Part 1: 10 Most Important Dolls of the 20th Century; 1-5

I thought it would be fun and interesting to consider those 20^th century dolls that expressed technological breakthroughs and made cultural statements.  When you review my list, you may note that I have not included Barbie or Bratz.  These two lines of dolls are titans of the doll category and easily overshadow every other doll on the list. Barbie, because it created the fashion doll industry and reflected the fashion of a generation.  Bratz, because updated fashion to match the edginess being seen on the streets and because of its ambiguous depiction of race.

I decided, however, to leave them out of the top 10 list because we all already know so much about them.  Let’s therefor take a look at the dolls that have been overshadowed by these giants. Here, in random order, is my top 10:

First Talking Doll

No, it wasn’t from Mattel, it was from the Edison Phonograph Toy Manufacturing Company.  The doll came out in 1890 at sold for $10 at FAO Schwarz.  The doll was 22” high and had a tiny (tiny for those days) recorded cylinder that worked with an equally tiny record player.  The child turned a crank in the back of the doll and it sang Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.  Unfortunately, the idea was ahead of the technology and the product quickly broke. Only 500 were sold and today it is a rare, collectable. 

Chatty Cathy

Edison couldn’t get it right but Mattel sure did with the extremely popular Chatty line of dolls.  The doll ultimately said 11 different phrases including “I Love You” and “May I have a cookie.”  In the 1960’s it was only second to Barbie in popularity. Lilli Doll

The Lilli Doll, a German post-war creation, was the inspiration for Barbie.  Its adult body and face gave the Handlers their idea for Barbie.  I had always read that it was considered sexually provocative but the doll did not strike me as such.  I found out, however, that the Lilli Doll was based   upon a German comic strip that was indeed provocative.  In one cartoon, a policeman tells Lilli that her two piece bathing suit is too provocative.  Lilli  responds by saying “Which piece do you want me to take off?”

Christie Doll

Christie was the first African-American fashion doll.  Produced in 1968 by Mattel, it was part of the Barbie line.    Mattel was certainly responding to the shifting political and social undercurrents of the 1960’s when it gave Black children a doll that looked more like them.   History tends to look at big events but Mattel’s decision to produce Christie certainly had an impact on how children of the 60’s and 70’s saw themselves and others.

Betsy Wetsy

Betsy Wetsy brought the “real world” into the nursery.   Introduced in 1954 by Ideal, it was promoted as the only doll that could “Blow Its Nose.”  Not only that, it wet itself and, of course, drank; how else was it going to be able to wet itself? 

Numbers 6-10 in my next posting.

Comments

[Kathleen Noble]

Richard,
Do you remember a doll called "Pitiful Pearl"? I wanted her when I was little!

Kathleen Noble
Discovery Toys rep (14 years)

[Richard]

I have to tell you Kathleen that that is the saddest sounding doll I have ever heard of. I have never heard of it. Has anyone else?

Richard

[Arnold Maggi]

How could you possibly leave out Madame Alexander dolls who have been making Collective and For Play dolls since 1923.
Arnold
PS
Ginny Dolls should also be considered

[Carol Mongeau]

Pitiful Pearl dolls turn up at Doll shows here in Alberta regularly, or try ebay.