Musidora
My parents were the boho, beatnicky type and they raised some pretty offbeat children. As a young girl I took a liking to French silent film actress Jeanne Roques. Roques, best known by her stage name Musidora, was a bit of a vamp, much like American actress Theda Bara. When we played with our dolls, I shunned names like Brigitte or Madeline, opting instead to call mine after them. I religiously poured over biographies and included them in my angst filled, adolescent creative writing pieces.
So when I discovered Dolly Parton paper dolls by way of the Googles, I decided to return to my offbeat roots. Rather than supply D with more rhinestones, fringe, and cowgirl boots (she has plenty), I decided to gift her with a silent film star wardrobe. I couldn’t find stars with clothes that resemble those of my vampy pre-teen idols. So we’ll have to create our own. But we did find some gems.
- Norma Talmadge (Smilin’ Through, Secrets)
2. Baby Peggy (Playmates)
Pearlmatic
3. Clara Bow (Maytime, Black Oxen). What a cupid’s bow!
National Museum of American History
And here’s your Dolly Doll. With some lovely Dia de los Muertos gear.
Jacque Davis
Image Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musidora
https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theda_Bara
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Norma_Talmadge_2.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paper_doll
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BabyPeggy01.jpg
https://www.flickr.com/photos/pearlmatic/5655620699
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clara_Bow
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nationalmuseumofamericanhistory/with/15458158598/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacquedavis/8703571326
The Dalai Dolly 
