Gene Article Index

In my early quest to learn everything there was known about Gene, and to document my own personal collection, I collected a number of articles related to Gene. They are listed here so that you may find them and enjoy them for yourself. The list traces the early rise of Gene before her "big break" in 1995 up until mid 1999. There have been numerous articles since and doubtless will be many more.

One last note. Not listed here are any of the issues of The Fashion Doll Scene, published by Sonia Rivera. This newsletter, now published only online, provided a wealth of information in the early days of Gene. It might be worthwhile to locate issues on the secondary market. I have often seen them pop up on eBay.

Before Gene · 1995 · 1996 · 1997 · 1998 · 1999 · Bottom

Before Gene · Top

"Mel Odom: A Portrait of a Barbie Artist" by Karen F. Caviale Barbie Bazaar March/April 1989...Thanks to Teri Newton for the "scoop" on this one...Teri also reports that there's a great picture of Mel with longer hair!

1995 · Top

"GENE -- The Debut of a Doll Reminiscent of the 1940's and 1950's" by Beauregard Houston-Montgomery Doll Reader August 1995

"Gene -- A New Star is Born" Contemporary Doll Collector October/November 1995...Special thanks to Maida Moehring for sending me a copy of this article.

1996 · Top

"Gene Marshall" by Laura Meisner Barbie Bazaar February 1996

"All Dolled Up" by Linda Peterson A&E Monthly March 1996...Thanks to Teri Newton for providing the scoop on this article!

"Move Over Barbie, Here Comes Gene...and There's Plenty of Room at the Top for Both of You!" by Ron Menchine White's Guide to Collecting Figures July 1996

1997 · Top

"Gene -- From Star to Supernova" by Charles Krome Contemporary Doll Collector February/March 1997

"Gene: An Inspiration" by Virginia Cochran Doll Reader March/April 1997

"The Latest from the Gene Scene" by Jan Fennick White's Guide to Collecting Figures May 1997

"California Teens Win Award" Author Unknown Contemporary Doll Collector May 1997(?)

"High Fashion Students" by Patrick Hambrecht Dolls: The Collector's Magazine May 1997(?)

"Another First for Gene" by Sonia Rivera White's Guide to Collecting Figures June 1997

"Two Teens Honored for Gene Designs" Author Unknown Doll Reader June 1997

"The First Gene Convention" by A. Glenn Mandeville Doll Reader June 1997

"MIB Maybe, but Never NRFB" by Sonia Rivera White's Guide to Collecting Figures July 1997

"Look Out, Gene's on a Roll" by Sonia Rivera White's Guide to Collecting Figures August 1997

"Simply Gene" by Michael Higdon Miller'$ Summer 1997

"Gene Fashion Update" Author Unknown Doll Reader September 1997

"Gene in Midnight Romance" Author Unknown White's Guide to Collecting Figures September 1997

"Gene Variations" by Sonia Rivera White's Guide to Collecting Figures September 1997

"Student Designers Reach for the Stars" by Bonnie Boots Doll World October 1997

"FAO Schwarz Gene Exclusive" by Sonia Rivera White's Guide to Collecting Figures October 1997

"On Your Mark..." by Sonia Rivera White's Guide to Collecting Figures November 1997

"Do You Believe in Magic?" by Sonia Rivera White's Guide to Collecting Figures December 1997

"The Creation of Gene" by Rose Juergens and Michelle Ford Collector's Bulletin December 1997...Thanks to Melissa Pitman for pointing me to this article!

"Mel Odom's Diary: Gene Opens in Las Vegas" by Mel Odom Candi International Magazine, Premiere Issue December 1997...Again thanks go to Teri Newton for providing this information.

