Popular Doll History
In this research project you will learn about the history of
American Girl dolls, Barbie dolls, and Cabbage Patch kids. If you
think about it, dolls come from very long ago, like Barbie dolls are
from 1959. Their history may seem a bit boring but actually it’s
very interesting and I’m sure you’ll learn something new!!
See the difference?
This is Ken from today:
This is Ken from 1961:
This is Barbie from today:
This is Barbie from 1959:
Barbie Dolls:
The full name of the first Barbie doll was Barbie Millicent Roberts,
from Willows, Wisconsin. Barbie’s job was a teenage fashion
model. However this doll has been made in many versions to
connect to over 125 other careers. She came as either a brunette or
blond, and in 1961 red hair was added. In 1980 the first African
American and Hispanic doll were made, however, Barbie did have
an African American friend named Christie who was sold for three
dollars. Additional clothing based on the latest runway trends from
Paris were sold from about one dollar to five dollars. In the first
year (1959 Barbie doll) can be sold for as much as 27,450 dollars.
To date 70 fashion designers have made clothes for Mattel, using
over 105 million yards of fabric. In 1965, Barbie first had bendable
legs, and eyes that open and close. In 1961, a Twist’n Turn Barbie
was released. She had a moveable body that twisted at the waist.
The best selling Barbie doll ever was 1992 Total Hair Barbie, with
hair from the top of her head, to her toes. The Ken Doll was
introduced at the American International Toy Fair as Barbie’s
boyfriend on March 11, 1961. And that was all about Barbie dolls.
Cabbage Patch Kids
In 1983, a cabbage patch kids doll was a 16 inch doll, usually with
a plastic head, a fabric body, and yarn for hair (unless it was a
bald doll.) During the 1983 Christmas season, people would be in
stores trying to buy cabbage patch dolls for their kids. They would
sometimes get into fights because sometimes they would run out of
dolls. By 1978, Roberts joined up with five of his school friends and
started a company called the Original Appalachin Artworks, Inc.,
which sold the entirely plush, handmade Little People dolls (the
name was to change later). Roberts would travel to arts and crafts
shows to sell his dolls, which already had the signature adoption
aspect to them. The dolls were a hit!!!
These are Cabbage Patch dolls
American Girl Dolls
American Girl first introduced a line of historical characters, which
currently includes Grace, Cecile, Addy, Rebecca, kit, Molly, and
Julie. They all come to life in fantasy books, 18 inch dolls, and
accessories. These nine year old characters live during important
times in our country’s past, providing “girl size” views of events
that helped make America the way it is now!! More than 139
million American Girl books have been sold since 1986. Over 21
million American Girl dolls have been sold through the company’s
catalogue retail stores and website since 1986.
These are some look alike dolls from American girl.
This has been a wonderful time sharing facts with you about all
sorts of popular dolls. Including American girl dolls, Barbie dolls,
and cabbage patch dolls!!! Thank you for reading, hope you
enjoyed!!
Resources:
http://www.comicvine.com/forums/battles/7/cabbage-patch-kids-vs-the-seven-dwarfs/679333/-image
March, 2013
//store.americangirl.com/agshop/html/item/id/217645/ctc/XSCOORDarch, 2013- image/s
March, 2013
http://www.americangirl.com/corp/corporate.php?section=about&id=2
March, 2013
http://store.americangirl .com/agshop/html/item/id/217644
March 2013
http://inventors.about.com/od/bstartinventions/a/The-History-Of-Barbie-Dolls.htm- 1959 Barbie image
March, 2013
http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/barbie/images/31795242/title/barbie-wallpaper- 2013 Barbie image
April 9, 2013
http://inventors.about.com/od/weirdmuseums/ig/Photo-Gallery---Famous-Toys/1961-Ken-Doll.htm1961 Ken image March, 2013
http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/barbie-fashion-fairytale/images/14898009/title/ken-doll-photo- Ken
image from today (2013)
April 9, 2013