Hollywood Canteen Report, Pt. 2

The highlight of the Hollywood Canteen was the dinner and reveal of the Convention dolls. George and Tim were dressed appropriately for the theme:



The 1944 film "Hollywood Canteen" starring Jack Benny and Bette Davis was playing in the background:



A definite bonus for the Convention was being able to meet the people that brought Gene to life and have kept her going so strong, including Mel Odom himself:



Mike Basala of Studio Commissary and Randy Simmons:



Designers extraordinaire Lynne Day and Diane Wagner:



I had the great fortune of being able to sit next to Diane at dinner; it was so nice to be able to meet her in person after having bought so many Gene outfits from her! Best of all, she was just as nice as I'd imagined she'd be. Table gifts were generously laid out at each plate. My convention newbie-self was woefully unprepared; I will have to make up for it at Sandra's Convention!



Up at the podium display there was a golden-clad Gene and Trent, waiting to be auctioned off:



Mel took a moment to pose Gene to perfection:



Closeups of the duo:





It was wonderful to hear Mel speak about his creation, Gene Marshall:



As most know by now, the Convention doll reveals were Marsha Hunt and Cary, a new Jamieshow male inspired by Cary Grant.



Mel proudly posing with Marsha:



My report finishes out with shots of the rest of the Hollywood Canteen collection, beginning with Trent:



I really wasn't planning on getting another Trent, but the highly detailed outfit was not something I could resist. George had told me that the medals were all custom created, just as the daisy buttons for Madra were:



Ivy:



Two Violets; which color do you prefer?



Oona:



Zita Charles:



Last, but certainly not least, is the newest Gene Marshall. I could not believe how beautiful the doll AND outfit were. This one was a complete winner for me, rivaling J'Adore:





That just about covers the highlights of my first Convention. Will I see all of you at Sandra Stillwell's New Orleans Convention in August?

See more Gene Marshall Hollywood Canteen Convention photos at my website.

Hollywood Canteen Report, Pt. 1

After all these years, I was finally able to attend my first Gene Marshall Convention. Held at the Warwick Allerton Hotel in Chicago, Jamieshow's Hollywood Canteen was a blast...that also blasted out everyone's wallets! So many cool things to see (and purchase).



A view of this renovated historic hotel during the day:



The hotel was conveniently located on Michigan Avenue (aka the Miracle Mile of shopping). My room was spacious and perfectly appointed.



One of the first sites that greeted attenders was this amazingly detailed diorama of the Hollywood Canteen.



Most of Gene's friends were represented including Ivy Jordan:



Marlena, spinning the wheel for the boys:



...and even a few sailors!



As we waited in our seats to watch a documentary on actress and activist Marsha Hunt, George quietly walked through the audience with a brilliant orange-clad Violet Waters convention doll.



Before this wonderful documentary began to roll, Mel got up to speak a bit about Marsha, who is a very dear friend of his.



I knew very little about Hunt before seeing this movie, but have to say that I gained a deep respect for her. Besides her acting talents, she has spent her life standing up for truth and human rights, especially during a time when speaking out was not very popular.



It was fantastic to see some of the OOAK creations that were on display that night:





These two gowns caused audible gasps from passersby:





More to come with part 2!

See more Gene Marshall Hollywood Canteen Convention photos at my website.

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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.

Plum Role

I avoided this 2008 Gene Marshall doll from Integrity because of the pixie haircut; not a fan of it on Gene. But…I do like the outfit; especially the shoes, so recently I caved in and dipped into Gene's purse to buy it.



From the IT website:

Gene nabs the plum role in this three-piece satin finish cocktail suit. Styled with an abbreviated bolero jacket sporting three-quarter sleeves and an expansive circular collar, our trim suit is a lovely exercise in three-color harmony. The jacket and skirt are cut of the deepest shade of plum and paired with sparkling white in the satin blouse and accessories of white ‘leather’ gloves (note: the actual gloves that came with the outfit were satin) and smart pillbox hat.



White, trimmed in black shoes and bag complete the accessories and a nosegay of small white blooms is pinned to the jacket or perhaps at the waistband of the skirt. Gene’s brunette pixie-cut is punctuated by gold earrings. It’s a smart girl in a smart suit that catches the plum role.



From the Star File Script:

Gene was on Cloud Nine -- maybe Cloud Ten!

It seemed like only the other day that Dr. and Mrs. Marshall had bundled her off to New York for a holiday and to see the long-running, ever-popular play "Green Eyes." And now, here Gene was, in Hollywood, starring in the movie version as Nora, the little innocent in the Big Bad World of publishing.

In a way, it was a little like Life reflects Art!

Standing on a small box in the costume shop, expected to be still while the fitters flittered around her with tape measures and pins, Gene had time to stop thinking about playing Nora and reflect a little on herself and how much she and Nora were alike.

"After all," Gene thought, "I AM still pretty naive when it comes to the game playing and politics of the Movie Biz."

But over teh short time she'd been in Tinsel Town, she'd come to know who to trust, whome to doubt — and who was actually a sheep in wolf's clothing (aka, Madra Lord).



And just like Nora, she knew that she was where she should be. And she also knew that she would continue to succeed-and she smiled in anticipation of what she hoped would be a long and lustrous career as the thing she'd always dreamed of being -- a REAL movie STAR!

"There, finished!" said the head fitter, just as the costumer came through the door of the shop to survey the work that had been done.

"Perfect, as usual." said the costumer. Bit then again, Gene, you are indeed one of my favorite stars to dress -- you were MADE for the mvoies, and for the role of Nora!"

At that, Gene smiled a glorious smile.

"What are you thinking?" asked the head fitter.

"Just that I feel a little like Jack Horner," giggled Gene. "But I've pulled out a Plum... Role!!"



In other Gene news, it's definitely not too early to register for May 2016's Jamieshow Convention in Chicago. There are a limited amount of tickets available, and those who snooze…will definitely lose!

For more information and registration, visit the 2016 Hollywood Canteen Convention site.

See more Gene Marshall Integrity doll photos on my regular website.

Follow my Gene Marshall, Madra Lord, Zita Charles, Violet Waters, Trent Osborn, Poppy Parker, and other classic movie star doll updates on Twitter.