Even if you’re not a collector of dolls, I’d be surprised if you hadn’t heard the name. Beatrice Alexander Behrman started the Madame Alexander Doll Company right from her kitchen in 1923, a pioneer in doll manufacturing.
On Tuesday, I had a chance to attend a typical Madame Alexander birthday party. After a long subway ride to the Manhattanville section of Harlem, I was so happy to finally be there to browse the showroom.
The Radio City Rockettes
The Wizard of Oz
Emma actually owns this doll and I had no idea it was a Madame Alexander creation.
We love that it’s the classic version and not the modern Strawberry Shortcake.
We had a chance to chat with the designers and tour the facility where prototypes of the dolls are created, the world famous doll hospital where repairs are made (they’ll repair any type of doll – not just M.A.), and then we browsed the museum known as the heritage gallery, a collection of more than 600 dolls from the 1920s to today.
Madame Alexander was the first to introduce the first dolls based on licensed characters and living people, and the first to design dolls with “sleep” eyes that open and close. She created the original line of patriotic dolls to honor the U.S. Armed Forces of World War II.
Her first dolls were made of composite, not porcelain. In 1947, utilizing new technology from DuPont™, she created the first dolls made of hard plastic. The first full-figured fashion doll named Cissy® was producted in 1955, featuring flawlessly designed, haute couture outfits.
Photography was strictly prohibited in all of these areas, however the heritage gallery is open to the public for free walk-throughs, and behind the scenes tours are available. Or you can do what we did and dress your very own doll followed by a tea party in this delightful room.
Madame Alexander party packages range from $38.00-$350.00 per person. A fun party idea for a child, or a doll enthusiast of any age.
For this blogger event, I received a complimentary behind-the-scenes tour, lunch and Madame Alexander gifts. No other form of compensation was provided.
Out of my price range at this time, but very dreamy :) If I have a daughter, I may make the sacrifice.
i have all my madame alexander dolls that my mom collected for me when i was young….they are treasures! when she used to make our angel food birthday cakes there was always a ‘new’ doll in the center. wonderful memories! thank you!
polly~.
Oy!! Every year my father in law sends Lily one of these. I have 3 sitting on a shelf in the box because we’re just not doll people and I can’t have Lily playing with glass dolls.
I did enjoy reading the history on the dolls…glad you had a fun event!
Great Meeting you at the Madame Alexander Event! :)
Heather, this was such a blast! I’m so glad we got to spend the day together! Emailing you the photo of us in the big chair now! xo
Ok, NOW I am jealous, super, super jealous. I have a HUGE collection of the international dolls! Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!