On this past "thank God it's Friday" workday, with bleary eyes, I turned the light on as I stepped down into my doll room office to prepare for the last workday of the week. It was approximately 3:55 a.m. I glanced at two dolls that were in a position that I do not believe I placed them in, at least not intentionally. I chuckled to myself before snapping several pictures.
The two Patti Playpals are by Ideal and Ashton Drake. The Ideal doll is from 1981. In 2006, Ashton Drake reproduced an African American Patti Playpal using the original 1960 Patti Playpal mold. These girls appear to be engaged in conversation, with one possibly sharing a deep secret with the other. The other listens intently after vowing not to share the secret.
In reality, the girls probably assumed this position after I squeezed two other dolls to their right, D'Azucar's Buba and Kolo. Buba's head is visible in the third picture, next to the Playpal-type in pink with hair styled in two side braids. Buba and Kolo had been in a seated position elsewhere in the doll room until last week when I decided to stand them up alongside the Playpal-type. Placing them there obviously shifted the two Pattis into their current cute position. Either this, or the girls moved on their own (only they know for sure).
The Ideal toy company manufactured the first Patti Playpal dolls in 1959. Many companies made their versions of companion or life-size, 36-inch dolls, which are today referred to as Playpal types. These other companies produced dark skinned dolls in the 1960s and well into the 1970s, while Ideal's first dark skinned Patti Playpal was not on the market until 1981. (Although I have received an email from a woman who swears she owned an original 1960s black Patti Playpal, I have not been able to document that the Ideal toy company manufactured one.)
During approximately 2003, Ashton Drake began reproducing Ideal's original Patti Playpal dolls including Penny and Peter, but it was not until 2006 that the African American doll was finally reproduced by AD. (Read more here.)
Commercial of Ideal's original Patti Playpal and other Playpal members can be viewed below.
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| View from the doll room/office entrance, where these two Playpals caught my attention. |
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| Check out the two center Patti Playpal dolls. |
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| The big picture |
The two Patti Playpals are by Ideal and Ashton Drake. The Ideal doll is from 1981. In 2006, Ashton Drake reproduced an African American Patti Playpal using the original 1960 Patti Playpal mold. These girls appear to be engaged in conversation, with one possibly sharing a deep secret with the other. The other listens intently after vowing not to share the secret.
In reality, the girls probably assumed this position after I squeezed two other dolls to their right, D'Azucar's Buba and Kolo. Buba's head is visible in the third picture, next to the Playpal-type in pink with hair styled in two side braids. Buba and Kolo had been in a seated position elsewhere in the doll room until last week when I decided to stand them up alongside the Playpal-type. Placing them there obviously shifted the two Pattis into their current cute position. Either this, or the girls moved on their own (only they know for sure).
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The Ideal toy company manufactured the first Patti Playpal dolls in 1959. Many companies made their versions of companion or life-size, 36-inch dolls, which are today referred to as Playpal types. These other companies produced dark skinned dolls in the 1960s and well into the 1970s, while Ideal's first dark skinned Patti Playpal was not on the market until 1981. (Although I have received an email from a woman who swears she owned an original 1960s black Patti Playpal, I have not been able to document that the Ideal toy company manufactured one.)
During approximately 2003, Ashton Drake began reproducing Ideal's original Patti Playpal dolls including Penny and Peter, but it was not until 2006 that the African American doll was finally reproduced by AD. (Read more here.)
Commercial of Ideal's original Patti Playpal and other Playpal members can be viewed below.
dbg
Follow my Dolls for Sale blog
Please visit and "Like" The Doll Blogs: When Dolls Speak I Listen
They do look like they are conspiring something, lol, and it's something mischievous too!
ReplyDeleteI have a technical question for you. Do these dolls live uncovered and if so, how do you keep them dust free? I use Damp Rid to keep my areas dry since I live in a humid climate and cant tolerate A/C, but nothing stops dust from forming, at least, nothing that I know of. How do you protect your dolls?
Hi Muff,
ReplyDeleteYes, they live uncovered. Periodically, but not routinely, I use a Swiffer-type duster or a damp cloth on the exposed areas of the larger vinyl ones. The ones on shelves are protected more than the free-standing ones. We use central A/C and heating but dust finds its way in.
A clean air machine has been a consideration but is an investment that I have not yet made.
dbg
Thanks for the response, Debbie. Never heard of a clean air machine so I just looked them up on Amazon. I'm not at that stage yet, and though I do use a Swifter to dust I kind of like dust around the dolls with it. I will take a pass over them using it and see how they like it.
DeleteYou're welcome, Muff.
DeleteA doll associate uses a clean air machine. Her cat may be the reason she uses it, but she seems to think it works.
dbg
I've always believed that my dolls went off and did "stuff" when no humans were around!
ReplyDeleteToo funny Skippercollector -- your belief may very well be true. :-)
DeleteI just placed a brother and sister pair of 24-inch dolls onto doll stands. Both were standing up straight on the stands initially. The boy is now leaning slightly forward and to the side. This is the second time he has fallen into that position. I straightened him up the first time, but now he's back in that position. I guess that's how he wants to stand. So I will leave him alone. :-)
dbg
Yes they do, every time I put snow-white with my black dolls overnight, the next day snow would be laying on the floor
DeleteInteresting... poor Snow White.
Deletedbg
They are probably gossiping about the girl on the right of them. "Look at her. She thinks she's hot stuff. She acts like she can't say hi." lol.
ReplyDeleteThey could very well be having that conversation, Vanessa. But now that I think about it, they might have been talking about me. I can just hear them now, "We were already crammed up like sardines and now she's squeezed in two more. Give her an inch and she'll take a mile for doll space."
Deletedbg
Hello ladies I know I'm a little late with my response but I just came across this looking for a male playpal for my collection. I just started collecting dolls for my crochet hobby and wanted to know do anyone know where I can get a male 30" to 35" playpal. Mrs. Blackdoll Enthusiast I love your collection and was wandering where did you get the one that look like "Brandy", the one in the Red leather jacket and denim cap and how many inches is she?
ReplyDeleteHi Pamela,
ReplyDeleteThe Playpals show up on eBay from time to time. I would suggest searching eBay for current listings. You could also attend doll shows where vintage black dolls might be sold, local thrift shops, and online doll groups where vintage dolls are the focus.
The tallest doll is Walking Barbara. She is 40 inches tall. She and other Playpals from my collection are pinned to one of my Pinterest boards, which can be viewed here.
Good luck in your search!
dbg