We’re excited to announce that The Donut Dollies has been nominated for Best Documentary at the Victory International Film Festival in Evansville, IN. We’ll be announcing the details of our VIFF screening in the coming days, but we couldn’t wait to share this exciting news with you. We thank the Victory International Film Festival for nominating us and for including our film in this year’s festival.
The response to our film has been has been resoundingly positive, whether through virtual screenings or on the big screen, we’ve received praise from Donut Dollies, veterans, the public, film festival staff and the media. We undertook this project to document and preserve the story of the Donut Dollies and to add this little known part of American and women’s history into the record for posterity. We thank all of the Donut Dollies and veterans who served, and those who have shared their stories with us online (www.donutdollies.com or www.facebook.com/thedonutdollies), who have taken part in interviews and shared their photos, film and memorabilia to help us tell the most complete story possible. We also would like to thank the Donut Dollies, veterans, family, friends and fans who have provided the support that has allowed us to create and present this film.
We look forward to making the Donut Dollies Documentary available later this year for viewing in your own home. Please check our future posts for updates and join our mailing list by submitting your info at www.donutdollies.com in the Email Sign Up box (see right side). We believe the Donut Dollie’s story needs to be told as widely as possible and you can help spread the word by sharing our website and Facebook links with family, friends, veterans and fraternal organizations, and with your local community. We thank you for helping us raise awareness of these courageous women.
On August 18th, a 30-minute Zoom interview was broadcast on WCPC-15 TV and WSKB 89.5 FM in Western Massachusetts featuring the Donut Dollies Documentary in the first half. This meant a lot to us, because our director, producer and co-producer are all from the Western Mass area, as well as Dorset Anderson, who is featured in our film.
The host is Mark Auerbach, and joining him are Donut Dollies Dorset Anderson and Cherie Rankin, along with Jess Hill (producer) and Jim Gardner (co-producer). We were glad to have Dorset and Cherie join us for this interview to share their experiences of serving in Vietnam. We’re sure you’ll enjoy hearing their stories in their own words.
We thank Mark for this opportunity to share the Donut Dollie’s story with his Western Mass audience and beyond. Following our interview, please stay tuned for a conversation with Diane Pearlman, Executive Director of the Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative. The BFMC is a non-profit organization focused on creating educational, workforce and production opportunities in the film and media industry in the Western Massachusetts region.
We had a Q&A session at the Phoenix Film Festival on August 14, 2021 and we were honored to have 3 Donut Dollies join us to share their stories. What was most interesting was that their service in Vietnam spanned the years of 1966 – 1969, which was before, during and after the Tet Offensive, leading to very different experiences.
Attending the screening and sharing their stories were: Mavis Larson Gaffney who served in Vietnam in 1968 at Pleiku, Qui Nhon and Blackhorse; Kitty Boots who served in Vietnam from 1966-67 at Long Binh, An Khe and Blackhorse; and Mary Tsinnajinnie Cohoe who served in Vietnam from 1968-69 at Chu Lai and Cam Ranh Air Force Base, and is the only Native American woman (Navajo) to serve a year tour. Representing the Donut Dollies Documentary was Jim Gardner, the film’s co-producer, music supervisor and archivist.
We wish to thank everyone who attended the screenings of our film, the entire Phoenix Film Festival staff and volunteers, the Harkins Theater team, and Barbara and Joseph Philipps for kindly sponsoring our film at these screenings.
The Donut Dollies Documentary was very well received at our screenings at the Phoenix Film Festival on Friday and Saturday. We had a Q&A session with 3 Donut Dollies who posed for this photo, they are L-R: Mary Tsinnajinnie Cohoe who served in Vietnam from 1968-69 at Chu Lai and Cam Ranh Air Force Base, and is the only Native American woman (Navajo) to serve a year tour; next is Kitty Boots who served in Vietnam from 1966-67 at Long Binh, An Khe and Blackhorse; and next was Mavis Larson Gaffney who served in Vietnam in 1968 at Pleiku, Qui Nhon and Blackhorse. Also in the photo at the center is Mary’s brother, Purple Heart recipient USMC LCpl “Tom” Tsinnajinnie who served during Vietnam with the 3rd Battalion of the 1st Marine Division on the USS Valley Forge; and at the far right is Jim Gardner, co-producer, music supervisor and archivist for the Donut Dollies Documentary.
