This project was supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian Made accessible through a grant from the John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation and Photo Friends
Madame Alexander is a brand of American collectible dolls introduced in 1923. The company, founded by Beatrice Alexander, created the first collectible dolls based on a licensed character, Scarlett O'Hara, from the book and movie Gone with the Wind. Early creators of mass-produced dolls in honor of living people, the company sold dolls of the famous Dionne quintuplets in 1936 and a set of 36 Queen Elizabeth II dolls to commemorate her 1953 coronation. A December 2005 article in Forbes magazine analyzed the most popular American toys by decade and Madame Alexander collectible dolls led the list for the 1920–1929 decade, beating out the yo-yo. Photograph caption dated May 7, 1963 reads "The dolls are her traveling companions." The article partially reads "Carolyn Perkio, a 21-year-old Los Angeles girl, 'plays with dolls' and gets paid for it. She is an advance representative for the Ice Capades, currently at the Sports Arena, Los Angeles. 'I travel around the United States and Canada ahead of the show,' Carolyn explained. 'I take six 24-inch Mme. Alexander dolls to newspapers and television stations.'"
Type
image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w ;26 x 21 cm. Photographic prints
Ice Capades, Inc.--Employees Madame Alexander Doll Company, LLC Women--California--Los Angeles Dolls--Private collections Dolls--California--Los Angeles Portrait photographs Valley Times Collection photographs Alexander, Beatrice,1895-1990
If you're wondering about permissions and what you can do with this item, a good starting point is the "rights information" on this page. See our terms of use for more tips.
Share your story
Has Calisphere helped you advance your research, complete a project, or find something meaningful? We'd love to hear about it; please send us a message.
