Mrs. Jennie Adler Graves, founder of Vogue Doll Corporation, was 32 years old when she got into the doll business in 1922. At first, she did not produce her own dolls. Rather, she bought bisque dolls from Armand Marseille, a manufacturer in Germany, and sewed intricate outfits for them. Her husband's death near the end of the Depression demanded that she be the sole financial and emotional support for her family. In response to his death, Mrs. Graves decided to expand her business, becoming a leader in the doll industry in the late 1930s. With World War II looming, she could no longer in good conscience buy products from Germany. Instead, she hired a sculptor to create the dolls, and along with a new design came a new material--composition. It wouldn't be long, however, before post-war technologies created a cheaper, more durable material called plastic. In 1951, the popular Ginny doll was born in hard plastic. The doll's "sleep" eyes made it unique and along with painted lashes, ensured that Ginny became a favorite toy. The urge to play hairstylist could also be fulfilled with Ginny's hair, made of "Nutex" that could be washed, combed, and styled. What more could a girl ask for? A doll that could walk--that's what! Mrs. Graves incorporated straight-leg walking dolls in 1954 to remain competitive, and between 1955 and 1956, the bent-knee walker was produced. As the 1960s closed in, American culture changed quite a bit to include more television influences, and Vogue Dolls suffered for it. Mrs. Graves insisted that her dolls wouldn't be advertised on television because she felt it encouraged unwholesome values, giving the Barbie doll line the upper hand. The corporation went through a rough period from approximately the 1960s-1980s, reemerging as a quality product in the 1990s. Today, both the vintage dolls and the newer dolls are highly valued. |
