Friday, May 11, 2007
SHOW AND TELL FRIDAY--VALENTINE'S DAY DOLL
Let me start with the disclaimer that I really do not collect dolls. Yet, I do have a small collection of dolls. All of these pretty dolls, for various reasons, have come to live with me and each has a special place in my heart. Today I am going to share one of the dolls in the collection. I may, at a later date, share the stories of the other dolls with you.
I have some shelves in my back hallway that until recently housed my husband’s lighthouse collection (a treasure for another time). We moved them to a curio cabinet several months ago and I decided to let the shelves be home to several small collections/treasures of mine. Here is the doll collection—
Today the spotlight is on the oldest doll. She is the oldest, but she is also the most recent addition to my little collection. In the photo above she is the doll that is sitting. She is over 50 years old and is a sweet reminder of my childhood.
Ta Dah!
MEET MARY HARTLINE!
Raise your hand if you know who Mary Hartline is. Hm-m-m-m That's what I figured. That’s OK--Please don't feel bad that you have never heard of Mary Hartline! Not many people have. If you were a little girl in the early 50s you might remember her. Mary was on a TV show called SUPER CIRCUS. My family didn't have a TV at that time. That wasn’t unusual—lots of people didn’t have them. Our neighbors did have a TV, and I sometimes watched with my friend, Judy. Even though I don’t remember a lot about it, I must have liked that program a lot.
If you clicked over to see the pictures of Mary Hartline and SUPER CIRCUS, I know you are now ROFLOL! Hey! TV was new—It’s what we had! And honestly--has it REALLY progressed that much?! If you didn't click to see the pictures, we'll give you just a second to do that--you really don't want to miss it! Just click on the underlined words in the paragraph above to see what children were watching in the early 50s.
When the Mary Dolls came out I thought I really HAD to have one. I remember asking for, and getting, her from Santa Claus—the Christmas I was five—or maybe six. (Yes, I am that old☺--but I don’t usually act it ☺ ☺).
I don’t have that original doll. I lost her, along with all my other dolls, in a family incident that is a story for another time--maybe. A few months ago my sister and I were reminiscing, on the phone, about some childhood trivia, particularly the dolls we had. Mary was one of my favorites.
My husband heard my side of this conversation. He went online—and purchased my Valentine’s Day gift! He had her delivered to our son’s house. My dil took care of Miss Mary, including wrapping her up and keeping her out of E Girl’s reach until Valentine’s Day. Then she and E Girl delivered her to our door! Was I ever surprised to see Mary after all these years!
This Mary looks just the way I remember my first Mary looking—red dress, majorette boots, blonde hair. The original doll came with a small, child-sized baton. I “twirled” that thing until I wore it out—which is hard to do to a metal stick!
Don’t you agree she is the perfect Valentine’s doll? I mean, with the heart with a line through it and red dress and all! I love having her—but I really love that Mr. L searched for her, bought her, and gave her to me! She will always have a special place--in my heart and on the doll shelf!
14 Comments:
She is so pretty and I think it's so sweet that your husband searched for her and then surprised you on Valentine's Day! Very romantic!! Thank you for joining in for show and tell!
Kelli
Hello! Just dropping by from Amy's Scavenger Hunt. I used to have a small doll collection going when i was a bit younger. I've never heard of the one you mentioned, but that's probably mostly because I wasn't alive in the 50s lol. They're pretty dolls though!
What a surprise and such a loving gift from you hubby! I don't remember Mary Hartline, but she looks very much the Valentine dolly!
:)
Very special indeed! I'm so glad you shared her with us. I did have to chuckle just a little when I clicked on the links!!Happy Mother's Day! I'm so glad you made it over to my blog tonight!
I was a child in the 50s but we didn't have tv either and I've never heard of this doll. I did enjoy reading about her though!
She is the perfect Valentine's gift! What a thoughtful hubby you have!
I loved seeing your dolls. I am old enough to remember Howdy Doody but that is as far back as I go. And I had a Shirley Temple doll when I was a girl. My mom still has her for safe keeping.
Thanks for visiting my place too. It is fun to see everyone with show and tell.
She's precious but what I like about the story is the love it shows your husband has for you. He's a keeper!!!! Got him on a shelf? :o) I'm from that generation but I don't remember her.
Happy Mother's Day
Susan
What a romantic hubby you have!! She is wonderful!!
That is just so sweet of your husband! What a treasure to have, both of them:)
What a great story and what a sweet husband to pick up on that and find her for you!!
Thanks for sharing her with us and what a super-sweet husband you have!
Hi - I came over from Amy's Scavenger Hunt. I hate to admit it but I DO remember Mary Hartline! I probably had a Mary Hartline doll at some time too!
I read the entire blog. Good job!!! Sis We also had Bonnie Braids(DICK Tracy'S baby), Saucy Walker, and Betsy Wetsy among others.
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