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Denise Van Patten

Denise's Doll Collecting Blog

By Denise Van Patten, About.com Guide to Doll Collecting

Do You Remember the Very Groovy and Green Sunshine Family from the 1970s?

Thursday June 4, 2009
The Sunshine Family was released in 1974, but in many ways these dolls, made by Mattel, were ahead of their time. The dolls had a bit of a homespun, hippie look to them, and they had several green-themed craft kits and accessories available. The dolls can still be found for very reasonable prices by collectors online. Find out more about The Sunshine Family.

Comments

June 15, 2009 at 3:50 pm
(1) Margarita says:

You forgot to mention that the sunshine family also came in an african american version which my mom still has in the attic. My sister and I played with them often as they were the only brown doll family we had seen back then.

June 25, 2009 at 5:15 pm
(2) Leylue says:

I HAD these dolls. I got them for Christmas and played with them for years. I now wish I still had them.

July 3, 2009 at 6:42 am
(3) Dana says:

I had both the Sunshine Family (Steve, Steph, and Sweets) AND the Happy Family (Hal, Hattie, and Hon) as well as the Sunshine Family grandparents. They’re a little battered – Hattie lost an eye, not sure if I still have Steph, Grandpa lost his lower legs – but cute. I also have the Sunshine Family Home.

I’ll find them, clean them up (dust), and photograph them. Will get back here when I do.

July 3, 2009 at 6:46 am
(4) D7ana says:

BTW, the black family counterpart to the Sunshine Family was called the Happy Family. Hal was the husband, Hattie the wife and Hon the baby. This was before the Barbie-sized Happy Family available in both white and black. (But NOT green … ouch! couldn’t resist ;-D).

July 19, 2009 at 5:56 pm
(5) James says:

I am so in love with these dolls. My dad would only let me get a GI Joe, he was cool but the Sunshines had a cute baby, and a jeep, with a produce stand behind it. There were grandparents, and I loved my grandparents and wanted a pair so bad. Well I finally got my Sunshine dolls at 37, and my daughter is going to play with me. YEAH!

July 19, 2009 at 5:59 pm
(6) Kyptin says:

James, if you want me to come over and play with you, my email is gpjae@aol.com. I too wanted the Sunshine dolls… if you got them at 37, I guess I can get them at 39
LOL!!! People that are GREEN would love these dolls!

October 23, 2009 at 11:46 am
(7) Elizabeth says:

I had these too — the Black dolls were the Happy Family. And I had a set that included the mother, father, daughter and baby. No older brother. I still wish I had them. They always felt more “real” to me than barbies…

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