USO at the Hollywood Canteen

In celebration of the upcoming Jamieshow Hollywood Canteen Convention in Chicago, I finally got Ashton Drake's USO outfit and had J'Adore try it on. Hairstyles by none other than the talented Kathy Johnson.



This highly detailed Doug James outfit is a beauty, and comes with the microphone shown in the photos. The original doll that came with this outfit also had auburn hair. The trunk was sold separately.



See more Gene Marshall doll photos on my regular website.

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.

Gene does Gene

This 1995 (aka "Year One") release by Doug James is a very close replica of one of Gene Tierney's Oleg Cassini designed costumes from "The Ghost & Mrs Muir." Cassini was also married to the ethereal beauty at the time of the film's 1947 release. The story card for "Love's Ghost" lists this as a circa 1946 design, which puts it within the proper timeframe of the film's production.



From the Story Card:

In Gene Marshall's most unique film romance, "Love's Ghost," she plays a lovely guardian of two children in a Victorian setting. Set in a brooding period mansion, the film allows Miss Marshall to explore the question: "Can a beautiful Victorian governess find eternal happiness with a restless spirit?" Many filmgoers are debating the true meaning of the film's conclusion. See it yourself and be the judge…but be warned: take along a hanky!

Love's Ghost is the essence of Victorian elegance. Blouse is of white lawn with deeply-ruffled neckline and lace edging, and fastens with hooks and eyes down the front. Matching skirt has a separate net slip. A flowered cummerbund and matching straw hat add color. With hose, white shoes, "pearl" earrings, and hair ribbon. Circa 1946.



Imagine yourself in a "period" film set in the Victorian era. You assume the demeanor of a quiet young woman of the late nineteenth century. You learn to walk differently, to seat yourself differently in a chair when you are wearing a Victorian-era costume that sweeps around your ankles. It is an acting challenge that surely broadens your scope as a film star.

In the film titled Love's Ghost, Gene plays a governess of two lonely children. The film takes place in a spacious mansion filled with the sweetness of the children and the joyous care of their lovely teacher. And there is something else there, too: the mysterious spirit of the mystical Count, the children's father.



In this role, Gene looks ethereal in a dress reminiscent of fine Victorian fashion. It is made of simple, soft cotton. The bodice has a deep ruffled collar and billowing, elbow-length sleeves edged with lace. The only ornamentation is a pleated cummerbund trimmed with a nosegay of flowers, as if tucked there on a walk through the mansion's garden. The natural straw hat is bedecked with the same sweet flowers.

As the story unfolds, we ask: "Will the handsome Count ever appear? Will the young governess find her true love?" This costume seems to answer: "Yes!"

I tried the hat on Gene, but it just didn't look right. My model, White Hyacinth, balked, so I acquiesced and left it off!

See more Gene Marshall doll photos on my Gene web page.

Goodbye New York

When it comes to Gene's first year, my website didn't have too many photos of Gene's first outfits. I decided to rectify that by shooting Goodbye New York, which is one of my very favorite Gene ensembles. Released in 1995, this Doug James circa 1941 design was released separately, not on a dressed doll. It even comes with the teddy bear that you see here in the photos! Hello Hollywood, Hello Gene is modeling for us today.

From the story card:

Lucky travelers at Grand Central got a major eyeful last Tuesday if they happened to be heading toward Track 14. Noted Hollywood producer Eric von Sternberg was off to the City of Dreams…and at his side, a young lady named Gene Marshall, his latest and most luscious discovery, a dynamite blonde in a fur trimmed suit.



To the rest of the world, you look the part: a newly-discovered starlet, about to depart for Hollywood. But only you…and the kindly producer who has become your friend…know how you really feel. Happy, but wistful about leaving the simple life behind forever. Excited, but a little nervous about what the future holds.



Nonetheless, Gene starts to play her first "role" at the train station, where family, friends, and the press have come to see her off. And she'll certainly be going in style…because she's wearing the most beautifully tailored suit even sophisticated New York has seen!



