Midnight Gamble: Who Wears It Better?

1998's Midnight Gamble is a beautiful circa 1953 outfit by Doug James. The beaded jacket reminds me of Judy Garland, who often wore similar garments for her concerts.

The dress underneath does very well on its own. Here, Gene raises an arm to her fans.



These first three photos show the original doll paired with this outfit.



Using one of the new wig caps from the Le Jazz Hot Convention in Chicago, J'Adore Gene steals the outfit from her Ashton Drake counterpart.



So who do you think wears it better? J'Adore seems ready challenge you if you choose otherwise!



See more Gene Marshall photos on my regular website.

Smart Set

Here's yet another outfit that I can't believe it has taken me so long to photograph! Doug James' Smart Set is a circa 1948 sheath and jacket released in 1998. The shoes and earrings shown here are not original to this outfit. The mini painting by Mel Odom DID come with the set; what a cool accessory!



Gene holds it up so that you can get a better look at it:



In this photo, Gene is holding an Eight Ball; what do you think it tells her about her future?



Reminiscing about her childhood, Gene pulls out her Shirley Temple doll, Viewmaster set, and a Barbie board game. Those were the days!





The hat that comes with Smart Set is a cute black felt number with a white felt feather. Unfortunately, it's a bit big for Gene's scale. I shrunk it with Photoshop to make it look more appropriate.



From the story card:

In the darkly atmospheric suspense thriller Montage, Gene Marshall led spellbound audiences into the labyrinthine coils of the European art world--a coterie of sinister forgers, cunning thieves, and murderers, where nothing is what it seems and no one can be trusted.

Filmed on location in Rome, Gene plays the lovely, innocent daughter of a renowned painter, enjoying the sophisticated roundelay of society balls, galleries, and art salons of Europe's cultured intelligentsia. Her carefree life takes a sudden and frightening turn when her father mysteriously vanishes without a trace. Gene is convinced the key to his disappearance lies in the haunting, surreal portrait he painted days before--a portrait that someone is willing to murder for.

Audiences will never forget the terrifying moments when Gene, clutching her father's enigmatic painting, fearfully hurries down the shadowy, twisting streets of old Rome, stalked by a menacing figure in a black trench coat. The vivid red of her fitted sheath suit and pleated bolero jacket seems to flash a warning as the camera captures every hair-raising moment of suspense during this unnerving, deadly game of cat-and-mouse among the dark colonnaded piazzas of Rome.

By the end of the film, the killer is revealed, the father is safe, and Gene's suit was copied for the fashion runways of Paris as "Smart Set".



See more Gene Marshall Doll photos on my regular website.

Warmest Wishes

Released in 1998, "Warmest Wishes" was one of my first Genes. I cannot believe it took me so long to post about her! Tim Kennedy's circa 1948 design is a favorite of mine. Part of an FAO Schwarz release, she comes with a wrapped Christmas package that has a miniature nutcracker inside.



From the story card:

Shopping for the holidays on New York City's Fifth Avenue! What a wonderful way to feel the holiday spirit, amid the festive hustle and bustle of the city. Gene happily hummed the refrain of the new carol "Sleigh Ride" as she made her way along the sidewalk, smiling at all the rosy faces smiling back at her.

The dazzling lights, colors, and whirring mechanical motion in a toy store's window enticed her to stop and stare with childlike delight at the marvels within. And that's when she saw him...a toy soldier, tall and proud, so dashing in his crisp white soldier's uniform with a red shako hat, polished black boots, gold braid, and black epaulettes. With his snowy-white hair and beard it reminded Gene of Henry, the gentlemanly doorman of the posh hotel she stayed at when in town. Over the years he had become a gallant friend, handling Gene's mail, messages, and fans with the same calm efficiency that had made him a decorated soldier in the war. A bullet in the left leg left him with a bad limp, but nothing would ever daunt his pride at serving his country. Now, wearing another uniform, he guards and serves the hotel's guests in all kinds of weather, with the same dedication and loyalty he gave to the army. What a perfect gift that toy soldier would make for darling Henry!



"Besides," Gene later thought impishly as she walked out of the store, gift box tucked under her arm, "I never could resist a man in uniform!"



See more Gene Marshall Doll photos on my regular website.