"Simply Gene and the Secondary Market" by Michael Higdon Miller'$ Fall 1997

"Who is Behind the Gene Doll?" by Sandi Holder Miller'$ Fall 1997

"Ashton Drake Galleries: Young Designer of America Awards" by Margo Rana Miller'$ Fall 1997

1998 · Top

"A Great End to a Phenomenal Year" by Sonia Rivera White's Guide to Collecting Figures

"Dream Weavers" by Stephanie Finnegan Dolls: The Collector's Magazine February 1998

"Las Vegas Lulla-Buy" by Rhonda Shear Dolls: The Collector's Magazine February 1998

"Designer Genes" by Stephanie Finnegan Dolls: The Collector's Magazine February 1998

"Simply Gene...and Her Accessories" by Michael Higdon Miller'$ Winter 1997/1998

"Gene Artist Showcase -- Ken Bartram" Miller'$ Winter 1997/1998

"At Home with Mel Odom -- the Artistic Genius Behind Gene" by Susan K. Elliot Collector's Mart Magazine February 1998

"Custom Costumes & Merry Masqueraders Make Convention a Hit!" by Sonia Rivera White's Guide to Collecting Figures February 1998

"Designers' Showcase" by Sonia Rivera White's Guide to Collecting Figures March 1998

"A Star is Born, and She's a Doll" by Frank De Caro The New York Times February 22, 1998

"Gene Convention" Author Unknown Doll Reader March/April 1998

"Mel Odom Visits Lane's" Author Unknown Doll Reader March/April 1998

"Designs on Gene" by Virginia Cochran Doll Reader March/April 1998

"Timeless Haute Couture -- The Haute Couture Doll: Enduring Style" by Vickery Eckhoff Candi International Magazine March/April 1998

"Hotter than Hot" by Sonia Rivera White's Guide to Collecting Figures April 1998

"A Stunningly Beautiful Future" by Sonia Rivera White's Guide to Collecting Figures May 1998

"'Getting' Gene" by Sonia Rivera White's Guide to Collecting Figures June 1998

"A Date with Destiny" by Bessie Nestoras Dolls: The Collector's Magazine June/July 1998

"Gene -- The STAR of Toy Fair" by Virginia Walker Miller'$ Fashion Doll* (*starting with this issue, Miller'$ is now Miller'$ Fashion Doll and will be published 6 times per year) July 1998

"Simply Gene -- 2nd Annual Gene Convention" by Michael Higdon Miller'$ Fashion Doll July 1998

"Veteran Barbie Artist's New Love Affair...Gene" by Philip Briggs Miller'$ Fashion Doll July 1998

"For the Love of Gene" by Judy M. Johnson Doll World August 1998

"Screen Queen" by Rhonda Shear Dolls: The Collector's Magazine August 1998

"Ask the Expert" by Judith Whorton Dolls: The Collector's Magazine August 1998

"Keen For Gene" by Ellen Taylor Beckett's Hot Toys July 1998

"Not that Gene" by Mike Payne Beckett's Hot Toys July 1998

"Hollywood Special Looks Like a Blockbuster" by Sonia Rivera White's Guide to Collecting Figures July 1998

"Regarding the Doll: My Diet Cokes with Mel" by Jane Sarasohn-Kahn Miller'$ Fashion Doll September 1998

"Enchantress" (dress pattern for Gene) by D.A.E. Originals: David Escobedo and Brian Schafer Miller'$ Fashion Doll September 1998

"Gene Price Guide" by the editors of Miller'$ Miller'$ Fashion Doll September 1998

"Simply Gene and the Internet" by Michael Higdon Miller'$ Fashion Doll September 1998

"Gene Takes Hollywood by Storm" by Doris Mixon Miller'$ Fashion Doll September 1998

"Gene Artist Showcase: Kert Hoogstraat of Kertkraft" Miller'$ Fashion Doll September 1998

"Gene Keeps Collectors Hopping!" by Sonia Rivera White's Guide to Collecting Figures August 1998

"Variations: The Good, The Bad and the Plain Ol' Mistakes" by Sonia Rivera White's Guide to Collecting Figures Septmeber 1998

"Collectors Still going Ga-Ga Over Gene" by Sonia Rivera White's Guide to Collecting Figures October 1998

"The Glamorous World of Gene" by Barbara Cohagan Collector's Bulletin October/November 1998

"The Reverie of Gene" by Melissa Pitman Collector's Bulletin October/November 1998

"Regarding the Doll: Theatre de la Mode" by Jane Sarasohn-Kahn Miller'$ Fashion Doll November 1998

