Gotta Get A Gimmick

Found a time capsule at the Value Village yesterday. Scattered through the toy section were various fashion dolls and doll clothes dating from approximately 1970 to 1973. Other than the era they represent, a good chunk of the dolls all have some sort of gimmick. Case in point: the Live Action Ken pictured above. Underneath the psychedelic shirt and fringed faux suede vest is an articulated waste. This Ken came with a battery powered “stage” that shooked and shaked making Ken look like he was dancing..

Ken’s stage pal is Live Action Barbie from 1972. Not only does she have a waist that wiggles, she also has bendable knees and articulated wrist, making her Mattel’s most poseable Barbie of her time.

Go Go dancing dolls weren’t the only gimmick toy makers were obsessed with in the 1970s: brands were constantly innovating with different ways to style hair. Pictured above on the right is Growin’ Pretty Francie, who has a ponytail that you can pull out or retract back into her head as the mood suits.

In the middle is a Fair Hair head on top of a signed Midge body. These disembodied heads were sold separately along with a series of wigs, wiglets and other tonsorial accessories.

And on the left is Quick Curl Barbie from 1973. Her hair is interspersed with tiny copper filaments, which allow you to “curl” her locks. I had Quick Curl Cara when I was a kid. It didn’t take very long for her locks to get tangled.

A couple of extra notes. I also bought a baggie of doll clothes separate from Barbie and her friends. I found Francis’s original dress and Ken’s polyester shirt in that bag.