Susan Brewer - Famous Character Dolls

Many different types of dolls can be thought of as famous characters.

First published in Great Britain in 2013 by
Remember When
an imprint of
Pen & Sword Books Ltd
47 Church Street
Barnsley
South Yorkshire
S70 2AS

Copyright Susan Brewer 2013

ISBN: 978-1-84468-094-8
PDF ISBN: 9781783376209
EPUB ISBN: 9781783376223
PRC ISBN: 9781783376216

The right of Susan Brewer to be identified as author of this work has
been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act 1988.

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Contents

Introduction

W HAT MAKES a doll become a famous character? Why should one doll be singled out to receive the acclaim when an almost identical doll is just run-of-the-mill? Its a difficult question, but invariably the answer lies with the doll-buying public. Usually, a famous doll is a doll which has appeared in a book or childrens programme and has subsequently been issued in its thousands as an advertising ploy, or in response to consumer demand. However, unlike famous cats, famous dogs, famous horses or famous bears, famous dolls might not actually be dolls at all which probably sounds something of an oxymoron, but is quite logical when you think about it. Dolls are made in our own image, and so are often made to represent people. For instance, Shirley Temple, Michael Jackson, Queen Victoria, Andy Warhol and Kylie Minogue have all appeared in doll form, yet they are human flesh and blood. A true famous doll is one such as Raggedy Ann, who features in many stories. She isnt human, and so representations of her will depict her as she is a doll. She will not be made as a doll-copy of a human being.

It has therefore been difficult to define the dolls to be included in this book. There are not enough Famous Dolls to fill the pages but there are thousands and thousands of dolls representing famous characters, or which for some reason or another, have earned their claim to fame. They might have been used to advertise various products or depict characters from films. Maybe they star in childrens television programmes, represent popular singers, are likenesses of royalty, wear national costumes, or are classic genres of dolls such as Barbie. They are included here, together with the true famous dolls Raggedy Ann, Noddy, Hamble, Pinocchio, Hitty, Looby Loo, Tottie, Chucky, and others who are, and always will be, just dolls.

This book describes some of the dolls that fall into the various categories. The more important and interesting dolls, as well as many additional dolls, will also have an entry in the main dictionary. Furthermore, I have selected several characters who are especially popular for various reasons and have allowed them their own chapters. These range from nursery tale characters through to modern heroes of childrens fiction. Inevitably, many dolls fall into several categories. For example, cartoon characters might also appear as film stars, characters from books might be used in greetings cards, or advertising characters might be used in television programmes. Unfortunately, it has not been possible to include more than a fraction of the dolls which come under the category of famous characters, but I hope that amongst the hundreds of famous dolls included in this book, you will find some of your favourites too.

Susan Brewer

Red Riding Hood Kickit (In the Hood) Robert Tonner, with Snow White and Alice, Moxie Girlz.

D OLLS FEATURE in hundreds of books, especially those for children, yet only a few of the dolls pictured are actually named. They are frequently included in a general capacity, maybe to illustrate a type of doll, or as an adjunct to a story. Often, they are just referred to as doll or dolly, with no specific outstanding qualities and are forgotten as soon as the book is closed. Occasionally though, a book will come along containing a doll-based story that captures the publics imagination. Probably the most famous example is that of Raggedy Ann, a rag doll which took America by storm when her stories were first published in 1918, and who is still popular today. Some enthusiasts concentrate solely on Raggedy Ann and build up enormous collections of the dolls and related memorabilia.

The true story of Raggedy Anns creation is unclear, but the most commonly accepted version is that she was the main character featured in the stories artist Johnny Gruelle told to his young daughter Marcella. Some people believe Raggedy Ann came about when Marcella one day found an old rag doll which had once belonged to her grandmother, in the loft. She showed it to Johnny who drew a face on the doll and called it Raggedy Ann. From then on, the doll became an important part of Johnnys stories and was soon joined by other characters, notably Raggedy Andy and Beloved Belindy. Sadly, Marcella was just 13 years old when she died after being given a smallpox vaccination at school without her parents consent.

As a tribute to Marcella, her heartbroken father later decided to publish the stories he once told her so that other children could enjoy them. They were an enormous success, and it wasnt long before Raggedy Ann dolls and the other characters were in production. Over the years they have been made by various companies including P. F. Volland, Exposition Dolls, Playskool, Hasbro, Applause, Knickerbocker and Danbury Mint, and Raggedy Ann is still being made today. Legend has it that the earliest dolls, made by the Gruelles themselves, were given a sugar heart, just as Raggedy Ann was in the storybook, but so far, nobody has proved this to be true. Raggedy Ann has red hair, button eyes, a smiling mouth and a distinctive red triangular nose. Her clothing varies; normally a print dress or a skirt and top, but usually with a white apron. Raggedy Andy looks very similar, but tends to wear blue short trousers, red-checked shirt and red striped socks. The other doll, Beloved Belindy, is a chubby black doll dressed in a large pinafore, hoop earrings and a scarf tied around her head. Knickerbocker produced a now much sought-after version of her in the mid-1960s, wearing a brightly-coloured outfit consisting of a red top and yellow skirt both with white spots a red scarf, white apron and the typical red-and-white striped stockings. An earlier 1940s Beloved Belindy doll, by Georgene Novelties, wore a red top and floral skirt.