Ultra Basic Russell Meets Ultra Basic Russell

During the recent Tonnerdirect.com one day sale, I ordered Ultra Basic Russell Williams #2 (UBRW2), pictured above.  As illustrated in the following images, he has undergone some pretty radical changes. 

L-R, Ultra Basic Russell Williams 1 and 2

Not only is his complexion several shades lighter, UBRW2's former green eyes are now brown.  His torso is jointed while #1's is not. 

His hair has also grown and the texture has changed.  Instead of short, curly hair, UBRW2's hair is now straight, styled in a ponytail. 

Perhaps the now ambiguous ethnicity is an attempt to appeal to a wider range of collectors.  I'm not sure, but I have noticed that girlfriend, Esme, has undergone some major changes as well.  These are discussed in squarepeg's blog, "What Happened to Esme?" 

Which one do you like better, UBRW1 or UBRW2?  (As always, for greater detail, clicking on any of my images will enlarge them in a new window.)

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BDHT: Miss Black America

Effanbee's Miss Black America, pictured above, from the International Collection, circa 1980 was a gift to my daughter when she was three.  My sister was a freshman at a university in Denver, Colorado when she purchased this doll from a nearby doll shop. 

There are at least three versions of Effanbee's Miss Black America.  Each one wears an afrocentric style dress and headwrap.  The dress fabric varied each year.   My doll wears a brown paisley and floral-print  dress and originally had a matching headwrap.  After inheriting the doll from my daughter, whose interest in dolls ceased around age 17, I replaced the missing headwrap with a swatch from a brown bandana.  The doll's original brown sandals are missing and remain unreplaced. 

Miss Black America is 11 inches tall, has a soft vinyl head and plastic body.  The copyright date of 1975/1976 on the neck indicates the year this mold was introduced.  Effanbee, like many other doll manufacturers used the same doll to refashion, rename, and reintroduce to the doll market year after year, until the face mold was finally retired.   Miss Black America was discontinued in 1980.

After reliving the memories of how Miss Black America entered my collection, I wondered, "What ever happened to the Miss Black America Pageant?" and whether or not it inspired the creation of the Effanbee doll.   My pondering led to a Google search and link to the official Miss Black America website.  While there, I viewed the Miss Black America video and relived pleasant moments of my Black history.  I also read what inspired J. Morris Anderson to organize the first pageant in 1967.  Links to the website and the pageant's history follow.

Miss Black America website - (Please watch the video.)
History of the Miss Black America Pageant (Please read this.)

Additional Information: 
The first African Americans (AA) to appear in the Miss America Pageant performed as enslaved people in 1923.  1970 marked the first year an AA woman entered the Miss America Pageant, which is why there was a need for a Miss Black America Pageant.  Read more here. 


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BDHT: Shindana's Slade, OJ, and Dr. J.

Shindana Toys Inc. created toys for girls and boys.  Three such boy toys are Slade Super Agent ©1975, OJ Simpson ©1975, and Dr. J. ©1976.  All three are 9-1/2 inch, jointed figures with accessories.

Instead of weapons, which the company was opposed to including with their toys, Slade Super Agent, stock #9010, has a back pack with a special signaling device.  Slade wears a brown faux leather suit, orange turtleneck, and brown shoes.  The Super Agent Set, #9020, includes the basic doll with additional accessories, and an extra silver protective suit, front wrap, and gloves.

The back of Slade's box reads: 

From the neighborhood, the war, and college he learned it all!

The neighborhood:
He learned how to survive by knowing, understanding, and dealing with people.

The War:
Taught him how to survive by going for days without food or sleep.  How to track without being seen.  He learned hand to hand combat:  weapons, communications, underwater diving & sky diving.

College:
He learned to live through education.  Being strong in math, computer electronics, & business; he searched for a job to make use of all his talents, his thirst for thrill and adventure, his hunger for more excitement & knowledge.  With crime & corruption overtaking our world, his search was ended. 

Code Name:  SLADE
                      Super Agent

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The 1976 Shindana Catalogue describes the O. J. Simpson action figure as:

The Juice is on the loose this season as Shindana introduces the only doll in the likeness of All-American running back O. J. Simpson. O. J. is a 9-1/2" male action figure, featuring a fully-jointed vinyl body, that is sure to score this year.

Shindana's doll artists successfully captured (no pun intended) O. J.'s likeness.

O. J. Super Pro, stock #9000, includes the basic doll with helmet, shoulder pads, jersey, pants, two-toned football shoes, striped socks and football.

O. J. Super Pro Set, stock #9005, includes everything in the pro set in addition to a complete assortment of athletic accessories, a tank top and shorts set; a running suit; three track hurdles; a row boat with two oars; a tennis racket, tennis ball, tennis outfit; and a set of weights with two stands.

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Dr. J. Super Pro, Shindana's stock #9025 (a portrait doll of Julius Erving) includes the 9-1/2-inch figure dressed in a basketball uniform, wristbands, knee pads, striped socks, and white sneakers. The set included one basketball.

Dr. J. Super Pro Set #9030 includes the basic doll plus two basketballs, a basketball goal, a running suit, sweat socks, basketball sneakers, a jumpsuit, boots, a camera, and a tennis racket with a frame.

The Dr. J. action figure reflects Dr. J.'s  1970s image.

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Additional images and information on Slade Super Agent,  O. J. Simpson, and other dolls and toys by Shindana Toys Inc. are included in the Shindana 1976 Catalogue.  The Dr. J. action figure appears in the 1977 Shindana Catalog Supplement.   During this time (1976/1977), the company prided itself on being a "manufacturer of the world's most complete line of Black toys."

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