We were honored to have Mary, Kitty, Mavis and Tom join us and share their stories with the audience. We hope to have a portion of their Q&A posted in the next week.
P.S. – If you were in the audience and filmed the event, please message us to share your footage.
Awesome August News!! We are proud to announce that The Donut Dollies Documentary has been selected to screen 3 times at the Phoenix Film Festival! The Friday and Saturday screenings will be attended by the film’s producer, Jess Hill and co-producer, music supervisor and archivist, Jim Gardner. For these two screenings, Jess and Jim will be taking part in a Q&A session afterwards and look forward to answering the audience’s questions. All screenings will take place at the Harkins Scottsdale 101 Theatre, 7000 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix, AZ 85054.
Here are the dates and times, location and link to purchase your tickets:
LATE BREAKING NEWS!!! We’re excited to announce that The Donut Dollies Documentary will be screening in Lancaster, PA tomorrow, Thursday, June 17th @ 7 PM as part of the Red Rose International Film Festival’s “Unforgetable Series”. Our film will be shown to an in-person audience at the Zoetropolis Cinema Still House (112 N Water St, Lancaster, PA 17603). And for those who wish to attend, tickets are COMPLIMENTARY, but reservations are requested (717-208-6572).
We’re honored that the Donut Dollies Documentary has been chosen as one of the finalists in the Best Documentary category and is in the running for an award. Please make sure to cast your vote at the end of screening of our film.
Our next in-person film festival screenings are coming up in August and September, so please check back often for details.
In 2020, the Donut Dollies Documentary was chosen as an Official Selection of the Julien Dubuque International Film Festival in Iowa. But as we all know, things changed. We’re honored to have been asked to be part of their 2021 festival, with an in-person screening that will take place on Sunday, April 18th at 10 AM in the ballroom of the Hotel Julien – 200 Main St, Dubuque, Iowa 52001.
We anticipate more opportunities to see The Donut Dollies in-person over the coming months. We appreciate everyone’s support and understanding during these interesting times.
On Sunday, April 4th, the Donut Dollies Documentary was the Closing Night Feature film at the Queen City Film Festival in Cumberland, MD. Just prior to the event, Donut Dollie Dorset Anderson, who is featured in our film and her son and director of our film, Norm Anderson were interviewed by Amanda Mangan, host of Potomac Highlands Today for Allegany Radio. This interview had particular significance for Dorset, as she is a former native of Martinsburg, WV and this was the first time that her family and friends see Dorset on the big screen.
Spring 2021 is bringing new opportunities to see the Donut Dollies Documentary. In fact our film is an Official Selection of the Queen City Film Festival in Cumberland, Maryland. For the first time this year, you will be able to attend an in-person screening of our film. Plus we are especially honored that The Donut Dollies has been chosen as the Closing Night Feature.
The Donut Dollies will screen on Sunday, April 4th at 8PM at The Venue At Mezzos – 114 South Centre Street, Cumberland, MD 21502. Individual General Admission tickets are $10 and will be available at the door, but please note that seating will be limited due to local/state Covid guidelines. Tickets are also available through the following link by clicking on the green “Tickets” button – www.eventbrite.com/e/qcff-2020-tickets-89194002663 You can learn more about this festival and view the program for all films at – www.alleganyalliedarts.org
We anticipate more opportunities to see The Donut Dollies in-person over the coming months. We appreciate everyone’s support and understanding during these interesting times.
Celebrating Christmas in a war zone may not sound like something that would happen, but here we highlight some of the memories of the Red Cross Donut Dollies who served in Korea and Vietnam.
Barbara McDaniel Stephens – Vietnam 1969-70
Christmas Day was spent on the “Santabous” (Caribou airplanes with a Santa face painted on their nose) delivering decorated trees, eggnog, Christmas cookies, ditty bags and more to far flung units in III Corp.
