GENE DOLLS.. the early years..

This is all about GENE MARSHALL..Her name was Katie.After she was discovered by a Hollywood Producer,she took her Grandfathers name, Gene. He had urged her to follow her dream to go to Hollywood and begee a star.. Actually, I think every doll gees with the story, so you probably already know it.. anyway...when they say "Share The Dream"..that's the dream they are talking about.. geing to Hollywood and being a star.. Well, yes, I guess most of us had dreams like that at one time or another.. Maybe, that's one reason we like Gene.. We can pretend it is us.....or not.
I started collecting Gene dolls fairly early, but sorry to say, not right out of the gate.. I had to end up paying some premium prices for the first dolls, but that's the story of my life! So, now I am writing to tell you what I know about Gene, some prices, what I think and where the possibilities may take her.
I bought my first dolls from Ashton Drake in 1997.. I am really only going to tell you about the more unusual dolls in my collection at first and what I paid for them at the time.
One was called "1997 Parkwest Naled Catalog Exclusive Limited Edition". That's a mouthful ! It was a gorgeous creation called "Midnight Romance.. Issue price was 89.95.
In 1998 my favorite had to be "GoodBye New York". Gene is dressed in fur and plaid and has her teddy bear with her on her hat box.. She is "Off To Hollywood". It's funny that this wasn't one of the first dolls, since she is off to be a famous movie start.Only 34.95. But, they also came out with Destiny, Blue Goddess and Bird of Paradise.
There are "story lines" or Movies I guess that each outfit is about.
Sparkling seduction really made me think "Madonna"..Really looks like her. Incognito on the other hand has a definite Marilyn Monroe flair.. Mandarin Mood was the chinese influence and Crimson Sun makes you think of the Bahamas.. Seems like the think tank for Gene Marshall covered all the bases.
In 1999 I just HAD to have Gene's white Christmas tree with the pink ornaments...And "Lucky Stripe"..A wonder of a black and white striped dress with a big "picture" hat 79.95 and Song of Spain, which was being discontinued..99.95.
As you can see from this picture of my closet.. I just HAD to have lots of them. This closet is 6 feet deep and they are solid on that shelf and down below, they are about to gee out the door.


I'm not sure when they started the discontinuation program, but that also was near the start of the series.. After one year, they would let you know which of the outfits or dolls were being discontinued.. This would, of course, make you want them even more.
I bought a music video "Menu for Romance" 14.95, which is pictured with a T- shirt and other misc. items.. I'll tell you more about the T-shirt, etc. later.

The video is the pkg on the left with Gene's face on it.. The gold pkg with the star, ( I don't know where Igotit)..is....a pkg of ground coffee! In the front are some newsletters. Up towards the top is a white candle..says "Share the Dream" on the glass and next to that is a heart shaped glass Christmas ornament.
I also bought 3 sets of magnetic paper dolls in 1997, which were 14.95 per set. It's hard to see in the picture, but there is a blonde, brunette and redhead.


Remember that you have to add postage to every price I quote to arrive at the true price paid.
Let's not forget "Daughter of The Nile" that came out in 1999.. I was really into Egyptian things at the time and quickly got my order in for 79.95.
One should remember that Gene, I am sure, was designed for several reasons.. Mel Odom is a designer and artist.. This was his creation.. And, whether intended or not, was gepetition for Barbie. Although, that seemed to only be momentary, because a number of fashion dolls started hitting the market, such as the Tonner dolls. I'm sure they all took a small portion of Barbie's market, but she's still around..sooo..
I remember when my friend, Linda, first told me I should buy some.. Penney's was having some kind of sale.. So, I went with her.. Naturally, I bought some, but to tell you the truth.. I didn't thinkGene was all that pretty.. For one thing-her head seems slightly large for her body.. But, as with lots of things, you get used to it and don't seem to notice any more. The thing that WAS impressive was the wardrobe.. Oh, to have clothing like that.. And remember, these clothes were and are designed with a particular era in mind.. they aren't modern.. The thirty's and fourty's seem to dominate.. But, then, why not.. That was the era of the greatest starsmoviedom has ever known... Betty Grable, Lana Turner, Joan Crawford, Errol Flynn, Greta Garboand of course, Clark Gablejust to name a few.
And these beautiful and I might add well made, clothes are all designer originals.. Many of Mel Odom's friends are designers as he is and they have given great beauty to this endeavor.
Simply Gene seemed to be an answer to those who couldn't afford the more expensive dolls in those wonderful outfits.. She came just dressed in a 2 pc. sunsuit. She was blonde, brunette and redhead for 49.95...the Platinum blonde was 59.95. There were other issues of Simply Gene too.. One was 59.95 just because she had a new nail color!! Then they came out with one that bent at the knees and the waist. And there have been more..
The year 2000 brought Madra Lord, a real gepetitor for Gene in the Movie Business. By the way, Do you have Madra's Dogs? Oooh I wish I had bought them.. But, they were 44.95 at issue.. I was starting to get quite a collection and quite an investment.. But, I wasn't through yet..
A rather rare type outfit was issued this year.. "The Spirit of Truth", in metal breastplate with shield, etc.Joan of Arc?
By now, there were dolls dressed in just about every uniform of every branch of the armed services.
There were dolls and outfits showing Gene skiing, dancing , gardening and ready to ride a horse..
They were dressed in foreign outfits too.
And some "limited Editions" like Madra's 'Black Widow'( a limited ed. of 2,500) was sold out before the booklet showing her was printed. I didn't manage to get that one, but I did get other LE such as Shooting Star, I do and Love at First Sight.
Gene had been out for 5 years in 2000. That was the year the the Land of Enchantment Doll Club, hosted a special luncheon for Gene in Santa Fe, New Mexico, called" Grand Opening." Luckily, I lived in New Mexico then and was able to attend. The picture below shows the placemat from that luncheon as well as a shopping bag.. The License plate came from Georgia's Gift Gallery,where I purchased a number of the Gene's.

