Throwback Thursday: What In the World Are They Talking About?

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.

View from the doll room/office entrance, where these two Playpals caught my attention.

Check out the two center Patti Playpal dolls.

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.

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Search For Black Playpal Leads to Another Find

Earlier this month I received an email from an Argentine ventriloquist in need of a black Patti Playpal or Playpal-type doll that he apparently wants to use in his act.  His request was for me to sell him one of my dolls.  Not willing to part with any of mine, I offered to help him locate one here in the US. 

Playpals and Playpal types used to be rather plentiful (the black versions, I mean) on eBay.  This is no longer the case.  When they do show up, the amount the seller desires is usually far more than most are willing to pay. 

Willie Talk by Horsman, a 23-inch pull-string ventriloquist doll, circa 1972

In "helper mode," I searched eBay for "black ventriloquist doll" (thinking maybe the Argentine might be able to use one in place of the desired Playpal).  I located an auction for a black Willie Talk by Horsman, circa 1970s-mid 1980s.  He was nude and the beginning bid was under $15.  I asked the gentleman if Willie Talk interested him.  He insisted that he needed a 35-inch black Playpal.  "Okay," I thought.  I revisited Willie's auction and decided to watch it until the end.  "Yippee, yay," I thought, as the adrenaline rush began to subside when my lone bid sealed my win.

Horsman's 23-inch Willie Talk, redressed

Willie Talk (WT) arrived last week in need of clothing.  I have temporarily dressed  him in an infant's preemie nautical-style romper and black infant's shoes.  The ankle portion of his painted-on black, cloth feet gives the illusion of socks.  If he could really talk, WT would probably voice his displeasure over my outfit selection.  But since he cannot, he has no say-so in the matter.  I think he would agree with me that he fits in well with my other ventriloquist and pull-string, ventriloquist-type dolls.

Ventriloquist and pull-string talking dolls, L-R:  1960s Lester by Juro holds Lester, a pull string talker, circa 1980s by EEGEE/Goldberger; Willie Talk by Horsman, circa 1972-80s; and Lester ventriloquist by EEGEE 1970s.  With the exception of Lester in yellow shirt, all mouths are designed to move. 

WT's mouth mechanism, a string in the back of his neck, is designed to close and open his mouth.  It is no longer operational.  This may be something my husband can repair after I remove the head.  Repaired or not, he has lots of character especially with the gold-rim glasses I added.

With an eBay saved search in place, hopefully I can help the gentleman locate the desired Playpal without finding something else for myself in the process. 

For more information on ventriloquist dolls and dummies, visit Ventriloquist Central. 

To see one of the few African American ventriloquists and his side kick, Lester perform, click the play arrow below:




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