Doll News Fall 2017 - 122

The Colorful Characters of

Joseph Kallus
By Woolsey Ackerman
From the Collection of Susan Ackerman

M

uch has been written about Joseph
Kallus and his work. He was the art
student discovered by illustrator
Rose O'Neill, creator of "Kewpie" and
"Scootles." His expertise in child
portraiture led her to choose him
as the interpretive sculptor of her
characters. His work for her led
to his continued employment in
creating "Kewpies" in composition
for the George Borgfeldt Company; his
establishing both the Rex and then, his
long running Cameo Doll Companies, and
the continuous manufacturing of "Kewpie"
and "Scootles."
Kallus hit his innovative artistic stride
in the late 1920s, perhaps influenced by
the intricate wood characters of Schoenhut
when he began manufacturing articulated
dolls which were made of elastic strung
wooden segments with composition heads.
An early commission through Schoenhut for
the popular cartoon character "Felix the Cat"
Left to right are:
could have been the catalyst. From 1928 through
"Radiotron,"
1948 many of his creations were designed in this format. They are truly unique.
"Betty Boop," "Hot
Joseph Kallus also designed another truly unique doll genre when he introduced his
Point," "Bandy,"
"Flexy" characters in 1939. With a wooden torso at center, the limbs were heavy bendable
and "Superman."
wire tubes, topped by a composition character head.
Many of the dolls were of popular characters created at the time, and though many were manufactured through
his company, other companies such as Ideal and Knickerbocker commissioned characters utilizing his design talent.
Product advertising, movie, radio, and cartoon characterizations and comic characters were his specialty. Throughout
this 20-year period he also created child dolls each with its own unique character face.
Susan Ackerman fell in love with Joseph Kallus's artistry some 40 years ago when her husband, Richard, brought
home a 1935 "Popeye," designed by Kallus that he had found in a local attic. A leg segment was missing, so Richard
crafted the piece and this new segment was like the original. Finds at garage sales, flea markets, auctions, and through
eBay were added over the years in a quest to find the colorful characters of Kallus. Some 35 years after "Popeye" was
discovered, his missing section was found in the same local attic, and it replaced his newly made part.
Many articles have appeared over the years in books and magazines, but it has been difficult to see many of the
Kallus characters in one publication. While Susan's collection is still missing some of Kallus' known work, it does
include some unusual and never seen variants and likely prototypes.
Kallus' characters appeal to people. Even those who do not understand the world of doll collecting appreciate his
work, whether it is because of the unusual workmanship and design, or because it represents a character they have fond
memories of, these dolls, which appeal to a variety of collectors, transcend the collecting world. Presented in illustrative
narrative is much of his work during his most prolific period.

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