Carol Channing Marionette - JCPenney Christmas Catalog - 2006

 

     I hadn't planned on doing anything from this year's Christmas catalog. After all, the point of this was supposed to be kind of nostalgic, either in the "Awww....I remember that!" way or the "Oh my gosh! What were we thinking?!" way. Still, I just couldn't let this go by without a mention. If you grew up looking at Christmas catalogs every year like I did, you're probably familiar with the marionette page. It always surprises me that there's a page devoted to marionettes because it's hard for me to believe that they're still a hot ticket Christmas item. There are always the classics - Howdy Doody, Charlie McCarthy - and then, every once in a while, you get your mind blown. This year, they're offering Carol Channing. I don't even know where to begin with that.
     First of all, when was the last time anyone heard of Carol Channing doing anything? When I was a kid, she was known for perennially playing the title role in "Hello, Dolly!" (and, of course, for her hair.) Who even knows who Carol Channing is anymore besides me and people older than my parents? Still, someone thought the time was right to market a tiny Carol Channing, not just in doll form, but as a full-blown marionette, complete with smart, red pantsuit. As you can see, the catalog marked her with a "new!", though I don't hold out too much faith that we'll see her become a seasoned veteran of the catalog marionette page. I guess there's always a chance this blog entry will promote a surge in sales. Cross your fingers.