New Article

My latest article, "Her Naughty Hula Hips," appears in the March 2017 edition of Antique Doll Collector magazine.  The article is a followup to my December 2016 article in that publication, "A Whistle and a Shimmy; Clockwork Carnival Dolls of the 1920s," which examined at the clockwork dancing dolls created by companies like Zaiden Toy Works for carnival concessionaires.  The new article contracts hula dolls created by Zaiden and Progressive Toy Company.  The title is from the song, "Keep Your Eye on Her Hands" by Tony Todaro and Liko Johnston, which was sung by Jane Russell in the 1956 movie, "The Revolt of Mamie Stover."

Whenever you're watching a hula girl dance 

You gotta be careful, you're tempting romance. 

Don't keep your eyes on her hips 

Her naughty hula hips,

Keep your eyes on the hands.

Remember she's telling a story to you, 

Her opu is swaying, but don't watch the view. 

Don't concentrate on the swing 

It doesn't mean a thing, 

Keep your eyes on the hands. 

And when she goes around the island 

Swinging hips so tantalizing, 

Just keep your eyes where they belong. 

Because the hula has a feeling 

That will send your senses reeling, 

It makes a weak man strong. 

Your eyes are revealing 

I'm fooling no one, 

No use in concealing 

We're having some fun. 

But if you're too young to date 

Or over ninety-eight,

Keep your eyes on the hands. 

They tell the story, 

Just keep your eyes on the hands.