I love the friends I've made through Gene Archived Message
Posted by Gael  on February 10, 2025, 1:49 pm, in reply to "30 years today Gene hit Toy Fair! My thoughts inside. Add yours xxoo"
I first saw Gene in late 1995 in a little two-page article in the January 1996 issue of Barbie Bazaar and was instantly smitten. The sculpt was so beautiful and I loved the connection to old Hollywood. I think my wife thought I was a little nuts when I said I wanted to fly from San Francisco to Newark for the first Gene convention. I set about commissioning someone to make a dress inspired by The Lady Eve for the costume competition (I can't sew). I had Red Venus's hair restyled to be more emblematic of the 40's (I can't do hair either).
What an amazing convention that was. I was so excited to meet Stephen L whose Gene-Zine I eagerly awaited. (Remember those early days when you ran home to check the AOL Gene board to see the few new posts, hopefully with info about a new Gene?) I was over the moon when Mel told me he voted for my entry and then my Gene won! I still have the doll (sadly with a very badly stained body from the green velvet used for the dress) and the cape and crown she won.
Years later, after the Gray Lady Gene came out I decided I wanted to compete in the human costume competition and went about making myself into a version of the Gray Lady. My dress, my make-up, my wig were all shades of black/white/gray. I even wore black contact lenses! But because the contact lenses weren't prescription I couldn't see very well and because the inside of my mouth wasn't the right color I didn't speak. My wife led me around and answered questions that were posed to me. At one point she realized she could say whatever she wanted and I wouldn't open my mouth to contradict her. I think that was the most fun she had at a Gene convention. Franklin Lim Liao and I won the costume competition.
In 1997, Ward Keegan and I founded the first Gene club in San Francisco. This is where I met some wonderful people -- some of whom are on Studio Commissary (Jim S and Vera). Our first meeting was in January but soon the club had exploded to a membership list of about 150!
As much as I love Gene, the best thing she did for me was lead me to making some dear friends. A few of us have been having lunch together every week or two for decades, even though now that most of us are retired or live in different states from each other, it's over Zoom.
Gene has been a gateway to so many wonderful experiences and people. Thank you, Mel, and thank you to everyone I've shared Gene with over the years.
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Message Thread: | This response ↓
- 30 years today Gene hit Toy Fair! My thoughts inside. Add yours xxoo - Lori in Denver February 2, 2025, 2:17 pm
- I am very late responding but love this so much I have to post! I was never>> - Izzy February 16, 2025, 10:53 am
- Do you remember... - Gael February 10, 2025, 2:01 pm
- I love the friends I've made through Gene - Gael February 10, 2025, 1:49 pm
- What a wonderful tribute to Gene and Mel, Lori! Thank you for sharing the picture, too!
 - Sue in ABQ February 7, 2025, 1:14 pm - I have a small antique and collectible store that started about that time,.. - dcal February 6, 2025, 9:29 pm
- My 1st Sighting must have been an ad in a doll mag. Red Venus and Monaco came to live w/ me >>> then - Trish at dollymall February 6, 2025, 3:51 pm
- Thank Lori for this. And thanks to all of you for sharing memories and our love of Gene. - Jan in MB February 5, 2025, 3:16 pm
- May I just add how lucky we are to love this doll - Carole NY February 5, 2025, 5:03 am
- I first saw Gene in a Mall gift shop...was fascinated by---->msg - Lori in RI February 4, 2025, 6:17 pm
- Wonderful to read all these stories and memories. Thanks to all my online friends! Hugs!! - Becky in Upstate February 4, 2025, 5:42 pm
- I remember as if it were yesterday, that first picture of Monaco in Blue Goddess in Doll Reader Mag - Jayne in Seattle February 3, 2025, 11:09 pm
- Thank you for sharing this! I remember the smell of opening a new Gene doll box and the excitement.. - RyeGuy February 3, 2025, 9:26 pm
- I first saw Gene at FAO in Orlando and was completely captivated. - Donna in FL February 3, 2025, 7:58 pm
- Lori, thank you for sharing this and starting this thread of reminiscence.>>>>> - Ivy in MA February 3, 2025, 4:52 pm
- Love this. So many great stories from the first year or two. > - dollster February 3, 2025, 11:31 am
- Ahhhh... the memories. Back in 1995 I was just dabbling with dolls as an adult. A friend showed me > - IL Deb February 3, 2025, 10:30 am
- What a great picture! I fell in love with Gene when FAO sent me a catalogue! - Kim in IL February 3, 2025, 5:40 am
- My affair with Gene started when my dolls were taken in a home burglary - VeraS February 3, 2025, 2:18 am
- How Gene drew me in… - Kelly Red February 3, 2025, 12:03 am
- Wow- thank you for sharing this reminder! - sigborga99 February 2, 2025, 9:28 pm
- A beautiful tribute on this anniversary date! - Jim S February 2, 2025, 8:07 pm
- Thank you for the photo! It captures so much about the beginnings of Gene. - Barb in MA February 2, 2025, 6:05 pm
- Love this, Lori! Gene has brought so much to so many. <3 - Michael H February 2, 2025, 5:26 pm
- That was beautifully said Lori. I'd like to share my own "The beginnings of my Love for Gene" story - George in NC February 2, 2025, 3:41 pm
- I am at a loss for words as my eyes well up with tears. Thank you for sharing your story. - Sue in ABQ February 7, 2025, 1:12 pm
- What a heartwarming story! - Kim in IL February 4, 2025, 6:32 am
- That is a beautiful story from such a big heart - Ori February 4, 2025, 3:17 am
- Oh, George…..what a sweet story>>>> - CherylStG February 3, 2025, 10:53 am
- {{{ HUGS }}} - IL Deb February 3, 2025, 9:42 am
- You’ve both broken my heart and made me smile. Thank you for sharing. - Kelly Red February 3, 2025, 12:07 am
- George, that was so sweet. I am glad to know you these 20 some years. - Jackie_NJ February 2, 2025, 4:29 pm
- Lovely Lori! You evoke so many thoughts, memories and joy. >> - Becky in Upstate February 2, 2025, 3:20 pm
- Gene paved the way, and everything about doll collecting changed. - Jackie_NJ February 2, 2025, 2:32 pm
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