DeeBeeGee

Live Action Christie

Name: Live Action Christie Made by and When: Mattel, 1971-1973 Material: Vinyl, Twist ‘n’ Turn waist, jointed wrists, bendable knees Marks: ©1968 MATTEL, INC. / U.S. & FOREIGN PATENTED / PATENTED IN CANADA 1967 / OTHER PATENTS PENDING TAIWAN Height: 11-1/2 inches Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Long black hair with middle part/brown painted eyes with rooted eyelashes/closed mouthContinue reading “Live Action Christie”

Talking Julia

Introduced in 1969, Talking Julia by Mattel was fashioned after Diahann Carroll’s role as Julia in the TV sit-com of the same name. #juliadoll #talkingjuliadoll #diahanncarroll #celebritydoll

Julia (2nd Issue)

Mattel’s 2nd issue of Julia, released in 1970, wears a one-piece nurse uniform. The doll represents the role Diahann Carroll played in the sit-com, Julia. #juliadoll #celebritydoll #fashiondoll #blackfashiondoll #vintagefashiondoll #blackhistory #blackdollhistory

Talking Brad

Name: Talking Brad Made by and When: Mattel, 1970 Material: Vinyl, bendable legs Marks: © 1968 Mattel, Inc. U.S. & For. Pat’d Other Pat’s Pending Mexico Height: 12 inches Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Sculpted black hair/brown painted eyes/closed mouth Clothes: Brightly colored geometric-print pull-on shirt with solid color orange shorts Other: Talking Brad is Talking Christie’s boyfriend. HisContinue reading “Talking Brad”

Talking Christie

Name: Talking Christie Made by and When: Mattel, 1968-1969 Material: Vinyl Marks: ©1967 / MATTEL, INC. / U.S. & FOREIGN / PATS.PEND. / MEXICO Height: 11-1/2 inches Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Black rooted bubble cut hair, brown painted eyes with rooted eyelashes, closed mouth with pink-painted lips Clothes: The green knit top is edged with aContinue reading “Talking Christie”

First Black Barbie

Name: Black Barbie Made by and When: Mattel, 1979 (released in 1980) Material: Vinyl Marks: Unknown (the doll is NRFB). Height: 11-1/2 inches Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Black Afro/brown painted eyes/red painted, slightly pursed lips Clothes: Shimmery red bodysuit with gold lamé embellishments at the neckline; shimmery red wrap skirt, red dangle earrings, red high-heel shoes, and aContinue reading “First Black Barbie”

Chatty Cathy

Mattel introduced an African American version of Chatty Cathy in 1962. The first Black version has a pageboy hairstyle. #blackchattycathy #chattycathy #talkingdoll

Mary McLeod Bethune

Name: Mary McLeod Bethune Made by and When: I. Roberta Bell (Bertabel Dolls), 1969 Material: Porcelain head and hands with tan cloth, sawdust-filled body, arms, legs and feet Marks: Mary McLeod Bethune / ”Berta Bell” / ©1969 (incised by the artist on the back of the shoulder plate) Height: 17 inches Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Gray wig fashionedContinue reading “Mary McLeod Bethune”

Diana Ross (Three Versions)

Name: Diana Ross Made by and When: Mego (1977), Ideal (1969), Mattel (2003) Material: Vinyl and rigid plastic Marks: (Mego) MOTOWN RECORD / CORPORATION (on head); MEGO CORP. 1975 / Made in Hong Kong on body. (Ideal)1968 Ideal Toy Corp DR-18-H148 (head); 1969 Ideal Toy Corp GH-18 US Pat. #3,162,976 (on buttocks) Height: 12-1/4, 18,Continue reading “Diana Ross (Three Versions)”

Grown Up Tammy

Name: Grown Up Tammy Made by and When: Ideal Toys, 1965 Material: Vinyl Marks: 1965 / Ideal / 7-12 (on right hip) Height: 12 inches Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Brown rooted hair/brown side-glancing eyes/painted red lips Clothes: White-trimmed turquoise romper, white vinyl shoes Other: Ideal created this slender Tammy that could wear some of Barbie’s clothes. The originalContinue reading “Grown Up Tammy”