented to the public. We hope the exhibition will help turn a very bright spotlight on what is truly an extraordinary segment of the doll industry.”
Largest Event of Its Kind In North America
The largest event of its kind in North America, the Annual Doll & Teddy Bear Expo draws nearly 6,000 visitors each year. The show includes exclusive new product introductions, a variety of doll club and company-sponsored events, and exhibits representing nearly 250 national and international teddy bear and doll artists and manufacturers. This year’s special exhibition of black dolls is just one of many exciting events and happenings planned for Expo 2004, themed “Wish Upon a Star.”
Madame Alexander To Receive Lifetime Achievement Award
One of the shining stars in the doll industry—world-renowned Madame Alexander Dolls—has been selected by Jones Publishing to be the 2004 recipient of its Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to the doll and teddy bear industry. The Alexander Doll Company is honored for having established a series of “pioneer” benchmarks that set the standard for, and significantly shaped, the doll industry.
Madame Alexander Dolls was founded in 1924 by Madame Beatrice Alexander Behrman, the daughter of Russian immigrants. Raised over her father's doll hospital—the first in America—she often played with the dolls waiting to be mended, and her love of dolls led to her creating her own line. She is renowned for having initiated many “firsts” in the toy industry including the first doll based on a licensed character (Scarlett from “Gone With the Wind”), which led to the creation of dolls based on characters from popular motion pictures; the first to bring feature baby dolls to market; the first to create dolls in honor of living people (Queen Elizabeth, the Dionne Quints) and the first to introduce a full-figured fashion doll (Cissy) with haute couture outfits. The Jones Publishing Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to the Alexander Doll Company at the Awards Banquet on Saturday, August 28.
The Mousekebear
In celebration of the upcoming 50th Anniversary of the much beloved “Mickey Mouse Club,” the Annette Funicello Collectible Bear Co. honors the most famous mouseketeer of them all, Annette Funicello, with a limited edition “Mousekebear.” This adorable teddy bear likeness complete with “Annette” sweater, pleated skirt, saddle shoes, and of course, the very famous mouse ears (Annette says she owes "everything to those [mouse] ears”), will be available as an exclusive show special for purchase by Expo attendees only.
Born in New York, Annette came west when her father, a mechanic, moved his family to Los Angeles in search of a warmer climate. She became America's sweetheart in the 1950s thanks to her Disney productions, especially "The Mickey Mouse Club" TV show. The “Mickey Mouse Club” meant everything to her—just as it did to the 1950s kids who made it the most popular children's show of the decade. The original "Mickey Mouse Club" ran from 1955 to 1959, a total of 390 episodes.
Don't Miss Page 2: Information on the Golden Teddy, Diamond Doll, and the New Retailer Excellence Awards
