Barbie of the Month: Busy Barbie

Busy Barbie and Talking Busy Barbie

 

In 1972 two quite different versions of the pretty Busy Barbie was introduced; #3311 Busy Barbie and #1195 Talking Busy Barbie. These dolls were unique because they had "busy" hands that could grasp various items.  Their hands can bend and turn at the wrist, and open, close, Grasp and carry. 

 

 

Busy Hands

 

 

Busy Barbie had long blonde hair and talking Busy Barbie had shorter blonde hair.  Only Talking Busy Barbie had real eyelashes.   Busy Barbie had painted ones.

 

 

In addition to her busy hands, she had a twist ‘n turn waist and bendable knees. 

 

Busy Barbie is marked: ©1966 Mattel, Inc. U.S. & Foreign Patented Other Pats Pending Made In U.S.A. and in 1973 her marking was updated to read © 1966 Mattel, Inc.  Hong Kong U.S. & Foreign Patented Other Pat's Pending. 

 

 

Busy Barbie

 

 

Talking Busy Barbie is marked: ©1967/Mattel, Inc./U.S. & Foreign/Pats. Pend/Hong Kong and in 1973 the mark changed to: © 1967 Mattel, Inc. U.S. & For. Pat'd. Pat'd. In Canada 1967 Other Pat's. Pend. Hong Kong.

 

 

Talking Busy Barbie

 

 

 

Busy Barbie’s packaging included five accessories that she could hold with her busy hands, which  was a telephone, television, record player, soda set (brown tray with two glasses), and a travel case.  Also a plastic X stand and instructions pamphlet were included in the box.

 

 

 

 

Instructions Pamphlet

 

 

There were seven Busy Barbie dolls made for the U.S. market.  Three could talk (Barbie, Ken, and Steffie), and four that could not (Barbie, Ken, Steffie, and Francie).   One additional Busy Barbie doll that was released at the same time was German Busy Francie (#3313),  who was available only in Europe.  She had the same body but a completely different head mold. 

 

 

 

In 1971 a brand new advertising campaign began for new products that Mattel was planning to release in 1972.   They called that ad campaign “Surprising Barbie”.   Included in the campaign was a “Surprising Barbie” theme song that would be used for all advertisements in 1972.  Mattel thought that little girls would love the catchy tune.  The biggest surprise in 1972 was the introduction of the 1972 Busy Barbie line, but there were other exciting introductions as well.  A fabulous new Fashion Original clothing line was presented, as well as an entirely new line of clothing,  which was meant to compete with other lower cost brands on the market for the same sized dolls.  They called the new line “Best Buy fashions”, “high quality fashion at the lowest price ever”.  Each retailed for .55 cents.   In the commercial  Mattel also referred to some other added surprises that would be released later at the toy fair. 

 

Here’s the link for that commercial for your viewing enjoyment!

 

Surprising Barbie Commercial

 

 

 

 

 

Busy Barbie was available for only two short years.  Consequently she is another pretty lady that’s a little tougher to find on the secondary market,  in mint condition and in her box, but I think she’s a must have for every Barbie collection!

 

Happy Hunting!

 

 

Visit MyVintageBarbies.com for more Barbie!

 

 

 

Barbie of the Month: Skooter Cut ’n Button Costumes

In 1966 the Sears exclusive #1036 Skooter Cut 'n Button Costumes set was released.  It’s the only gift set that was ever made specifically for Skooter.

 

#1036 Skooter Cut 'n Button Costumes Gift Set

Skooter, who was marketed as Skipper’s friend, was available in three hair colors; blonde, brunette, and titian.  She parted her hair down the middle and tied it with double ponytails and red ribbons.  The doll was available with either straight legs or bendable legs.   Skipper and Skooter were the exact same size, and could wear each other’s clothing.

 

 



This pretty gift set included only the straight-leg version of Skooter, who was dressed in her two-piece red and white swim-suit.

 

Bend-leg Skooter, Straight-leg Skipper, and Straight-leg Skooter

 

The set had three fabulous sew free clothing items:

Sailin' Blues:  a blue sun dress that was trimmed in red, with white polka dots and a sail boat design on the front skirt.

Sailin' Blues

 

Windbreaker:  a red coat with navy blue trim and blue buttons with built-in matching belt.

