The Doll Podcast

Valerie Fogel joins host Louisa Maxwell to explore the history of  Maison Huret,  famous for creating luxury French fashion dolls with the finest fashions and accessories. In 1844 Mademoiselle Calixté Huret was inspired to create a doll with an idealised view of a young lady with an elaborate lifestyle. Calixté worked with her sister Leopoldine creating a family business that celebrated innovation, in the art of the doll.

 Valerie Fogel has loved dolls since her father brought them home from every port when she was a small child.  As her collection and knowledge grew, so has her fascination for historic dolls from Europe. Valerie has lectured at The United Federation of Doll Clubs and received awards from them for her work to  advance the the goals of preservation, education and study of dolls. Valerie  contributes‘ The UFDC’s publication Doll News’, and Antique Doll Collector  Magazine. She is also recognised by the National Art and Antique Dealers Association and is the owner of Beautiful Bébés Antique Dolls.

https://www.dollpodcast.com/podcasts

On our last episode Bradley Justice Yarbrough shared the story of Barbie and her career selling the dream lifestyle on film and TV. 

This time in an episode from our archive Bradley relates the story of the team of talented artists, fashion designers and engineers it took to bring Ruth Handler’s vision of Barbie doll into being.

In the 1950’s toymaker Ruth Handler watched her daughter playing with paper dolls and was inspired to create a fashion doll that a child could hold in their hand.  Mattel assembled a design team of artists,  engineers and fashion designers to create Barbie  - and the rest is history.
 
Author and  fashion doll expert  Bradley Justice Yarbrough has made a study of Barbie doll and was awarded the Coleman Scholarship for the research and study of the Designers of the Barbie Doll. He writes for  Doll News and Antique Doll Collector Magazine and also has the distinction of being voted the title of ‘Barbie’s Best Friend’ at Barbiecon. Today he tells the inside story behind the innovative designers that brought Ruth Handlers’s vision to life.

Bradley Justice Yarbrough author and expert on all things Barbie doll joins host Louisa Maxwell to explore how Barbie captivated generations of children through the medium of television advertising.

Bradley has amassed an impressive archive of first hand interviews and accounts of the story behind the creation of this pop culture legend. He traces the trends Barbie has followed in her over sixty years and how she reflects our fashion and culture.  Bradley gives us an insight into the creative people that made Barbie a household name.

Award winning artist and illustrator Mel Odom joins host Louisa Maxwell on The Doll Podcast.

Mel Odom’s work  has graced magazine covers for: Time, Omni, The New York Times , Rolling Stone, Blue Boy and Play Boy. He has created artwork for numerous best selling books and album  covers for CBS records. 

Mel’s art deco influenced portraits are reminiscent of dramatically lit Hollywood film stills, his love of film and beauty inspired him to make a doll, Gene Marshall, a fashion doll and star of stage and screen. 

In our interview Mel reveals the films and stars that gave him inspiration for Gene and her career. He also shares memories of his best friend and real life MGM Movie Star, Marsha Hunt and the doll he made in her likeness to honour her.

It was a drawing of a beautiful face that inspired Mel Odom to create Gene Marshall, a movie star of  Hollywood’s golden age of the 1940’s and 50s’. When she was launched in 1995, the press heralded  Gene with the headline:  “A star is born and she’s a doll!” 
At fifteen and a half inches tall Gene towered over the competition and won the hearts of millions of fans.
Episode Webpage:

https://www.dollpodcast.com/podcasts/gene-marshall-amp-mel-odom-films-and-stars-of-hollywoods-golden-age

Tamara Casey is the creative force behind Designs by Jude a design house offering over nine hundred sewing patterns for dolls.  Tamara joins fellow sewing enthusiast Louisa Maxwell to share her journey as a designer.  Sewing new outfits  is one of the most creative parts of doll collecting and Tamara’s pattern collection offers designs for over sixty types of dolls. Her Youtube channel has over 4,000 subscribers where she gives step by step tutorials to allow doll lovers to release their inner couturier.
https://www.dollpodcast.com/podcasts/tamara-casey-designing-for-dolls

Stuart Holbrook president of Theriault’s auction house joins host Louisa Maxwell in Vienna, Austria, to discuss his travels in 2022 searching for unique and precious dolls.

In part two Stuart and Louisa discuss how the definition of a doll is changing and the art of the Japanese doll. They discuss how the pandemic has effected  auctions  and that even more people are collecting dolls than before. 

If you missed part 1 you can find it on Apple Podcasts or our website www.dollpodcast.com or on Apple Podcasts or wherever you find you podcasts.

Stuart Holbrook president of Theriault’s auction house joins host Louisa Maxwell in Vienna, Austria, to discuss his travels in 2022 searching for unique and precious dolls.

In Australia Stuart met collectors of antique dolls, that originally voyaged there in the 19th century, and jet setting Barbie rarities. Determined Australian collectors have traveled far and wide to get their dolls and each doll has a fascinating story and journey.

The stories of unique objects is the subject of Stuart’s new book “Never ending Stories”- the history and legacy of  iconic objects. He explains how “dolls are not just playthings but art that evokes fashion and the three  dimensional human form.” Dolls capture the timeline of our changing attitudes to beauty and fashion. Each doll has a story of it’s own and the story of the people who have cherished it. 

Part one of our podcast ends with the Journey to Australia - We continue in our next episode on to Japan and their tradition of doll making and talk about how auctions are changing and transforming the way we buy dolls and much more on The Doll Podcast.

https://www.dollpodcast.com/podcasts/every-doll-tells-a-story-with-stuart-holbrook-part-1

Australian artist, Jozef Szekeres joins host Louisa Maxwell on The Doll Podcast.

As a senior animator at Walt Disney, Jozef Szekeres brought a cast of imaginary characters to life. He is also the author of best selling comic books and graphic novels. 

Inspired by his love of  sculpture and fashion and he created his fashion doll line GlamourOZ Dolls and received the accolade of  American DOLLS Awards of Excellence Industry’s Choice winner in 2020.

Jonathan Greene, who lectures on Käthe Kruse dolls, and hosts the Käthe Kruse Gathering joins host Louisa Maxwell.
Käthe Kruse has been a  name synonymous with dolls for over 100 years. Her journey as a doll artist started in 1905 when her daughter wished for a cuddly doll, so Käthe created a doll with the weight and softness of a baby.  Jonathan Greene tells us the story of this talented artist and entrepreneur who created an international brand of handcrafted dolls.
https://www.dollpodcast.com/podcasts/kthe-kruse

Michael Canadas of the Grovian Doll Museum joins host Louisa Maxwell to discuss the origins of World Doll Day and how it has grown into a worldwide celebration of dolls

This year we will celebrate World Doll Day on June 11, 2022. World Doll Day is not just for doll enthusiasts but a day for everyone to give or share the special joy a doll can bring.

World Doll Day was established in 1986 by Mildred Seeley the renowned doll expert, author and collector. Just as she shared her love of dolls through her books Mildred wanted to establish a day to celebrate the importance of dolls as playthings and the importance of play in society at large. 

https://www.dollpodcast.com/podcasts/world-doll-day