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A late summer revelation

August 20, 2007 at 6:56 AM

When I was a small child, my mom and dad, with the best intentions, took my worn, over-loved Raggedy Ann to...."the beauty parlor." Whenever she got rather ragged, in fact, she would go to the beauty parlor and come back looking "good as NEW..." This happened on a regular basis.

Since the age of about four, I've wondered about the dolly beauty parlor. I've harbored a strong suspicion that no such thing actually exists, that my parents were, in fact, stashing away the old Raggedy and giving me a new one.

I now humbly must recognize that the dolly beauty parlor DOES indeed exist. It's at The Grove mall in LA, and it's called, "American Girl Place." I went there with my daughter and her two dolls. They got their hair done. Check it out, I took pictures. Dolls DO get their hair done.

They also really do have tea parties.

It's a truly strange world, but at least now something does make more sense to me. Mom and Dad, I'm sorry I doubted the dolly beauty parlor.

From janet griffiths
Posted on August 20, 2007 at 2:00 PM

wow!!!!

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on August 20, 2007 at 5:11 PM

Great photos. Thanks. Are you going to Santa's workshop at the North Pole next?

From Karen Allendoerfer
Posted on August 20, 2007 at 6:17 PM

That is a great picture! I can't let my daughter see it or she'll want one too, and the nearest American Girl place to us is in NYC.

From Laurie Niles
Posted on August 20, 2007 at 8:29 PM

You absolutely read my mind, Pauline. Now that I have this knowledge, I really must find Santa's workshop.

My daughter was concerned over a rumor that they would simply pop off the dolls' heads and put on new ones, so she guarded this whole "beautifying" process very carefully! Fortunately, each doll kept its head.

I did not bring Raggedy Ann. She's been through enough!

From Donna Clegg
Posted on August 20, 2007 at 11:13 PM

An American Girl Place opened in Atlanta last week and girls were in line at 6 a.m. for the opportunity to have their dolls beautified. My grown daughters had first generation Molly and Samantha dolls and we had many happy Christmas mornings playing with all the clothes and fun accessories Santa brought.

From Albert Justice
Posted on August 21, 2007 at 12:55 AM

I still have nightmares from searching over three states for a cabbage patch back in the day--finally finding one....

I'm now convinced they were all at the beauty parlor!.

From Emil Chudnovsky
Posted on August 21, 2007 at 12:58 AM

Did I ever tell you, Laurie, that my mom had my fiddle smuggled out of the Soviet Union? And that in order to get it past customs, it was put into the diplomatic bag of a European diplomat (can't mention who), DRESSED AS A DOLL? And in an oversized doll's box?

Yes, the same wooden girlfriend you heard in Pasadena. The same one that used to belong to Boris Goldstein.

From Jim W. Miller
Posted on August 21, 2007 at 4:03 AM

It wouldn't have taken much more than that to start the nukes flying if memory serves.

And I was going to say, what a couple of dolls!

From Laurie Niles
Posted on August 21, 2007 at 5:30 AM

Emil, actually you never did tell me that your violin went to the dolly beauty parlor. It's quite an astounding story!

From Sydney Menees
Posted on August 21, 2007 at 2:57 PM

My sister really loves American Girl too. She'd be so jealous of your daughter! :)

From David Russell
Posted on August 21, 2007 at 5:17 PM

Bulletin:

Santas Workshop is actually in the Adirondacks, at the foot of Whiteface Mountain in North Pole, Ny. Santa lives there all year in an alpine village with rides and treats for all the children. Its really cool! www.northpoleny.com

From Karin Lin
Posted on August 21, 2007 at 5:52 PM

Great pics, Laurie. My mother-in-law got my older daughter an American Girl baby when I was pregnant with my younger daughter, and it is UNBELIEVABLE how much gear they sell for that stuff---cribs, strollers, suitcases, all sorts of clothes...fortunately, my girls are more interested in playing with each other than with their dolls. I'm glad to hear that the beauty parlor leaves the heads intact. :)

Emil, incredible story!

From Kristin Mortenson
Posted on August 22, 2007 at 1:44 PM

What fun!! They didn't have such a thing when I was a kid... I played with Kitty, Bear, and Puff, and when half of Puff's face fell off I "fixed" it with a piece of fabric and some push pins! (I think she's still moldering in a closet somewhere...)

From Sydney Menees
Posted on August 23, 2007 at 1:41 AM

My sister got a violin/stand accessory for her doll!

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