Summary

Black and white photograph of a television screen depicting Beatles Gerry Gee and Geraldine Gee in a promotional program.

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

This is a photograph of a television screen that depicts a Gerry Gee doll advertising or promotional appearance. On the screen there is a man whose face cannot be seen, to the right of him there is an advertising poster or sign with 'GERRY GEE' printed. To the right of this there is a Beatles Gerry Gee doll and to the right of this, there is a Geraldine Gee doll. In the top right corner of the television screen, the legs of another Geraldine Gee doll can be seen.

Physical Description

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.

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