CRISSY & VELVET

Crissy & Velvet Background Center.

Crissy & Velvet Background Hairstyle Wheel.

Crissy & Velvet Background Left & Right Sides.

CRISSY & VELVET.

Crissy was another marketing ploy by the Ideal Toy Company to compete with Mattel's Barbie. She famously had "growing hair" that could be pulled out or reeled back in on the whim of the little girls playing with her. And like Barbie, Crissy had an African American friend named Velvet with the same adjustable hairdo. This set from 1969 reflects the Groovy and Mod fashions that were supposedly popular at that time in history. Since different hairstyles were difficult to replicate on the flat paper dolls you got a folder cover with rotating wheel to give the dolls their "dos". I have turned that into a tri-fold background that you can pose the dolls in front of.

 

TAMMY & PEPPER 1964

Tammy Wardrobe Front

Tammy Wardrobe Back

Tammy Wardrobe Top & Hangers

Tammy Background Left Side

Tammy Background Center

Tammy Background Right Side.

TAMMY & PEPPER 1964.

The Ideal Toy Company's answer to Barbie was Tammy, an average teenager doll in both looks and wardrobe as opposed to the chic high fashion look of the more famous doll. After some initial success Tammy ultimately didn't catch on with the public and her short three years on the market makes her a highly collectable doll today.

This is one of those instances where the paper doll versions are actually better than the doll they are based on and this set of Tammy with her sister Pepper is a good example. There is even a three dimensional wardrobe that you can put together and a tri-fold background to pose the dolls in front of.

For more of Tammy check out these posts:  TAMMY & HER FAMILY - June 23, 2025 

and TAMMY 1965 - March 16, 2024. 

 

VIRGINIA WEIDLER

VIRGINIA WEIDLER.

Not exactly a name that is remembered today although as a child and pre-teen actress she appeared in some big MGM films of the 1930's and 40's like THE WOMEN and THE PHILDELPHIA STORY where she more than held her own with big stars such as Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant. For a time she was even the sister-in-law of Doris Day. Her wisecracking humor stole many a scene and she more than deserves this lovely paper doll set with two dolls that can share the same outfits.

More delightful paper dolls are coming up next week!

 

DEBUTANTES 1942

DEBUTANTES 1942.

Here is another example of a set of paper dolls printed on very thin wartime rationed paper. These had yellowed considerably so I have done some digital color correction and clean up. I have a fascination with these dolls from the 1940's and the fashions of that era.

Also interesting are the two little cardboard suitcases on the back cover that could be cut out and glued together. Little add on accessories like this were common on doll sets in the 70's and 80's but this is the first instance I have seen on a set this early when most additional items were simply flat cut-outs.