Covent Garden

Released in 1998, Covent Garden was one of the last Ashton Drake dolls that I purchased. Designed by Tim Kennedy, this 1948 outfit is one that had me on the fence. Although I did eventually get it, I also eventually sold it...both the doll and the outfit. They were very pretty, but Champagne Supper was so similar that I couldn't see the point in keeping the doll. As for the outfit, it is gorgeous, but just not the type that I would keep and re-photograph as much as the ones I am holding onto.

Today, Champagne Supper is ably standing-in for the original Covent Garden doll.



From the story card:

Two snow-white horses drew the elegant carriage up to the marble steps of London's Covent Garden Opera House as the crowd of onlookers craned their necks to see who was arriving in such vintage splendor. The coachman opened the door and Gene Marshall appeared…and a sigh of adoration swept through the crowd at the magical, storybook vision she made in her breathtaking gown. Gene gracefully descended from the carriage on the hand of her escort in a luminous, trailing cloud of white. She floated up the marble stairs to the soaring white columns of the Opera House entrance as flashbulbs popped like stars.



The opera was one of Gene's favorites: Rossini's La Cenerentola, the story of Cinderella. After the final curtain Gene was on cloud nine, the rapturous glory of the romantic music still echoing in her heart. She was so entranced that she didn't even notice her laced velvet shoe had loosened until it slipped right off her foot on the marble steps upon leaving the opera house! Her escort—a dear friend and occasional leading man—gallantly retrieved the dainty shoe and laced it back on as Gene steadied herself with a hand on his shoulder. Neither of them thought any more about the incident until the morning newspapers blazoned their photograph with the headline "Cinderella at the Opera!" The article gushed over Gene's beauty, comparing her own "rags-to-riches" story to the classic fairytale—and even suggested that England's new two-week-old prince would fall madly in love with her at first sight!













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Champagne Supper Revisited

Released in 1998, Champagne Supper ranks as one of my VERY favorite Genes and VERY favorite outfits. Designed by Tim Kennedy, this circa 1957 outfit seems so rich, thanks to the coppery colored fabric used and the beautiful faux fur trim.



This was one of the first dolls in my collection and also one of the first that I photographed. I figured it was time to revisit her and give her another session.



From the story card:

He flew to London all the way from Hollywood just to be with her. They had starred in a number of movies together, been the closest of friends for ages. But lately something new and profound had been dawning deep inside him whenever he thought of her…Gene Marshall.

He slipped the maître d' a generous tip to ensure the evening would be perfect—candlelight and iced champagne. When she appeared, pausing with a dancer's poise at the top of the hotel's grand staircase, he was as speechless as a boy with his first crush. She was so lovely, so incandescent, every inch a star…and a genuinely wonderful woman.

That look in his famous eyes as she stood at the top of the stairs set Gene's heart to fluttering. His reverent expression told her more in an instant of his tender new feelings than all the bouquets of roses he'd ever sent her. Her feet scarcely touched the ground, and as she took his hand in hers, she felt the warmth and gentle strength of his fingers through her gloves. From that moment on the evening passed in a rainbow-colored dream. They'd kissed dozens of times in the movies, but that was work. For the first time she found herself wondering what it would be like to truly kiss him. She wasn't sure what she drank or ate at supper. All she knew was that she was as giddy as a butterfly, and so lightheaded it must have been the champagne. Gene knew right then that this was the man her parents should meet…very soon.



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Hello Hollywood, Hello

This was one of the first Gene dolls for me; very reminiscent of Alice Faye, a favorite musical star of the 30’s & 40’s. Faye was unique; beautiful as could be, she was also very grounded and real, too. She told it like it was and could sing like nobody’s business. I like to think that Gene was like this as well. This circa 1941 outfit was designed by Doug James and Joan Greene. From the story card:

The producer, Eric von Sternberg, inspected his newest starlet through a monocoled eye. “You climbed onto this train, clutching your Daddy and your teddy bear, a little girl—a nobody! But when you step off this train in Hollywood, Miss Marshall, you’re stepping off this train a star!”

Gene didn’t know how true his words were until the train pulled into the depot. To her amazement, a crowd of photographers and curious onlookers were swarming around a billboard bearing her picture and new name!

Today’s post marks the first time I am displaying a photo that I took myself. Featuring the Los Angeles Union Station, this is most likely the station Gene would have arrived at in 1941. Hope you like my first attempt.

To see more Union Station photos, visit my regular website. To see more Gene Marshall photos, visit my regular website.