BURBANK : Resident Wins Award for Her House of Dolls

Burbank resident Rosalie Caruso has dolled up her house for the holidays.

Several members of Caruso’s 1,000-strong doll collection, including French dolls and even a replica of Marie Osmond, decorate her lawn at 721 E. Grinnell Drive. It took Caruso three weeks to decide how to place the dolls in the Christmas display because she didn’t want “three blondes in a row or two many short ones together.”

The elaborate outdoor scene won Caruso and her husband, Anthony, the grand prize in Burbank’s 12th annual holiday outdoor decorating contest. A two-time grand prize winner, Caruso also garnered awards in the window display category in 1990 and 1991.

Caruso said the awards have brought her celebrity status in a town she has called home for 40 years.

“You have no idea how many people come to my home to see the display,” she said. “I didn’t realize how everyone loved dolls--mainly the men--I never believed that men would like them so much.”

A doll collector for more than 40 years, Caruso in October started cleaning and dressing her dolls for Christmas. Many, including her favorites--five identical dolls named “Rachel”--wear colorful holiday clothes handmade by the collector.

Caruso said her interest in dolls sprang from her love of babies. She has five children and nine grandchildren.

Caruso and other contest winners, chosen from among 26 entries, will be presented certificates at tonight’s Burbank City Council meeting.

The contest, held each year by the city’s Civic Pride Committee, has grown in popularity over the years, said Cinda Cates, Burbank’s public information specialist.

Other winners include: Chuck, Cyndi, Douglas and William Spang, 3500 Viewcrest Drive, for the most creative display; the Frank J. Licursi family, 1421 Naomi St., animation; the Richard Norton family, 513 N. Florence St., window display award; 13-year-old Keith LaPrath, 429 Florence St., children’s entry; Timothy P. Urban, 730 Clybourn Ave., lights category, and the Burbank Hills Estates area, neighborhood award.

Committee members also will give honorable mention awards to Marty and Julie Adams, 344 W. Cedar Ave.; Sarkis Sarkissian and Richard Keller, 4136 Hood Ave., and Richard and Karla Fritsen, 2001 Richard St.