Mary Hoyer Dolls

Mary Hoyer Dolls - Ocean City, NJ

There was a Mary Hoyer doll shop on the boardwalk in Ocean City, NJ when I was growing up the 1950's. It was my very favorite shop to visit when we went to the Boardwalk during the summer. I ended up with three Mary Hoyer dolls. Two blonds and one red head. The blond dolls were different sizes. I also had a doll very similar in size and look. She was a Mary Heartline doll. Don't remember much about Mary Heartline, but I think she was some kind of celebrity twirler? When her blond hair got too ratty, my mom bought a red Mary Hoyer wig from the store to replace that blond hair. The larger of my Mary Hoyer dolls is gone. She fell apart and the last time I saw her was in my parents house in Roxborough in the 70's. I still have my other three dolls.

The Mary Hoyer store in Ocean City not only sold dolls, they sold all kinds of accessories, clothes and dress patterns for the dolls. I have no idea how many hours my mom must have spent sewing beautiful outfits for my Mary Hoyer dolls. They are just simply gorgeous. Thank goodness I still have them. There are dresses, slacks, formal dresses, PJ's, nightgowns, and just everything a doll could possibly need. My mom splurged on the accessories at the Mary Hoyer store. I have shoes, ice skates, stockings, a tennis racket, and many more little trinkets. They are not in the best shape. My mom said dolls were to be played with and not saved. And play with them I did! The dolls were kept in two cardboard Girl Scout cookie cartons with handles. I always had them in Ocean City where we would spend our summers. I remember carrying the boxes down the alley behind our Ocean City house to my best friend's house on the next block at 5700 Central Avenue, Nancy Carol. Nancy and I would spend hours playing with our Mary Hoyer Dolls. It was a very special time. I have no pictures from that time or my sweet friend Nancy.

I do still have the dolls and brought them out recently for my 4 year old grandaughter to play with.  It's a different time now...Barbie everything...but she had some fun with my Mary Hoyer dolls. She enjoyed changing their clothes and putting on the shoes. It was probably more fun for me to play with my Mary Hoyer dolls again.

Here's Emmylou changing One of the dolls.

Here are my three dolls. The one in the crazy cowgirl outfit is the non Mary Hoyer. Yes, she has real guns in the holster. Everyone had cowgirl outfits with guns and holsters in the 50's.  The sweet cabinet I now store the clothes in was acquired from my very good friend Sheri. She used to store pool chemicals in it. Good grief, it's so very perfect for handmade Mary Hoyer doll clothes!