Windbreaker



Windbreaker with leftover fabric



Granny Gown:  a long pink nightgown, with a matching night cap and pink slippers.

Granny Gown uncut

 

The set was advertised as “Fun for you to make without sewing a stitch!”  These clothes were put together in just two easy steps. 

1. Cut out the printed cloth.

2. Button together.  Now dress Skooter!

 

Instructions included with the set

 

Also included in the box were Skooters’ red flat shoes, comb and brush, as well as a fashion booklet, instruction book, and wire stand.  It originally retailed for $3.97.  Interestingly, you could buy the dolls individually for just a $1.00 less, $2.97.  For just a dollar more you would think everyone would have bought the set, but $1.00 was a more significant sum in 1966.

 

Since Cut ‘n Button Costumes set was only obtainable from Sears for one year, it’s another gift set that’s difficult to find intact in the original box.   

 

Happy Hunting!

 

For more Barbie, Check out my website! www.MyVintageBarbies.com

 

 

Barbie of the Month: Walking Jamie

In 1970 Sears released the exclusive #1132 Walking Jamie doll.  She was never available in the Mattel Catalog.
 

Jamie came with a choice of three hair colors; blonde, brunette and titian, which was styled in a shoulder length flip.  She had brown eyes and rooted eyelashes.  On Jamie’s back she had a button.  When pressed, her legs would move, her arms would swing, and her head world turn as she walked. 

Button on Jamie's back

 

 

Jamie is marked: ©1967 Mattel, Inc./U.S. Patented/ Pat' d Canada 1967/Other Pat's Pend/Japan

 

Original Box

In her original box, she was dressed in a yellow, pink and orange knit mini dress, with a matching belt, yellow panties, and orange calf length boots.  A sheer pink nylon head scarf tied in her hair completed the outfit.  There was a clear plastic X stand as well as a fashion booklet.  She originally retailed for $4.97 in the Sears catalog.
 

 


Walking Jamie

Jamie also had two gift sets which included a Jamie doll.

The first was #1584 Jamie Furry Friends Gift Set (1970-71) which retailed for 8.99 in 1970 and $7.99 in 1971.  The stand-alone Jamie doll was reduced by $1.00 in 1971 as well.  The set came with a fuzzy orange coat with attached belt, matching hat, her original outfit (dress with belt, pink head scarf, yellow panties, and boots) gray poodle, pink collar and leash, dog dish, white bone, box of dog food, and pink bow shoes. 
 

Jamie Furry Friends Gift Set

Sears Ad

 

The second set, #1247 Jamie Strollin' in Style Gift Set from 1972, is not listed in the 1972 Sears catalog.  That makes me to believe it may have only been available at Christmas time in the Sears store (the stand-alone doll wasn’t listed in the catalog in 1972 either, but I did read the doll was available by mail-order through the fall).  The gift set included the doll wearing a red, blue, and yellow knit dress with crocheted blue belt, matching red calf length boots, and a blue sheer nylon head scarf.  Also included in the box was a second outfit which consisted of blue bell-bottom knit pants, with a matching blue and yellow knit top.  Blue pilgrim shoes completed the outfit.  Jamie also had a white poodle with a blue collar and a blue and yellow ball.



Walking Jamie Strollin' in Style Gift Set
Not shown: Blue pilgrim shoes. (Photo courtesy of Catherine)

 

Strollin’ in Style is by far the most difficult of the two gift sets to find complete, and it usually commands a higher price on the secondary market.

The only clothing that was made specifically for Jamie were the items packaged in her gift boxes, and the clothing she wore in her original box.  Fortunately, Jamie was the same size as Barbie and could wear all her beautiful fashions as well.
 

 

Jamie did have two Sears exclusive doll cases that were made for her in 1971; Jamie’s Party Penthouse, which was a luxury apartment that also could hold four dolls (it retailed for $9.99), and Jamie’s Studio Apartment, which opened into a room of her own, and could store one doll (it retailed for 4.49).

Jamie's Party Penthouse

 

Jamie's Studio Apartment Case

 

With the decrease in price after only one year, Walking Jamie probably wasn’t the doll kids were asking for.  But forty-six years later she is the doll collectors are wanting!

 

Happy Hunting!