Cut of brown crepe and houndstooth tweed, the jacket has the wide shoulders of classic '40s fashion, lavishly trimmed with faux fur. The crepe skirt has inverted pleats. Color flourishes at the suit's neckline, with the bright russet jersey blouse...and matching russet gloves truly help "make" the outfit. Gene's "fur" hat and muff are an unexpected, luxurious gift from the producer (the muff has a secret pocket for her hanky). Her hatbox declares her new "star" name: Gene. But the most touching goodbye gift of all is the teddy bear, Gene's childhood companion, brought to the station by her father to remind Gene forever of her family's love.





See more Gene Marshall photos on my Gene Marshall web page.

Gene Marshall Takes The Afternoon Off

Released in 1996, Afternoon Off is a circa 1947 design created by Doug James. Over a year ago, I attempted my first photo shoot of Gene wearing this outfit. I just was not crazy at all about the photos. I loved this particular costume, but the jacket just didn't drape right (once on Gene, the way it hung on her betrayed the scale) and the plaid on the skirt also seemed out of scale. In addition, the particular doll I chose didn't seem right either.



Flash forward to the present; I decided to give White Hyacinth a crack at wearing Afternoon Off. I was also fortunate enough to get the version of this ensemble that had the smaller plaid pattern on the skirt. Finally, I was happy with what I was able to shoot. The faux movie magazine that comes with this set was the perfect accessory!



From the story card:

At last! You have a chance to take an afternoon off from your ever-busy film and promotion schedule to do whatever suits your fancy! So what will it be? Shopping for a new gown to wear to that upcoming gala? Consulting with the florist to fill your home with custom arrangements? Perhaps a test-drive of that darling little silver roadster with the red leather interior?
Gene has done all these things, as genuine stars do...but she is determined that this afternoon off will be different.



She manages to slip away to a local grocery store, incognito, to pick out the ingredients for homemade vegetable soup, a favorite from her childhood. Then later, when the pot is simmering and the aroma of home cooking fills her home, she relaxes in a favorite easy chair and flips through a fan magazine in which she is prominently featured. Oh, my…just when she thinks she's read it all…can you believe what they've gone and written about her now?



For her short trip into town and the relaxing hours that follow, Gene wears a simple multi-checked skirt and a flared-cut matching grey flannel jacket. Her classic ivory sweater has beading at the neckline. Grey "suede" shoes with stylish ankle straps complete this well-tailored outfit. The exciting "exposés" in the fan magazine really do make Gene smile in spite of herself…because after all, that's Hollywood!



See more Gene Marshall Afternoon Off photos on my Gene Marshall web page.

Gene in Hi-Fi

Because of its vintage casual feel, Hi-Fi has always been one of my very favorite Gene Marshall outfits. I can picture my mom back in her day wearing an ensemble like this on a cool fall day. White Hyacinth was a perfect model for this circa 1954 Doug James designed sweater/capri pant combo, released in 1998. Inspired by photos I’d seen taken by another Gene fan, I located the Barbie vintage record player ornament to add to my photo shoot.



From the story card:

It's a rainy Sunday afternoon in September, and Gene is enjoying every moment of these few precious weeks at home between films. She is cozily curled up on the soft rug before the coffee table, going through the neat stacks of correspondence, letters from fans, and script proposals awaiting her attention. Delicious scents drift from the kitchen and fill the house as Gene's favorite homemade stew simmers in the slow cooker. Her dogs, Dashiell and Dottie, are happily drowsing before the fireplace. And best of all, "Blue Evening", that moody, bluesy hit record by Gene's dear friend Ina Stafford is on the hi-fi, filling the room with Ina's rich, velvety voice.

Gene finds herself humming along to the dreamy melody as she signs her name in a personal letter to a fan. As she rises to go to the desk for a stamp, she starts to sway to the music, harmonizing a soprano line to Ina's sultry alto. Her arms rise to dance with an invisible beau as a smile curves her lips and her eyes become dreamy.

The song ends and suddenly she hears applause from outside the window--it's her dear friend and sometimes leading man, dropping by for a visit and enjoying her impromptu dance. Laughing through her blushes, she welcomes him in. He walks straight to the hi-fi, starts the song again, and takes her in his arms--ready for a dance with Gene!







