Material Type

Artifact

Other Name

C.W.N.G. GENIE DOLL

Date Range From

1960

Date Range To

1963

Materials

FAUX FUR, PLASTIC, METAL

No. Pieces

1

Height

52.5

Diameter

25.5

Description

DOLL, LIGHT BLUE FAUX FUR BODY. WHITE AND RED FAUX FUR STRIPS AT TOP FROM FOREHEAD. FLESH COLOURED PLASTIC HANDS AND FACE WITH PAINTED ON EYES, EYEBROWS, MOUTH AND TEETH. WHITE FAUX FUR WINGS AT BACK. BOTTOM OF BODY HAS CIRCULAR WHITE CORDUROY FABRIC WITH TWO WHITE FAUX FUR FEET AT EDGES AND PALE YELLOW ZIPPER IN CENTER. BODY OF DOLL IS HOLLOW. BOTTOM REVERSE HAS BLUE TAG WITH TEXT THAT READS, “NOT TO BE REMOVED UNTIL DELIVERED TO CUSTOMER. THIS LABEL IS AFFIXED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE UPHOLSTERED AND STUFFED ARTICLES ACT. THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS NEW REWORKED MATERIAL. MADE BY ONT REG NO. 78H4254 UNITED TOYS INC. TORONTO, CANADA.”

Subjects

TOY

Historical Association

INDUSTRY

LEISURE

History

AT THE TIME OF DONATION, COLLECTIONS STAFF CONDUCTED AN INTERVIEW WITH DONOR IRMA DOGTEROM. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WAS EXTRACTED FROM A LONGER TRANSCRIPTION. WHEN ASKED HOW THE DOLL CAME INTO HER POSSESSION, DOGTEROM RESPONDED BY SAYING, “OH MY BROTHER-IN-LAW WORKED FOR THE CANADIAN WESTERN NATURAL GAS COMPANY AND HE GOT IT. HE GAVE IT TO MY KIDS WHEN THEY WERE SMALL[,] PROBABLY AROUND 1960. HE GAVE IT TO THE GIRLS, AND I DIDN’T REALIZE IT WAS A PAJAMA BAG AND IT STAYED. [STUFFED DOLLS WERE] NOT SOMETHING WE SPENT MONEY ON, BECAUSE THEY WERE MORE MONEY THAN WE COULD AFFORD. [MY BROTHER-IN-LAW’S NAME WAS] TONY COUTTS. HE GOT A JOB WORKING FOR THE GAS COMPANY SOMEWHERE AROUND 1952, AND HE WORKED THERE UNTIL 1970 SOME, BUT HE PASSED AWAY VERY YOUNG. RESPONDING TO THE QUESTION OF HOW HER DAUGHTERS REACTED TO RECEIVING THE DOLL, DOGTEROM REPLIED, “WELL THEY JUST, THEY LIKED IT; THOUGHT IT WAS CUTE AS THEY, AS WE CAN GUESS, THEY NEVER PLAYED WITH IT MUCH, HE’S TOO CLEAN, SO NOPE. I CAN’T REMEMBER WHAT HE WAS CALLED. HE HAD A NAME. [AFTER THE CHILDREN GREW UP,] I STOOD HIM ON THE SIDE OF THE PONY WALL IN THE HOUSE WE HAD IN TOWN. I THOUGHT, SOME DAY, IT MIGHT BE GOOD FOR THE ARCHIVES OR THE MUSEUM BECAUSE AT THE TIME MY BROTHER-IN-LAW GOT THIS, I UNDERSTAND THEY GAVE OUT ONE TO EVERY EMPLOYEE AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN ONE ANYWHERE ELSE.” FOR MORE INFORMATION, INCLUDING A TRANSCRIPT OF THE DONOR INTERVIEW AND ‘GAS GENIE’ SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS, PLEASE SEE PERMANENT FILE.

Catalogue Number

P20120004005

Acquisition Date

2012-01

Collection

Museum

Less detail