Date: Sun, 09 Mar 2008 11:56:04 -0400
From: Mary Horsley <mphorsley-AT-earthlink.net>
To: <puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org>
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] American Girl store in Los Angeles


Alan, I would have loved seeing it. The fortunate thing is that Laura
started early with her love for AG dolls as well as all dolls. So she really
feels tormented when she sees what Mattel has done in taking away so much of
the historical materials they used to have. I shall snap a few pix of her
displays to share with you. I think you would be impressed. I suppose I went
encouraged her to read the books, which turned her into a reader, history
buff, and all around creative person.

When her dad died, the charming thing is that women from across this country
who are AG lovers sent her an incredible box of clothes, trinkets, and a
Felicity doll. Unfortunately, too many of our present day children get these
dolls too early and are not taught their value or even how to respect them.

Next time I come to Calif, I would love to see your puppet collection.

Mary


On 3/6/08 8:18 PM, "Alan Cook" <alangregorycook-AT-msn.com> wrote:

> Mary---Theoretically I can understand what you are saying about the American
> Girl historic detail in costumes & accessories and even the story books, but
> the commecialization was so intense, that I became sick to my stomach and
> depressed just for being in their space for too long for my taste.
> 
> I think there is another reason I did not enjoy the American Girl experience.
> 
> Some years ago (some many years ago) I did a puppet exhibit at the Santa
> Barbara Museum of Art. While there I noticed how skimpy the museum's  exhibit
> was in their tiny alcove doll display and asked "how come?".
> 
> "No-one on staff is interested in the doll collection so it gets ignored" was
> the explanation. OK sez I, how much money is available to fix it up? Being the
> end of the year, they had $500 maximum. OK, I will do it, sez I.
> 
> I rotated between 2 locations in Santa Barbara and my North Hollywood home for
> 5 or more weeks---one S.Barbara site being the home of the doll guild
> president, who also helped me install window glass on the open shelves and
> CLEAN the glass. I made a little picket fence on a bottom shelf, made
> interiors on other shelves with miniature wall paper panels, used existing
> props and bought a few extra ones like an old-style miniature wall phone which
> was a made-in-Japan pencil Sharpener, and dollhouse sized picture frames flled
> with antique trading card pictures.. Some back walls were painted in
> complimentary colors for the particular  objects placed there. It was an
> interestng project to take on. The Alice B Schott Doll Collection had quality
> items including some Java rod puppets, nice folk dolls from India, China &
> Japan, A great English wax doll, a fine wood Queen Anne doll or two, Schoenhut
> toy figures and lovely antique stuff from Germany & France. Most of it had
> ended up in the basement storage if it had been lent to other museums &
> exhibits, instead of being returned to the display shelves. That was why the
> shelves had gotten so empty over time.
> 
> I spent all the money available on the sliding glass windows, paint,
> mini-patterned wall paper, window locks, and such, so I could not make a dime
> off the project---there was no $$$ left over for me.
> But gasoline and car travel was cheap in those days, unlike these G W Bush
> days.
> 
> The gallery had an official reopening ceremony and for awhile the public could
> again enjoy looking at some really great doll history.
> 
> It looked good for another year or two. The Colemans of doll collecting fame
> visited as did some other doll celeb folk.
> Now THAT kind of thing I found really interesting and somewht related to
> puppetry
> 
> The American Girl stuff is boring by comparison.
> 
> ALAN COOK
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mary Horsley
> Sent: Thursday, March 6, 2008 4:50 PM
> To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
> Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] American Girl store in Los Angeles
> 
> Smiling, I have been to all three, Alan. But I have a daughter who like me
> loves dolls (and puppets, too......). Unfortunately, the original concept
> has become way too commercialized. However, my daughter uses her energies to
> create historical scenes down to the finest detail. I am always impressed by
> her scenes and think she should do something sometime in scenic design.
> Walking into her doll room, it is like going into a museum......so, it isn't
> all bad. 
> 
> Mary H. 
> 
> 
> On 3/6/08 7:20 PM, "Alan Cook" <alangregorycook-AT-msn.com> wrote:
> 
>> I just got around to visiting the  Los Angeles American Girl Store..lovely
>> lighting, lots of space, escalators & elevator  between 2 floors, and
>> inflated
>> prices. There are just a few of these elite stores (thank heaven).
>> 
>> Wherever there are nouveau riche customers, there are vendors.
>> 
>> Frankly I would rather spend my money on puppets of consequence and
>> artistic/historical value.
>> 
>> The American Girl offers a hair salon for dollies, matching wardrobes for
>> Doll
>> and Girl, and faces on dolls which look very similar except for skin tones.
>> Well, the hair comes in dfferent colors and lengths. You get matching story
>> books for specific dolls (terribly empowering if you buy the sales pitch) and
>> there is a cafe and a show room/theatre.
>> 
>> You can buy doll beds (four poster with variations), other doll furniture,
>> dolls for dolls, dogs & cats for dolls, party tables for doll teas  Some
>> items
>> are available for short times (impetus to buy now) and some dolls are
>> available for just one year. It is a controlled market like collector plates.
>> 
>> Now that I've seen it, I can say I've seen it.( I got dragged there---so now
>> its off the list.)
>> 
>> Frankly I get more from a museum visit.
>> 
>> ALAN COOK
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Mary Horsley
>> Sent: Thursday, March 6, 2008 3:55 PM
>> To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
>> Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Fwd: $3000 birthday party
>> 
>> To top that, my daughter just showed me an American Girl site that told
>> about a $30,000 slumber party one could arrange in the penthouse of the
>> Palace Hotel in NYC. And yes, no puppet show there either!
>> 
>> Now, that is ridiculous.......
>> 
>> Mary H. 
>> 
>> 
>> On 3/6/08 9:02 AM, "Susan Wall Kronenberg" <susan-AT-carouselpuppets.com>
>> wrote:
>> 
>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> From: Peter Kronenberg <pak-AT-carouselpuppets.com>
>>>> Subject: $3000 birthday party
>>>> 
>>>> http://www.sptimes.com/2008/02/24/Hillsborough/One_year_old__one_lav.shtml
>>>> 
>>>> What!  No puppet show?
>>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
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