See more Gene Marshall photos at my regular website.

Gene Marshall: Twilight Rumba, Pt. 1

It took awhile for me to warm up to this circa 1948 ensemble designed by Doug James; but once I saw her in person, I was very glad that I snagged her! For photo number two, I put Gene into a shot with Harry Belafonte at the Cocoanut Grove Club located in the now demolished Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles (insert sigh). From the story card:

As she arranged the flowered comb in her flaming red hair, she thought back to that night five years ago when her life changed forever…

She’d just finished her final set of songs for the cocktail hour and the rays of the setting sun had painted the tropical sky. In the twilight, the orchestra had swung into a rumba. She sighed and turned to go. But she’d found her way blocked by a handsome stranger. “You have the voice of an angel,” he said. She laughed and replied, “I only wish that were true. I took this job becuase they promised me a big executive with GCR records was going to be here, but I guess I’m not going to be discovered after all.” “Ah, but I have discovered you,” he smiled, “and I have no intention of letting you go.” And he hadn’t for not only had they fallen in love, but the handsome stranger turned out to be the recording executive—and soon she was one of the biggest stars in the industry.



See more Gene Marshall & Friends photos at my regular website.

Meet Madra: Scorned Woman, Pt. 2

Finishing off the post from the other day featuring Madra. When all three story folders (the other two are for Gene and Trent) are placed together, they form a panorama. Mel thinks of everything doesn’t he? Here’s the rest of the story card:

And so Madra joined the cast of “Lover in Disguise” as the dress shop owner. In the film's classic climactic scene, she watches as her fiancé, a dashing playboy played by Trent Osborn, scorns her at a charity ball and runs off with her shopgirl, leaving Madra a masked and fuming wallflower.

But, even behind her mask, Madra showed being a scorned woman included hiding a broken heart and that single tear that trickled from beneath her mask triggered many a stifled sniffle in the audience!



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Meet Madra: Scorned Woman

Today marks my first post featuring Madra; obviously, she is not the focus of my Gene collection, but there are a handful of outfits that I like as well as a few Madra dolls that I think make a nice counterpoint to Ms. Marshall. Portrayed as the rival bee-yotch, Madra still has somewhat of a following. This particular Doug James costume was designed for a circa 1946 Masquerade Ball. I was drawn to "Scorned Woman" because of its similarity to Mae West. Photo #1 shows Madra at the U.S. Grant Hotel in San Diego. From the story card:

1946. “Don’t tell me—Gene gets Mr. Right, right?"
Madra was on the phone with her agent, Benny.
"So I won't tell you," he said.
"Story of my life," grumbled Madra.
"What, sweetheart?" I didn't quite catch that," said Benny.
"Oh, nothing—tell me the GOOD part." Madra lay back on her couch and popped a chocolate into her mouth.
"The good part is you get to wear fabulous clothes and the finale is a costume ball where you get to dress up in a turn-of-the-century hussy."
"Ooooh—a turn-of-the-century hussy?" Madra perked up. "Those were the kind of ladies my momma warned me about when I told her I wanted to be an actress! I can't wait to see Momma's face! Of course, I'll take the part—and I'll play this dame with a heart of 24 karat gold and we'll SEE who the audience roots for!"




See more Gene Marshall photos at my regular website.

Gene: White Hyacinth

Designed by Doug James in 1997, this circa 1946 outfit won me over slowly. Originally, I was just going to keep the outfit, but I also like the hairstyle. From the storycard:

A tempestuous romance, an intelligent, spirited heroine, and scenes of heart-wrenching poignancy that make you sigh even when reading the first draft…this is the kind of film every rising young actress dreams of starring in. You knew White Hyacinth would be one such extraordinary film.

Gene plays the devoted wife of a musician. As her husband struggles to fulfill his dream of becoming a star bandleader, Gene supports them by working as a secretary to a rich, though ruthless, banker. The banker desire Gene, and plots to ruin her marriage. Gene discovers the banker's deception and angrily hurls her defiance in his face. But his plots succeeded too well. The husband's jealousy and bitterness for his shattered dreams sunder the newlyweds apart. Audiences gasp in sympathy at the inexpressible sorrow haunting Gene's incomparable blue eyes.

