Photo of Julia doll © Kathryn E. Darden

Who Is Julia Kingston?

In 1998, Julia Kingston by Robert Tonner, a doll straight out of a Harlequin Romance, premiered at Toy Fair. Julia was not made by the Tonner Doll Company, but was created by Robert Tonner for Pendant Historical Romance, a Division of Georgetown Collection. Julia was next owned by the Knickerbocker doll company.

Julia Historical Romance Dolls & Books

The concept was for a series of dolls based on a fictitious romance novel family made up of three lovely sisters, each with her own unique beauty, story and wardrobe from bygone days. Each doll was to have been part of the Kingston Chronicles, a romance novel packaged with each doll. Julia was created and marketed first, and then the series was put on hold.

In a 2000 interview Robert Tonner told me, “They (Knickerbocker) are going through some changes and I don’t know where we are right now. I am still interested in developing the Julia dolls.”

Julia and Gene

Julia was greeted with interest by Gene collectors who appreciated Julia’s similar size and lines as well as her more lifelike facial features. Like the first Genes, Julia had straight legs, a twist waist, and was a lovely blonde doll made of vinyl. Although not the exact same proportions, Julia could wear some of Gene's clothes.

Julia's Wardrobe

Julia arrived dressed in an original Tonner design -- a feminine fashions of the 1840s -- a cream and gold brocade gown adorned with pink roses and dainty jewelry. Other clothing was available including a wedding dress, lingerie ensemble, day dress and coat.  Julia came with her own romance book which told her story.

West Coast Convention Doll

The West Coast doll convention picked Julia for their convention doll in 1999, and Robert Tonner partnered with Doris Mixon, another respected doll fashion designer, to create a beautiful limited edition doll. “I chose Julia as the convention doll because I wanted to get a doll that I knew the public would want,” stated Doris Mixon who has been designing for fashion dolls since 1995.  “I always thought that Julia would look so much better in contemporary cloths than in the romantic era style that she is portrayed in. I chose the colors brown and beige to complement her eyes and hair.”

Doris was correct about the contemporary look; Julia was a vision of elegance with an upswept braided coiffure and the champagne satin fitted sheath dress with matching belt and long opera coat of crushed brown velvet Doris designed for her -- a worthy predecessor of Tyler’s elegant modern fashions. (See slideshow below.)

Julia & Tyler

After the enthusiasm collectors showed for Julia, Tonner’s own manufacturing facility reached a point where he could pursue some of his dreams further, and Julia's small success showed Tonner he was ready to create his dream doll -- Tyler Wentworth.