"Two Days in Paradise" by Philip Briggs and Mark Middendorf Miller'$ Fasion Doll November 1998

"Simply Gene and Her Collectors" by Michael Higdon Miller'$ Fashion Doll November 1998

"Gene Artist Showcase: Doris Mixon" by Doris Mixon Miller'$ Fashion Doll November 1998

"Gene Around Chicago" Author Unkown Doll Reader November 1998

"Fashion Dolls Hit the Runway: An Introduction" by A. Glenn Mandeville Doll Reader November 1998

"Summer Drought Gives Way to Fall Downpour" by Sonia Rivera White's Guide to Collecting Figures November 1998

"Doll Views: Dressed to Thrill" author unkown Dolls: The Collector's Magazine December 1998

"Doll Views: Believe It or Not...!" author unknown Dolls: The Collector's Magazine December 1998

"Did Someone Say Special Edition?" by Sonia Rivera White's Guide to Collecting Figures December 1998

1999 · Top

"Making Your Gene Dream Come True" by Mark Middendorf and Philip Briggs Miller'$ Fashion Doll January 1999

"The Ashton-Drake Galleries Young Designer of America Competetion: One Student's Story" by Doris Mixon Miller'$ Fashion Doll January 1999

"Gene Artist Showcase: Asian Art Dolls -- Franklin Lim Liao" by Franklin Lim Liao Miller'$ Fashion Doll January 1999

"Doll Maker Sues Toys 'R' Us over Fashion Doll" Reuters Wire Service November 24, 1998

"Toys 'R" Us Sued in Federal Court for Cloning Hot 'Gene' Doll" PRNewswire November 24, 1998

"Toys 'R' Us Accused in Suit of Copying 'Gene' Fashion Doll" Bloomberg Wire Service November 24, 1998

"Convention '98!" by Sonia Rivera White's Guide to Collecting Figures January 1999

"Curtain Call!" by Stephanie Finnegan Dolls: The Collector's Magazine January 1999

"Queen Gene" by JB Direct January 1999...Special thanks to Greta Wedell for providing me with a copy of this article.

"Guest of Honor" by A. Glenn Mandeville Doll Reader February 1999

"'So ya wanna be a dealer?' True Stories from the Trenches:Hello Prison, Hello" by Adele Stitsworth Miller'$ Fashion Doll March 1999

"Gene Convention 1998: Broadway Medley" by Virginia Walker Miller'$ Fashion Doll March 1999

"Gene Artist Showcase: From Porcelain to Plastic -- Helen Skinner" by Doris Mixon Miller'$ Fashion Doll March 1999

"The Making of a Year: Excitement! Disappointment!" by Sonia Rivera White's Guide to Collecting Figures February 1999

"Debuts, Copycats & Mysterious Twins" by Sonia Rivera White's Guide to Collecting Figures March 1999

"Mel's Muse" by Jan Fennick Beckett Hot Toys February 1999

"Rovin' Reporter: Shooting Star of the Fashion World -- Disappears in Flash of Lawsuit Brought on by Ashton-Drake" by Kathryn E. Darden Barbie Bazaar April 1999

"Gene at Toy Fair 1999: A Landmark Event" by Virginia Walker Miller'$ Fashion Doll May1999

"Gene Artist: Anne-Marie Burns & La Petite Boutique" by Anne-Marie Burns Miller'$ Fashion Doll May 1999

"Showcase: Gene Dolls & Accessories: Dream of Gene" author unknown White's Guide to Collecting Figures May 1999

"Toy Fair 1999" by Sonia Rivera White's Guide to Collecting Figures May 1999

"Share the Dream" author unknown Vogue Patterns May/June 1999

"Doll Scene: A Showcase of Exciting New Dolls -- Ashton-Drake Galleries" authour unknown Doll Reader June/July 1999

"Three out of 33" by Sonia Rivera White's Guide to Collecting Figures June 1999

"Novelle Bebes: The Sucess of Ashton-Drake Dolls" by Eve Hill Antique Trader Weekly May 12th, 1999. Special thanks to Ellen Boisen for sending me a copy of this article.

Before Gene · 1995 · 1996 · 1997 · 1998 · 1999 · Top

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