Award winning artist and illustrator Mel Odom joins host Louisa Maxwell on The Doll Podcast.

Mel Odom’s work has graced magazine covers for: Time, Omni, The New York Times , Rolling Stone, Blue Boy and Play Boy. He has created artwork for numerous best selling books and album covers for CBS records.

Mel’s art deco influenced portraits are reminiscent of dramatically lit Hollywood film stills, his love of film and beauty inspired him to make Gene Marshall, a fashion doll and star of stage and screen.

In our interview Mel reveals the films and stars that gave him inspiration for Gene and her career. He also shares memories of his best friend and real life MGM Movie Star, Marsha Hunt and the doll he made in her likeness to honour her.

It was a drawing of a beautiful face that inspired Mel Odom to create Gene Marshall, a movie star of Hollywood’s golden age of the 1940’s and 50s’. When she was launched in 1995, the press heralded Gene with the headline:

“A star is born and she’s a doll!”

At fifteen and a half inches tall Gene towered over the competition and won the hearts of millions of fans.

Mel also shares some stories of his friend real life Holly wood star of the stage and screen Marsha Hunt. With a career spanning nearly 80 years Marsha Hunt starred in: These Glamour Girls at MGM, Pilot No. 5, Carnegie Hall, The Valley of Decision, None Shall Escape, Pride and Prejudice and many more.

Mel created a doll of Marsha Hunt Mel Loves Marsha in honour of the 2004 Gene Convention which Marsha attended to greet film fans.

Monolith Studios Presents

Of course in Hollywood every leading lady has a rival and Gene Marsahall’s rival is the tempestuous beauty Madra Lord. In 2000 Madra Lord swept on the scene and The Hollywood Gazette hailed Madra as:

“….known for her beauty, revered for her talent, feared for her temper…Watch out for Madra Lord”

Monolith’s leading man is Trent Osbourne who was described in the Hollywood press as : "Star of stage, screen and scandal!”

Star of Broadway musicals Violet Waters always strikes the right note on and off stage. She travels the world wowing audiences with her sensational voice and wardrobe too.