But on a glorious spring day in the park the lovers reconcile, and in each other's arms the world melts away…just as do the hearts of millions of fans in that timeless, unforgettable moment of cinematic history.

Gene is a vision of fresh springtime elegance…Gene's sublime performance reminds us that love…like white hyacinths in spring…always blossoms anew.

To see more Gene Marshall & Friends photos, visit my regular website.

Gene: Midnight Gamble, Pt. 2

The rest of the storycard from “Midnight Gamble”:

One morning the paper treated its readers to a photograph of Gene exiting through the unique revolving face card doors of the famous Le Rouge et Le Noir casino club. Gene and her date had earlier attended a private exhibit of the innnovative art of painter Jacques Zoli, then went to the casino near midnight. Gene had never gambled before, so her escort recommended the roulette wheel. “Faites vos jeux,” called the croupier, and Gene placed several chips on number 17 black—her birthday. “Rien ne va plus,” the croupier called to end the betting, then spun the wheel in a dizzying kaleidoscope of red and black, the silver ball spinning, tripping, then clacking musically into…17 black! Gene threw her arms up with surprised excitement, her sumptuous Prussian blue silk jacket flying out like the wings of an exotic buttefly. Even Lady Luck is a big fan of the so-beautiful American cinema star, Gene!



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

Gene: Midnight Gamble, Pt. 1

Doug James is the mastermind behind this circa 1953 blue sheath. With Las Vegas in the background, Gene is ready to meet Lady Luck head-on! From the storycard:

Paris in 1953…what an exciting time! Art, music, literature, architecture, and especially fashion are flowering with a new renaissance as France gloriously rises from the ashes of war. The restoration of Versailles has begun, a new President and Premier are in office, and Gene Marshall is the toast of Parisian society, a favorite of both the cultural intelligentsia and the general public. Every moring people avidly read which glittering ball, fashion show or elite salon she attended the night before, gossiping over what she wore, the witty things she said, and every elegant, gracefulmove she made.

To see more Las Vegas photos, visit my regular website.

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

USO Accessories

The accessories and furniture that came with the Ashton-Drake Gene were almost as fantastic as the outfits. This USO accesory package is amazing in its detail; microphone, appropriately aged trunk, flag...what an excellent display addition for the USO doll. More from the story card:

The GI’s loved her. Gene was “Our All-American Girl,” the gorgeous pin-up in the black teddy come to life. Their thunderous applause would overwhelm Gene every time the famous comedian USO host would introduce her for their lively opening comedy ski.

To maintain military secrecy, Gene was not allowed to reveal her itinerary to anyone, or tell what units they’d already played to. Her troupe traveled in England and France, performing fourteen shows a week in castles, the back of supply trucks, and on hastily thrown-together stages in the middle of cow fields and combat zones. This soldiers’ courage and patriotism made Gene so proud to wear the uniform the studio made for her—not too authentic, so the enemy would realize she wasn’t a soldier in case she were captured (several actors had this terrifying experience). Gene will never forget the powerful emotions she felt stepping on the shores of Normandy, seeing the new hope for victory dawning in everyone’s eyes. On the plane flying home, she knew these two months were the hardest…and proudest…days of her life.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! To see more Gene Marshall photos, visit my regular website.

USO

Gene is somewhat of a cross between Barbie and American Girl...but much better! Her story cards not only reflect on her movie career but they are also interesting (and fairly factual) glimpses of what the times were like. World War II features prominently in Gene’s life, especially in this circa 1944 USO outfit, designed by Doug James. Photo by Steven Mays. From the story card:

From July through early August of 1944, Gene performed the most emotionally and physically demanding role of her life…that of a USO/Camp Shows volunteer, touring the perilous Foxhole Circuit to boost the morale of American fighting men on the front lines. She was one of the “Soldiers in Greasepaint,” bringing laughter and a bit of home to war-weary men and women while bombs exploded just a few miles away.

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

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.