Remember, I told you that I'd tell you about the T-shirt? That was designed by a friend who happened to also be a retired dress designer by the name of Jim Howard. He made those for this luncheon. He also did the paper dolls shown below:

Mel Odom was there too.. I remember asking him(he may or may not remember this) NOT to flood the market the way they did with Barbie.. People want to collect, but it's a hardship financially to gee up with $80 -90 a dozen times a year.. Obviously, no one remembered that bit of advice. And not to make a billion and call them limited editions. At least he did make truly limited editions.
At that luncheon, they had a gepetition for a Gene outfit. I didn't win, although one of the other gepetitors wanted to buy my outfit.. So, here is a picture of the gown.. It is one piece. There are no seams.. It is fully reversible... Black jersey on one side and metallic on the other.. I have put pictures in the pictures.. Don't know if you can really see it, but maybe you can get the idea.

In 2000 FAO Schwartz teamed up with Ashton Drake and presented "Priceless" A black silk strapless gown and a long white fur stole.. She also wears a gorgeous "diamond" necklace. Issue price was $110.00.
Shoes..Purses...Hats...There are also choices in Lingerie, Jewelry, and yes, even a birthday cake with all the trimmings. And HAT BOXES! There are quite a few.. I have pictured here just 3 different ones.

And STUFF!! Phones, fans and the like.
In November of 2001 Violet Waters hit the scene.. She is a black singer.
Oh, let's not forget Trent. Hmmm Does he look a little like Gable to you?

I had to buy Gene's Trunk wich was 69.95 at issue.. Dolls were from 49.95 and up, depending on outfit.
2002 Brought Gene's winter Romance. A delectable gown trimmed with dark fur @ $110. And Trent...Top of the Morning...( Oh, Rhett, where are you?Ad even shows him posed on the staircase.) .$125.00.
A limited edition of 3750 ofGene in "To Have and To Hold" which is in a wedding dress went for $125.00.
WOW!Now you can buy even Trent's underwear!.
Violet Waters is absolutely stunning in her peacock blue outfit called "Out of The Blue" This was limited to 3750 and sold for $110.00...later she appears in a beaded beauty called "Torch Song" for $125.00
Let's not forget about Madra..She shows up in 2003 looking like Amelia Earhart in her aviatrix outfit called "Turbulence" 99.95.
Now, there are what I call some 'far reaching' or 'funky' outfits they dressed Gene in too.. Two came out this year. Siren in the Night and Shanghai Siren.. I'm sorry but Pinque Passion got in there too.. For some reason, I just couldn't see the refinement that I had seen in almost every other Gene costume.
They came out this year with "Calender Magic". It shows a calendar with a Wave holding a Coca Cola(tm)so Gene is also in a Wave uniform..$125.00
A Beautiful creation of a peach beaded gown and long coat called "Presidential Ball" came out for $125.00
It's about this time that I quit collecting Gene.. I think you can see why, when you look back over the years posted.. The dolls got more and more expensive.. In my opinion way too many different were issued each year and my closet was full.
ARTIST REPAINTS
I'm not sure when people started doing this.. But, they actually remove all the paint from Gene's face and repaint it.. Some leave on original clothing, but some redress as well.. Same with the hair.. Some leave it original and still others reroot new hair.. In some cases, the doll is not even recognizable.
I recently searched on okay for Gene.. How many of you got the Kiss Dolls when you did that? Me too. Anyway, I have listed some dolls below that were on okay
Dolls Price realize # of bidders
Premiere 75.00 14
There were two on Buy it now.. One is $225.99 and the other is $395.00. There is another still on. Premiere is the very first doll.
Blue Goddess 27.00 9
Destiny 23.25 3
Pink Hair/outfit 66.99 11
Platinum bld./suit 45.09 10
Simply Gene 33.00 3
Trunks like mine not found, but there was a
USO trunk 51.00 19
There were 5 Nude dolls-3 brun. 2 red or redblnd.
105.06 13
There were 5 Nude Dolls - 2 Really red, 1 Red blonde , 1 dk blnd
137.49 13
Artists Samples.. I don't really understand this, except that they seem to be signed. There is one of Trent, that I know was in the catalog..so couldn't be just limited to a very few.
La Femme D'Intrique..10th anniversary AP sample
163.99 16
Azure Elegance...10th ann. AP sample
54.00 19
Outfits only
Trent..Major Laine 133.50 20
Trent Handsome Devil 51.00 9
Trent Dinner for Two 61.00 5
Gene..Witch.. 56.00 10
Lotta Moola 102.50 11
ARTIST REPAINTS
Dressed in Farewell Golden Moon 29.99 1
In Red Flare(I think) 29.99 0
In Venus gown 29.99 0
So, now in summation:
The dolls are well made. Outfits are superbly manufactured and designed. This is collecting art in the form of small clothing.. But, is it a good investment.?. Maybe time will change things, but at this point, it looks like only a chosen few items are selling for more than the issue price.. Since I have not purchased any new ones in several years.. I cannot gement on that period.. But, it's been my experience that if anything is going to go up in price, it's the first few items issued.. As you can see ..Gene in Premiere is not bringing the price it should by that standard.. Those that are listed in stores on Buy it Now are prices the doll should be bringing now, but at auction.. Well... watch and see.The Artist Repaints is strange to me.. Why buy a Gene if you are going to repaint it? they don't seem to be bringing high prices.. Possibly, could bring more if they would tell who the artist is.. It is my hope that this guide will help you to identify a few of the items and help you decide if you want to be a collector.. You will enjoy the dolls for yourself, even if you never make a profit!