Male Action Figure with Dreadlocks ID'd for Kerri

A link to the above image was used in a previous blog about Dark Skinned Male Dolls, read by one of my readers (Kerri) who wanted the identification of the dreadlocked figure.  The dreadlocked action figure was purchased from Old Joe Infirmary for $4.99.  It was sold as a "Nude African American figure" and has since sold out at OJI.

A Black Doll-E-Zine subscriber, Willena Nanton, informs that this figure is based on the role of Tyr Anasazi played by actor, Keith Hamilton Cobb, in Andromeda.  It was made by Blue Box Toys.   Ms. Nanton asked that I share this information with Kerri. 

I'll go a step further by adding a link to a merchant from whom the figure can be purchased for $14.99, never removed from box:
 
http://www.collectorsgateway.com/Gene-Roddenberrys-Andromeda-Tyr-Anasazi-Action-Figure-_p_435.html


Thanks again Willena and thanks Kerri for asking. This information is helpful to me as well.

dbg

Poll Results and E-mail from Danbury Mint

The Michelle Obama Inaugural Doll "I like it; I don't like it" poll closed today.  Based on the photos of the actual doll that I took and shared in last week's The Excitement Has Fizzled blog, 18% of voters like the doll and 81% dislike it.

With reference to the aforementioned blog and the photos that I shared, I received the following e-mail from  Mr. Jerry March, Vice President, Danbury Mint.  I asked and was granted permission to share the contents of this email including its photo attachments:

Dear Debbie,


I am the marketing manager for the Michelle Obama Doll, and I just came across your posting and photos on your blog. I am very sorry that you are not happy with your doll. We've done everything possible to make sure that our doll is as close a likeness as you can get in a 16" porcelain doll, and we take your criticism seriously. In looking at the photos on your site, it appears that the doll is not positioned or styled as we had intended. Attached are two photos taken of a production doll from our warehouse with a standard camera that shows the doll after it has been styled as described in the unpacking card. Though it is not identical to the photo in the advertisement (which used an artist's rendering based on our actual sculpture since the doll had not been produced yet), I hope you would agree that it is an attractive doll, and actually a very good likeness of the First Lady. We've used only the finest quality porcelain, the dress is embellished with real crystals, and all the materials used for the dress and jewelry are of the highest quality. We chose to paint on the shoes because you can get much better accuracy and detail with hand painting than with constructing shoes that size.

We take our customers' opinions very seriously, and we are dedicated to creating the best products possible. I hope you will take another look at your doll and perhaps change your mind about its quality. If not, please accept my apologies, and know that we will do everything in our power to create the best product possible going forward, and will continue to go to great lengths to make our customers happy.

Thank you for understanding.

Best regards,


Jerry March
Vice President

I conveyed my appreciation to Mr. March for his personal attention and informed him that I had already returned the doll. 

There is a definite need for more companies like his, where customers' opinions truly matter.




dbg

Faceless Dolls N-E-1?

Annie Lee Sass 'N Class Girls Night Out Collection

If you like faceless dolls, you might be interested in acquiring the full set or individual dolls from the Annie Lee Sass 'N Class, Girls Night Out Collection, from 2004.  They are currently deeply discounted at Sandy USA Direct from an original retail of $85.00 each to $5.99 each or the complete set of 10 for $39.99!

I own Beckoning in Blue and Ravishing in Red (RIR), which are featured in chapter 5 of my book, Black Dolls A Comprehensive Guide to Celebrating, Collecting, and Experiencing the Passion.  My RIR is featured in the November 2009 issue of Contemporary Doll Collector.

These 17-1/2in/44.45cm, all-vinyl, individually numbered, LE of 2000 dolls have hangtags and were inspired by the original Annie Lee painting, "High Roller."

Find out more about the artist, Annie Lee, and why facial expressions are absent from her artwork here.

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