Be sure stop by my website at MyVintageBarbies.com


 

Barbie of the Month: Live Action Barbie

In 1971 Mattel released #1152 Live Action Barbie, as well as the much harder to find #1155 Live Action Barbie on Stage.  Both were the same doll, but Live Action Barbie on Stage included some extras.

 

Live Action Barbie

 

 

With the 1970’s underway, Barbie and her fashions stayed in step with the contemporary fashions of the decade.  Instead of the typical swim-suit that many of the earlier dolls were packaged in, we saw more dolls dressed in trendy hip outfits in the 70’s.

Live action Barbie wore a pink and purple tie-dyed one piece jumpsuit, trimmed with a wide leather  fringed sash with a leather headband that she wore across her forehead. To complete her outfit she had two leather fringed wrist sashes.   She had blonde hair, real eye lashes, and blue eyes.

 

 

There were four different Live Action dolls released in 1971 and 1972: Live Action Barbie, Ken, P.J., and Christie.  They all came in cool, totally 70’s fashions with some type of fringe included in their ensemble. 

 

 

All the Live Action dolls that were sold separately from the Live Action on Stage package came with a Touch‘n Go posin’ stand.  All their bodies could dance to a beat when they were positioned on their stand.   All little girls had to do was move the stand to make them dance! The female dolls had a more active body than Ken.   Barbie, P.J., and Christie had bendable knees, elbows, and ankles.  Their waist could swivel, as well as their legs, arms, and neck.  Ken only had bendable legs and a looser waist. 

 

 

Touch 'n Go Stand

 

Touch 'n Go Stand Instructions

 

 

The Live Action Barbie on Stage included Barbie, Ken, and P.J.  They were only sold in 1971, which makes them much harder to find on the secondary market (Christy never came with a stage.) The stage was motorized and included a remote control (batteries not included) which allowed the doll to dance to a fast or slow beat.  Included in the set was a 45 rpm two-sided record for each doll, and each had their own select set of songs on their record.  Live action P.J. came with a guitar as well.

 



Live Action Barbie on Stage

 

Live Action Barbie on Stage (back of box)

Live Action on Stage P.J. and Ken

“I’m happy I’m Barbie” was the record that was included with Live Action Barbie.

If you look closely at Live Action Barbie’s eyes, you will notice that they are very similar to the eyes of Walk Lively Barbie (1972).  You will see that Walk Lively has lighter eye makeup, shorter eyelashes, and her eye brows are a little further apart.  She also has a lighter shade of blonde hair. 

 

Live Action Barbie (left) and Walk Lively Barbie (right)

 

If you compare the waist of Live Action Barbie to Dramatic Living Barbie (1970), one would think they were exactly the same.  But there is a difference in them as well.  Both have twist-n-turn waists, but Live Action’s is more flexible.  

 

In 1973-1974 Mattel released a Live Action Baggie Version (#8588).  The company most likely had an excess of these dolls, so they sold them at a reduced rate in a baggie rather than a box.  The Baggie version did not include the stand.  There was a mail order version too, which did include the Touch and Go stand.

 

#8588 Live Action Baggie Version and Mail Order Version

 

 

In 1971 and 1972 Sears released an exclusive gift set; Live Action P.J.  Fashion ‘n Motion gift set, which retailed for $8.99.  It included the doll dressed in her original outfit as well as an additional ensemble, Touch and Go stand, and two sided record that played the song “Hey Little P.J. Gal”

 

Live Action P.J. Fashion 'N Motion Gift Set

 

 

Here’s the song “Little P.J. Gal” for Live Action P.J.:

Play song "Little P.J. Gal"

Here are two commercials from 1971:

1971 Live Action Barbie on Stage Commercial

Play Commercial for Live Action Barbie on Stage

1971 Barbie and P.J. on their Touch and Go Stands Commercial

Play Commercial for Barbie and P.J. on their Touch and Go Stands

 

 

Live Action Barbie on Stage

Live Action Barbie, P.J., and Christie are marked ©1968 Mattel, Inc./U.S. & Foreign Patented/Patented in Canada 1967/Other Patents Pending/Taiwan. 

 

 

 

To find the Live Action Barbie on Stage still in her box would be considered a great find!   It’s easier to track down P.J. and Ken in their “on Stage” box than it is Barbie.  But I did find her, and I hope you do too!

 

Happy Hunting!

 

 

Visit my website at www.MyVintageBarbies.com