Raggedy Ann And Andy: Johnny Gruelle's Dolls With Heart

It surprises many people that "Raggedy Ann" is a registered trademark retained by the family of artist Johnny Gruelle, who patented the design eighty years ago. Before there was a Mickey Mouse, Raggedy Ann was a premier "character licensee," created with extensive commercial cross-marketing in mind. Because of the many manufacturers of the dolls over the years, Raggedys present a challenge to collectors. The Raggedy collection of biographer Patricia Hall is featured in this tape, with special attention paid to size, distinguishing marks, and manufacturing details. A couple quibbles: while mentioning that poet James Whitcomb Riley was a family friend of Gruelle's, (and some of "The Old Swimmin' Hole" is quoted), there is no query made as to whether Riley's more famous poem "The Raggedy Man" was a linguistic ancestor to Raggedy Ann's name (this is covered in Hall's excellent biography of Gruelle). Second, and most importantly: the producers should have cut the interviews with Gruelle's pretentious grandson, born years after Johnny's death. Still, the detailed collector information on the various Raggedy makes and model years will make this popular in libraries. Recommended. (R. Reagan)