Summary

Black and white photograph depicting Ron Blaskett with the Gerry Gee ventriloquist doll, a female ventriloquist doll and four Gerry Gee dolls including one Geraldine Gee, one St. Kilda Gerry Gee and two Gerry Gee junior dolls.

This photograph relates to products and promotions of the L.J. Sterne Doll Company (1939-1971), a Melbourne doll and toy manufacturer founded by Austrian migrants Leo and Hilda Sterne.

Description of Content

Ron Blaskett with his Gerry Gee ventriloquist doll and female ventriloquist doll and four Gerry Gee dolls made by the Sterne Doll Company. These include the St Kilda Gerry Gee dressed in St Kilda football team colours, 'The New Look' Gerry Gee Junior doll, 'The First Australian Gerry Gee Junior' and 'Gerry's sister' Geraldine. There is a logo with 'STERNE/ DOLLS' typed in the top right hand corner.

Physical Description

A black and white photograph.

Significance

This item is part of a growing collection of material relating to the migration and settlement experiences of Leo and Hilda Sterne who arrived in Melbourne in 1939. They immediately established a business that became one of the most successful doll and toy manufacturers in post-war Melbourne.

The L.J. Sterne Sterne Doll Company (1939-71) is significant as one of the few surviving collections related to an Australian toy and doll manufacturer, a once thriving industry in Australia. Only the A.L. Lindsay and Co. Archive at the Powerhouse Museum and the Jakas Toys collection at museum Victoria.

This collection of photographs, business and promotional documents, dolls and toys enables the exploration of many Australian post-war historical and social themes including: local television and manufacturing industries; design and production innovation; marketing and merchandising; childhood; gender and cultural representations; leisure and sport; and key cultural and historical events.

More Information