The last two days of the 2015 World Meeting of Families event brings Pope Francis to Philadelphia. The last papal visitor to Philadelphia was Pope John Paul II back in 1979. I don't have memories of that visit - I was in my teens and in my own "world." I am older now and more conscious of social/religious events. It's lovely and flattering to host the Pope. On the other hand, it feels as though the city has been overtaken. However, it is only for a single weekend, these preparations. Sigh.
The current visit makes me think about the Catholic-themed dolls and action figure available in playscale. I have a Lady's Mission nun action figure, a Takara Jenny nun dress, and one action figure I intend to become a priest. The potential Father awaits proper garb - like my Baptist minister, Isaiah Ezekiel Hadley. (Perhaps I will make them or buy them someday.)
Below, I list a doll and fashions produced that are NOT part of my collection
1967-70 Hasbro Flying Nun Doll based on the character Sister Betrille played by Sally Field on The Flying Nun television show. This doll is 12" tall.
Here are other views of the Easter Toys priest's garb that includes a bible and a cross necklace
Azone International produced nun's robes in gray or black
Takara Jenny owned a mini-skirted nun's dress that I have somewhere
Aside: this is an interesting article about an action figure's representation..
Do you collect religious figures in playscale?
LOL!!!!! Ah....is this the "pope effect." Enjoy the good vibes Pope Francis will surely bring to your city this weekend.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the interesting links! The 1/6th Easter Toys scale priest outfit is great! I don't have any religious dolls yet, but have been thinking regularly of making a little nun's outfit :-).
ReplyDeleteI don't know if you follow the following blog, but this blogger made an awesome Sister Act post today, here is the link:
http://www.midge5.blogspot.be/2015/09/show.html
It's a lot of preparation for a city if the Pope visits indeed, all that security and everything else, pfew!!!
The action figure story is certainly... lively.
ReplyDeleteVarious of my people have religious affilations, but so far none appear to have much urge to be actually in charge.
LOL, nuns dolls.....I never dreamed they existed at all!!!
ReplyDeleteI was pleased the Pope visited, I watched his speech and even though he was close to D.C. I did not go, the traffic would have been too great. Our church was showing his speech on TV. I'm Catholic, so this was very exciting. I love that Easter toys priest outfit and have always wanted to get it, it is kind of high on ebay. I have always wanted to do a Catholic church scene in 1:6 scale, an over the top wedding. I have even thought of doing Michaelangelo painting the Sistine chapel in 1:6 but haven't figured out how to photograph it, as he painted the ceiling on his back on scaffolding. That factoid always fascinated me.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the religious 1/6 scale outfit links! these are so helpful!
Yes, the Pope's visit has been an exciting one. I don't have any nuns in my doll world, but Pastor Carmelia is here. Many years ago, at one of our local doll shows, a woman made nothing but 12" nun dolls. There were gorgeous. I had plans to buy one, but it never happened.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the Catholic outfits. Very nice.
Hello from Spain: Pope Juan Pablo II also came to my city. I was a big fan of him. The Pope's visit was very exciting. I do not collect dolls nuns or priests. In my country they are not for sale. Keep in touch
ReplyDeleteHi April_n_Paris, Linda- Darkroom Dolls, Smaller Places, Billa's Dolls and Fashions, Lisa Neault, Vanessa, and All4Barbie! Thanks for your comments.
ReplyDelete@April_n_Paris - I've enjoyed the "pope effect." Now I look forward to "back to everyday Philly" life. Sigh ;-)
@Linda - Darkroom Dolls - Thanks for that fun link! I will be following that blog ;-)
I am relieved that no harm came to the Pope during his visit.
@Smaller Places - I think that priest did not realize that unless he was a big ticket personality, he was not going to get a personalized sculpt. Shrug.
Alas, I have a lot of would-be leaders here, ha ha.
@Billa - oh, yes! Nun dolls and action figures ;-)
@Lisa Neault - I am not Catholic, but the Pope's visit was exciting for me because he came to my city. I watched a good bit of his visit on tv - charming and charismatic as he seems, I was not going into that large a crowd.
Doing a diorama of Michelangelo painting the Sistine chapel would be cool. I don't know how the scaffolding of that time looked, but that would be interesting to see. That is some gorgeous artwork. I would not have wanted to do it under a Pope who could beat me ;-P (I think Michelangelo included that Pope's image among the characters being tortured in Hell?)
Glad you like the religious outfit links.
@Vanessa - Hi Pastor Carmelia. I've got a Pastor - the Right Reverend Isaiah Ezkiel Hadley. Oh and a rabbi. No name for him yet. And a priest also unnamed. None of them have religious outfits yet.
Those nun dolls sound interesting. Did you photograph them? Sometimes local artists don't like their stuff photographed because they think the idea will be stolen by someone else. Sigh.
@Marta - I remember Pope John Paul II as being the first Polish Pope, but I don't recall much about him. Those were pre-Internet days ;-P
My nun action figure was sold by a boutique store in California; they no longer have that action figure series for sale. Sigh. I do not collect religious figures as a group, but I like have some in my collection ;-)
Will definitely stay in touch.
The artist provided a nice big postcard with a picture of all that nuns. Sorry, I can't put my hands on it at the moment.
ReplyDeleteThere are umpteen saint and Nativity scene figurines out there, but are there saints or Nativity scene dolls?
ReplyDeleteAlso, in the 1960s there was a comic strip called "Brother Juniper." I've seen little knickknacks of him but I don't know if there were ever dolls made of him.
Huh, it's funny but I would have expected there to be all kinds of pope dolls - it just seems like something people would buy as souvenirs in Vatican city, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteHi Vanessa, SkipperCollector, and jSarie!
ReplyDelete@Vanessa - that sounds like something that would happen to me, lol. Neat postcard ;-)
@SkipperCollector - oh, I forgot about saints and nativity figures. They would have been a nice addition to that list.
The Brother Juniper comics looks cute. I don't recall seeing it, but there are probably a lot of comics I have forgotten.
@jSarie - they had some - a plush doll and bobble heads - but I was hoping for something playscale ;-)
As a non religious person, never did I ever imagine that there were nun and priest dolls. Character dolls, yes. But not necessarily dolls intended to represent the clergy versus representing an actor dressed as clergy.
ReplyDeleteI used to have beef with nuns and the whole "married to God" bit when I was younger. But I'm older and not quite as obnoxious as I was then.
Hi Muff! Guess who wanted to be a nun years ago? Me, lol! I was not Catholic, but I admired the nuns in the Hailey Mills movie, "The Trouble with Angels". Problem aside from my not being Catholic? I would have trouble with thr obedience requirement. Oh and I'd be useless tending the sick.
ReplyDeleteBut yes, there are dolls and action figures representing religious figures. All kinds of occupations in playscale ;-)
ReplyDeletePlease pardon my errors -- I am typing on a smart phone.