Gene has had a long and wonderful career...and each of the dolls and costumes let us glimpse a bit of her life, on screen and off, bit by bit...
Just a note on this chronology. To make this chronology as accurate as possible, I have consulted the Story Cards included with each doll or outfit, the Folio or "Trading" Cards and various volumes of The Gene Book (Gene catalog). Costume and doll names will appear in bold print. If you see a description in parenthesis, that is something which is assumed. Also, I will try to point out inconsistencies between the Story and Folio cards as they pop up. I will update this timeline as I acquire new dolls and outfits....ENJOY!!
The 1940's · The 1950's · Bottom
Katie Marshall was born on April 17th, 1923 to Dr. and Mrs. Edward Marshall, Cos Cob, Connecticut.
(Katie Marshall travels to New York and takes a job as an Usherette at a well-known movie theater.)
1941 -- Producer Eric Von Sternberg is escorted to his seat by a lovely young Usherette. When he catches a glimpse of her beautiful face, a new star is born. (In the Folio Card for Usherette, Eric Von Sternberg is listed as both a Producer and a Director...all other Story and Folio cards that mention him describe him as a Producer only...)
(Katie adopts the name Gene as a tribute to her Grandfather who always urged her to follow her dream.)
1941 -- Gene says a tearful Goodbye New York to family and friends as she rides the rail to Hollywood Stardom.
1941 -- Gene steps off the train from New York a star and exclaims, "Hello Hollywood, Hello"
1941 -- Gene gets her first small part as a hatcheck girl in the movie Blonde Lace. (An interesting note, the Story Card for Blonde Lace, says Gene only had a few lines as a hatcheck girl...the Folio Card decribes that Gene's part as a cigarette girl is re-written at the last moment since the original star suffered an injury. Her "bit-part" also included a dance number.)
1941 -- All eyes are on the up and coming star, Gene Marshall as she attends the Premire of Blonde Lace.
1943 -- Gene stars in one of her earliest efforts: Sea Spree, a patriotic musical, perfect to keep spirits high during World War II.
1943 -- A dramatic dance scene in Sea Spree has Gene twirling down steep steps to a Song of Spain.
1943 -- Beneath the straw hat, an Atlantic City Beauty enjoys the summer sun.
1943 -- Gene poses for an innocent yet sexy pin-up photo for the boys overseas. It is aptly named Crimson Sun.
It's a Hot Day in Hollywood when Gene receives some new scripts from her Producer. (It is interesting to note that this accessory set includes two scripts, one for The Black Ribbon, and one for Tango. Tango was not filmed until 1951.)
1943 -- Gene is Striking Gold at the Golden Star Awards when she wins the Best Actress nod for her performance in The Black Ribbon.
1943 -- Gene arrives for Tea Time at the Plaza for an interview with a well known Hollywood columnist.
1944 -- Gene stars as Morgan O'Day, her first "bad-girl" roll in the film Red Venus.
1944 -- Gene does a second, racier Pin-Up photo for the war effort.
1944 -- Monolithic Studios holds a Press Conference to announce Gene's upcoming USO tour.
1944 -- July & August -- Gene performs for the boys overseas with the USO.
1944 -- The touching ballad, "Farewell Golden Moon" remided the soldiers of their girls back home.
1944 -- Gene's rousing patriotic number gets the GI's to Stand Up and Cheer.
1945 -- Gene stars in her first movie filmed in color -- Blue Goddess. The beautiful gown she wore was designed to match the distinctive color of her eyes.
1945 -- Gene takes her pampered pooches, Dottie and Dashiell Out for a Stroll. All eyes are on her, as she takes her springtime Promenade in the park.
1946 -- In the film Crescendo, Gene plays Margo Holland, a young violinist. When Margo and her lover are torn apart by war, only a rising Crescendo can bring them back together.
1946 -- The Victorian period piece, Love's Ghost, casts Gene as a lovely governess who falls in love with a restless spirit.
1946 -- In her film Love's Ghost, Gene finds love in a Yorkshire moor with the help of a Midnight Angel.
1946 -- In the film Voodoo Blues, Gene dazzles the viewers with her jazzy rendition of "Iced Coffee."
1946 -- Gene slips into something "more comfortable" and The Kiss with her onscreen husband is not to be forgotten.
1946 -- Ms. Marshall decides to throw an elegant dinner party and puts her guests into a Mandarin Mood by serving Chinese cusine and having dragonboat races in her swimming pool.
1946 -- July -- A Picnic in the Country was just what Gene needed to unwind.
1946 -- White Hyacinth opens, a touching drama about a young married couple who try everything to keep their marriage from
falling apart.
1947 -- Gene enjoys a rare Afternoon Off responding to mail from her fans.
1948 -- Her midnight rendezvous with her handsome co-star, sparkles with intrigue when Gene Marshall sweeps into the room in the latest Monolithic film: Sparkling Seduction.
1948 -- The King's Daughter, Gene's latest film hit transports the viewer to another time and place. (Both the dates for The King's Daughter and Sparkling Seduction can only be found in the first volume of The Gene Book.)
