South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
TRASH TO TREASURE
Orlando photographer rescues Raggedy Ann dolls, takes ‘misfit toys’ on adventures around the city
Orlando photographer Ben Van Hook was out for a stroll around Delaney Park when he noticed something that made him stop: a pair of Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls sitting by a trash can.
Like a tiny island of misfit toys, they were cast aside and destined for the landfill on trash pickup day. The photographer posted a photo of them to Instagram and kept walking, but the dolls kept pulling on his heartstrings.
About 15 minutes later, he returned to the same house and was at first discouraged by what he saw.
“The garbage truck had come and gone. I was kind of heartbroken,” Van Hook said. “I opened the trash can lid and the can was empty except for both of these dolls. I turned the trash can over and fished them out.”
Suddenly, the pair of toys had a new purpose, heading out on Orlando outings to Lake Eola, Publix (now with masks on), the golf course and the lazy river. Though Van Hook has had a storied career, shooting assignments for GQ, Forbes and The New York Times Magazine, he’s found the dolls have captured people’s imagination more than his other work.
“I’ve worked with Sports Illustrated for like 25 years, been all over the place and shot all this ad work,” he said. “These dolls, on social media — people like them way better than anything I’ve ever done ... It’s been kind of a respite from the pandemic and all the bad news.”
Raggedy Ann was patented in 1915 by Johnny Gruelle, who began making dolls along with short stories featuring the character. In 2002, Raggedy Ann was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame, followed by her brother, Raggedy Andy, in 2007.
As for how old these particular dolls are, Van Hook believes they could date back to the 1960s.
“They still smell a little bit like an attic,” he said. “I’m thinking about going back over to that house and knocking on the door, like ‘What’s the story with these dolls?’ “
Though many are happy to see the photos on social media, others have poked fun at the new series, such as photographer Joe McNally.
“He said, ‘Now you’ve really lost it.’ My friends are kidding me about it,” Van Hook said. “The only weird thing is when somebody sees me with those dolls under my arm, walking to where I’m going, they definitely stare at me and wonder what’s going on.”
The personal project, dubbed “Saved From The Landfill,” is at first glance a fun and cheery way to give two dolls new life. But it may also provide deeper commentary on our society.
Amid the pandemic, Van Hook and his daughter have texted each other “curb alert” every time they see a discarded couch or table set out by the street.
“People have all this time on their hands, so they’re rooting out all of this old stuff,” Van Hook said. “[The dolls are] like a comment on how we’re a throwaway society ... I couldn’t let them go.”
Follow Van Hook’s work and the dolls’ journey on Instagram (@benvan hookpictures) or online at benvanhook.com.