Decorated Santabou plane used to visit the men on Christmas
Diane Love Crocker – Vietnam 1966-67
Another fond memory is Christmas with a small unit – a beautiful church service and then we served Christmas dinner to the men. Although we missed the Bob Hope show in An Khe, our Christmas was so meaningful.
Judy Harper – Vietnam 1970-71
While on TDY (temporary duty) to Quang Tri over Christmas 1970, we attended the Bob Hope show at Camp Eagle. More memorably though, was meeting Admiral McCain (even gave him a ditty bag – didn’t know who he was until later). Apparently he visited the DMZ (demilitarized zone) every Christmas, while his son, John, was a POW in North Vietnam. A somber time for him.
Lou Breen Rundle – Vietnam 1971-72
I will never forget our “Santabou” Christmas of 1971 where three tactical airlift squadrons from CRAB (Cam Ranh Air Base) painted their planes like Santa complete with a red nose and hat. They’d had raffles to raise money for fruit, candy, pretzels, alcohol, etc. and invited us to fly with them to bases and hand out the free goodies to servicemen who had not had things like this for many months. Our plane’s bartender, Joe, was even dressed like Superman! It was one of the best Christmases ever – all giving, sharing, and good will.
Donut Dollie Sharon VanderVen Cummings hosting a design Santa Claus contest with shaving creme and cotton in Xuan Loc – Dec. 1966
Margo Smith Timberlake – Vietnam 1971-72
Christmas in the bush around Chu Lai… there was a cease fire that day, so we were choppered right out to areas we never would have gone to any other time. I think we went to 3 different places. These guys were not even able to get back to a firebase for Christmas, so we took Christmas to them. We put pretty pitiful homemade paper decorations on whatever “Charlie Brown” tree we could find, sang carols and visited. I had on a Santa top and the guys would come sit on my lap, whisper their Christmas wishes and get a Red Cross goodie bag.
Nancy Calcese – Korea 1969-70 and Vietnam 1971-72
My time in Korea was a very happy time with many fond memories, like Christmas Eve on the DMZ (demilitarized zone).
Nancy Caracciolo Warner – Vietnam 1969-70
I remember the Dust Off crew who, on their own time, took two of us out to many of the firebases and outposts outside of An Khe on Christmas Day. We dressed as Santas and they flew us… with red and green smoke trailing, to see the guys. It was the best Christmas ever!
Donut Dollies Judee and Nancy delivering gifts to the men with Santa
Paula Wright Haley – Vietnam 1968-69
My very favorite memory was Christmas Day 1968. We boarded a helicopter very early that morning and we flew to every area possible giving the soldiers bags of goodies, which were donated by the American people. It made me feel good that the people back home cared enough to make sure the soldiers were remembered and how happy the soldiers were to see us and to know the people back home cared. I don’t ever remember being that tired in my life, but even today it can bring a tear to my eyes to think back on that day. The song which was played over and over again was “I’ll be Home for Christmas”.
René Johnson – Vietnam 1969-70
Christmas week of 1969, caroling with a mixed group of military men, nurses, Special Services women and us Donut Dollies, followed by two days of doing a little play, the whole unit flying in one helicopter to many firebases and being given our own private outhouse on Nui Ba Den as our Christmas present.
Sharon VanderVen Cummings – Vietnam 1966-67
On Christmas day, all the girls in our unit went out to different units in the field. While there, we had Christmas dinner with the guys – when I say “the guys,” I do not mean the officers. We almost always worked with the enlisted men (boys). I was out at a forward location, so we ate in mess tents that had been set up. Later, several helicopters took us to Cu Chi where we got to see the Bob Hope show. It was quite a day!
Donut Dollies Diane Schmidt Curley and Mary de la Forest Evans with mess Sgt. Kitchen as Santa – Dec. 1968Santa visiting with child amputee – Dec 1970Santa Claus handing a gift to a child at a Christmas party – Dec. 1966
