“Collectibles are like fashion,” said Robert Tonner to a room chock-full of collectors at “The Sun, The Moon, and the Stars” Tonner Doll Convention in Lombard, Ill., “and we’re always looking for something new and exciting.” From May 20-23, fashion doll enthusiasts gathered at the Westin Hotel outside Chicago to enjoy a shared loved for fashion dolls and to be the first to hear what is both new and exciting for the Kingston, N.Y.-based doll company.
Thursday’s opening program, “Let Them Eat Cake” provided the perfect setting for attendees to reconnect and plan their schedule of events for the days to come. With only a few short days, time management is a must for anyone wishing to attend the various themed breakout events (who must also factor in prep time needed to don their best Steampunk-, western-, or pajama-inspired outfits), seminars, view the competition dolls, participate in the raffle, and view doll exhibits.
At Friday’s “Unforgettable” breakout luncheon, Tonner unveiled his new 13-inch Revlon doll (and Doll Reader's June/July issue cover girl, no pun intended). The brand sculpt was created in a design partnership with the Revlon cosmetics company and in honor of the 1950s Revlon doll herself. Attendees not only walked away with the exclusive Revlon Glamorous Red souvenir doll, but with their own Revlon Red lip color as well—and we all know how hard it is to find the perfect shade of red lipstick. This introduction marked only the beginning of many new and exciting things to come.
Shortly after Jason Reilley and Carlos Lopez’s afternoon seminar, “The Inspiration of Design and Toy Trends,” attendees returned to the Grand Ballroom for the ultimate Steampunk-inspired Wilde Imagination dinner, “Steampunk Gone Wilde.”
“[Steampunk] allows you to get creative with fashions,” said Tonner of the latest sub-genre, and “creative” only begins to describe the fantastic attire worn by some attendees. Top hats with goggles and vests, skirts made of ties, corseted gowns with fish net stockings, and lace-up boots; the style reflects a blend of science fiction, speculative fiction, and fantasy with steam-powered technology of the 19th century and England’s Victorian era. Wilde Imagination’s Debra Deforte took the stage to introduce Ellowyne’s new “frenemy,” Amber Stanhope - Steamrolled, as well as Ellowyne Wilde - Letting Off Steam and Rufus Rutter - Steam Punked. Following the dinner and a Steampunk-inspired video montage, comic book inker Charles Barnett discussed the process of graphic novel development, which perfectly pave the way for the exciting news that Tonner is planning to release an Ellowyne Wilde graphic novel. When? Soon, we were told.
With the dinner over but the night still young, collectors returned within the hour later for the official celebration of Effanbee's 100th anniversary, complete with birthday cake, kazoos, confetti, and of course, a 100th Anniversary Patsyette souvenir doll. On display was a fabulous collection of Effanbee dolls through the years, courtesy of Carol Yeager.
Saturday’s “Browncoats' Breakfast” event celebrated the Fox Television Series and cult phenomenon “Firefly.” The space western series, created by Joss Whedon of Buffy the Vampire Slayer fame, was cancelled after one season, but public outcry and fan efforts persuaded Universal Studios to produce a feature film, “Serenity,” based on the series.
The amazing costume designs of “Firefly” and “Serenity” borrow from the American West, the American Civil War, and 1861 samurai Japan, and while Tonner admitted that the new line was driven by collectors, it’s no wonder that he jumped at the challenge to create dolls like the new Captain Malcolm Reynolds – Browncoat, which was the centerpiece doll, or the stunning souvenir doll, Morena Baccarin as Inara Sera.
Robert Tonner’s afternoon seminar gave collectors the opportunity to hear first-hand about the doll design process. The licensor approval process was of particular interest to attendees and in a Q&A segment, Tonner revealed many upcoming plans, including the Prince of Persia collection dolls based on the upcoming movie, plans for Orlando Bloom’s “Lord of the Rings” character Legolas (with more than a few gasps at this announcement, my own included), Alice from the “Twilight” series, a new partnership with Marvel Comics, and additional Harry Potter characters like Dumbledore.
The Moon Banquet was as close to a black tie affair as you can get, if you swap out the black ties for the shimmering silver jackets worn by the men of the Tonner Doll Co., that is. Tonner presented “Tonny” awards to guests in categories like “Prime Time,” the couple most likely to spend their 25th anniversary at a Tonner convention, and following dinner attendees were treated to a runway showing of Tonner's Spring and Fall lines. The souvenir doll, Celestial, is just one way attendees can remember the wonderful evening.
With bags were packed and airport shuttles scheduled, there was time for one more event: the “Purple Passion Parade” breakfast event celebrating Miss Piggy - Swined & Dined and welcoming Kermit the Frog - A Fly in His Soup to the line. At the end of the convention, attendees gave back as much as they received; the charity auction of seven one-of-a-kind dolls raised more than $11,000 for A Friend’s House, an organization dedicated to meeting the emotional and physical needs of children in crisis (afriendshouse.org).
The 2010 Tonner Halloween Convention will be held in Burlington, Vt., in October. Check out tonnerdoll.com for more.
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