1948 -- Gene wears a Smart Set in the suspense thriller Montage, set in Rome.
1948 -- The ballad, "Mood Emerald" transfixes viewers in the star studded Broadway Medley.
1948 -- Miss Marshall arrives in a cloud of romantic splendor to London's Covent Garden Royal Opera House for La Cenerentola.
1948 -- Gene offers her Warmest Wishes and a toy soldier to her beloved hotel doorman, Henry for the Holiday Season.
1949 -- In the big budget musical Bird of Paradise, Gene plays a beautiful showgirl who dreams of not being discovered. (Lots of discrepencies on this one...The Folio Card for Pink Lightning, which is from 1956, says that Gene attended a reception promoting Bird of Paradise, where she sang an impromtu version of "There's a Small Hotel." Bird of Paradise was to be released later that spring. The Pink Lightning card also reveals that Bird of Paradise is Gene's first musical, when infact, Gene starred in Sea Spree, a war-time musical in 1943.)
1950 -- Gene stars in the Cinderella story Monaco and changes bridal fashions for years to come.
1951 -- Gene returns home to celebrate her 28th birthday with family. Her mother presents her with a lovely Cameo which has been in the family for generations.
1951 -- Gene takes time off for a photographic Safari while filming Daughter of the Nile.
1951 -- Once again, Gene shows off her dancing talents in Tango, her latest film. (Tango was written specifically with Ms. Marshall in mind, and it is interesting to note that she received the script at the same time as she received the script for The Black Ribbon.)
1951 -- In a much remembered scene from the movie Tango, Adell (Gene Marshall) hosts an Embassy Luncheon for her Father. An unexpected guest turns things on its head.
1951 -- Gene accepts an invitation for a Cognac Evening at the Governor's mansion.
1952 -- The sweeping historical epic Daughter of the Nile dazzles movie audiences.
1952 -- On location filming her latest feature, Paris Moon, Gene spends a Night at Versailles and helps to raise funds to restore the palace.
1952 -- Gene stars in a delightful romp, released just in time for Halloween. Can My Favorite Witch cast the right spell and find love?
1953 -- Ina Stafford's song "Blue Evening" inspires a gown of the same name which becomes Gene's favorite.
1953 -- August -- Gene sips Creme de Cassis cocktails in the Hemingway Bar at the Ritz Hotel, Paris with a famous society columnist.
1953 -- Blue Skies are on the horizon for Gene in the romantic Rain Song.
1953 -- All odds are on Gene Marshall in a Midnight Gamble.
1953 -- On New Year's Eve, Gene attends a charity ball that benefits the War Veterans -- her gown elegantly reflected the night's theme of Blossoms in the Snow.
1954 -- Johnny Harmon asked his good friend Gene Marshall to grace the cover of his latest album, Midnight Romance. Both are a hit.
1954 -- Gene finds love at the Poolside in her new movie Love for Sail.
1954 -- Even movie stars have bad days, including our own Ms. Marshall. Between takes on a publicity photo shoot, nothing is going right -- but Gene looks every inch the star in her lingerie with its touches of Forget-Me-Not blue.
1954 -- Gene holds the Queen of Hearts and the empty chair at her Mother's Bridge Club.
1954 -- Was it fate or Destiny that a lost reel of Gene's was discovered?
1954 -- September -- Miss Marshall relaxes at home listening to her Hi-Fi.
1954 -- Ransom in Red was at the top of every lady's gift list for the Holiday season.
1955 -- Gene enjoys a beautiful day in New York City by strolling On the Avenue.
1955 -- April 17th -- Everyone at the Studio is onhand for a Sunset Celebration to honor Gene's birthday.
1955 -- Gene takes to her white convertible and drives the Italian countryside Incognito.
1955 -- Gene spends an evening On the Veranda and finds her movie Bitter Snow a director.
1955 -- Gene does her first television interview for NBS from her parents' home. Then it's off to El Morocco, the chic nightclub to celebrate her Father's 50th birthday.
1956 -- Gene attends a studio press party for an upcoming movie and proves once again that Pink Lightning never strikes twice. (See the notes on Bird of Paradise for notes on this ensemble.)
1956 -- Breathless fans and reporters await Gene's arrival to producer Eric VonSternberg's 55th birthday bash.
1956 -- Gene weaves a bit of Holiday Magic as she stars in one of the first TV shows telecast in color. At the end, the cast gathers around the tree and sings White Christmas.
1957 -- Love is in the air when Gene enjoys a Champagne Supper with a long time friend and co-star, soon to be something more.
1957 -- Gene causes quite a Gold Sensation as she presents the Golden Star Award for Best Picture.
1957 -- Once again, Gene charms audiences in the romantic comedy, Personal Secretary.
1957 -- It's Love After Hours when Gene wins the account and her boss' heart in the comedy Personal Secretary.
1957 -- The Look, the Walk, the STAR...Gene Marshall is Unforgettable at the Premire of Personal Secretary.
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Madra Lord
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