The Gene Marshall dolls came to be in 1995 which was inspired by movies in the golden age of Hollywood. These dolls were the creation of Mel Odom who was a famous American artist who had created several book covers such as the paperback editions of Patrick White’s novels. He then became a famous illustrator and created several magazine illustrations for Time, OMNI, and even Playboy. Yet in the year 1990, he became interested in designing the face paint for the fashionable 25-centimeter limited edition name Mdavnii. This then renewed his interest for dolls which fostered the creation of the Gene Marshall.
The Gene Marshall measured 15.5 inches and came with wardrobes and accessories that are fashioned after the elegance of Hollywood’s golden age from 1920 to 1950. Odom’s creation had initiated the creation of a genre of dolls that are far different from the 11.5-inch Barbie. The dolls were manufactured by Ashton-Drake Galleries until it was handed over to Jason Wu with Integrity Toys in 2005. The popularity of the dolls had also led other doll manufacturers to come up with their own series that have similar attributes to the Gene Marshall. These companies were Tonner Doll Company, Bella Productions, and Madame Alexander.
Other character dolls in the collection that followed after the popularity of the Gene Marshall were Madra Lord, Ivy Jordan, Trent Osborn, and Violet Waters. Ivy Jordan is a character doll that is described as Gene’s humorous best friend and is fondly called by her nickname “Vee.” In Spring of 2006, the premiere collection came out which was designed by Mel Odom and manufactured by Jason Wu. In 2007, several collections came out such as the Silver Screen Collection, The Return of Madra Lord, and the Stepping High Collection.
Yet now that the designs have been handed over to Jason Wu, the newest collections include the characters Zita Charles and Oona. Zita Charles is described as a star of the silent era who became extremely wealthy after she became a widow of an industrialist husband. She is also tagged as Gene’s mentor and is a fashionable social figure in Hollywood. The character Oona, on the other hand, is also known as the “Belleweather” Oona doll and is described as a mystery even on Integrity Toys website. Oona is a red head with the appeal of Hollywood’s classic glamorous beauty. With several repaints on the Gene Marshall dolls, the characters become a timeless beauty and the exquisite collection makes a great addition to every doll collectors’ showcase.