Convention 2010: Raffles

Raffles are an important part of every convention, helping to underwrite the cost of the convention itself. Organizers depend on collectors donating items that inspire a frenzy of ticket buying, like this Fashion Dressing Doll from the Crossley collection surely would. But it doesn't have to be this old and rare. It could be a Merrill paper doll book,  a Brenda Starr comic strip paper doll, or a handmade paper doll -- these are all items that I've seen on the raffle table over the years. Many people who are unable to attend the convention donate raffle items, a wonderful gesture that helps keep these grand parties going.

If you're attending the convention, you can just bring the donation(s) with you and make sure Lori Lawson or Sondra Leeds gets it.

If you're not attending, but would like to donate, mail them to Sondra Leeds, 2122 W. Minnesota Street, Indianapolis, IN 46221. Include your name, contact information and description of item(s)

Convention 2010: Pub Crawl

For those arriving too late Wednesday, June 30 to join the caravan to the UFDC Doll Museum, there's another activity planned for that evening that's sure to be fun: a Kansas City pub crawl, organized by Garth Lax. Chances are good we'll hear some great jazz, too.

Above, Blondie as nightclub singer, from the Crossley collection.

Convention 2010: Dress-A-Doll

Gregg Nystrom's lovely Betty Grable is the Dress-a-Doll for the convention. Design a costume for Betty, print your name on the back (or on an extra long tab) and return it to Anne Donze (her address is in your registration packet). All costumes will be displayed at the convention. A raffle will be held for the doll and all the costumes, but only those who have designed a costume will have their names entered in the raffle.

UPDATE: You can also bring your costume to the convention, but make sure you get it to Anne Donze as soon as you get there, so she can arrange the display board properly. 

Here's Betty Grable in the movie Coney Island (1943), with a stunning gown. Perfect to copy and embellish with feathers and sequins.

Convention 2010: The UFDC Museum Tour

 

THE UFDC DOLL MUSEUM (The United Federation of Doll Clubs)

 

There's no easy way of getting to the museum via mass transit, so a carpool is being organized. Contact Sandy Vanderpool at Sndyvanpool(at)aol(dot)com before June 28 if you're interested in driving or riding along. Sandy needs to know how many cars will be available so please contact her as soon as you can.

 

The plan is to have all those going assemble in the hotel lobby at 9:45 AM on Wednesday, June 30, with the car pools leaving at 10 A.M. sharp.

For more information about the museum, check out the  UFDC web site.

Above, Betty Jane by Fern Bisel Peat from the Crossley collection.

Convention 2010: Airport Shuttle

It's that time of year! In less than 4 weeks paper doll collectors from around the U.S. and the world will gather at the Embassy Suites Country Club Plaza in the heart of Kansas City, MO. Over the next few days, I'll post excerpts from Garth Lax's highly informative e-mail messages. For those who haven't registered, it's not too late. Click on the Paper Doll Convention icon to the left of your screen for the registration form.

THE AIRPORT SHUTTLE

 

For those flying to Kansas City International Airport (MCI), your most sensible transportation to the Convention Hotel is  the Supershuttle (which holds up to 10 passengers). The current price between airport and hotel is $18.00 one-way, $36 round-trip.

 

If you make a round trip reservation by telephone at 1-800-258-3826, and pre-pay it, the round trip fare will drop to $31.00.

 

Above, another great image from the Theriault's online auction catalog of Virginia Crossley's paper doll collection. These are the calendar dolls from 1917. They remind me of the large Woolworth dolls of the same era.

The Teri Pettit web site

Teri Pettit has scanned in many rare paper doll books and cards on her web site, with different options for ease in copying and printing out-- for your personal enjoyment, of course. I've had Teri on my list of Lovely Links for a long time. In recent months she added this card and some delightful paper doll gift wrap called Dancing Debbie.

Thank you Teri!

Man-O-War, 1940

Tomorrow is the Belmont Stakes, and here is the famous Man-O-War, owned and bred by August Belmont (The Belmont Race Track is named after Belmont's father; the Stakes have been run since 1867).

This card is postmarked 1940, but Man-O-War's heyday of winning races was 1919-1920. That surprised me, that Man-O-War's fame and celebrity extended decades; I had  imagined he was running in the 1940s, but in fact by that time he had been put out to stud for 20 years, and drew crowds. Man-O-War is considered one of the greatest thoroughbred racehorses of all time, winning 20 of 21 races.

He won the Preakness and the Belmont in 1920, but his owner at the time Sam Riddle, kept him out of the Kentucky Derby because he didn't approve of three-year olds running a mile and a quarter in May. Huh? So this great horse never had a chance to capture the Triple Crown.  

Fans called the roan Big Red (and this painted card emphasizes that hue, doesn't it?) and went on to sire many dozens of winners, most notably War Admiral, the 1937 Triple Crown winner.

The man in the picture is Will Harbut, the horse's stud groom. For 17 years Harbut led tourists through the Man-O-War story at Kentucky Horse Park where the legendary horse was a prime attraction (a statute of the horse stands there today). Man-O-War died in 1947, less than a month after Harbut's death.

On the back:

Tuesday, June 11--Am now  a(t) Harry Place and all well. Hoping all yours are the same. H.F. Hak

 

Another card for Miss Mildred Hake, with interesting misspellings and repetitions in the message. A child, or an ailing older relative? Hmmm....Whatever the source, Mildred kept this and other treasured cards in a paper doll box.

Happy Postcard Friendship Friday, and be sure to saddle up and visit our hostess Beth at The Best Hearts Are Crunchy.