THIS WEEK IN DOLLS--WEEK OF JUNE 29, 1999
NEWS
AND THE DOLL DEMENTIA CONTINUES...THIS TIME, WITH THE
AUSTIN POWERS DOLL
Last week, I reported about the controversies surrounding
the "Rad' Repeatin' Tarzan
Doll" produced by Mattel, Inc., in a
tie-in for the new Disney animated "Tarzan" movie, and
the Butterfly Art Barbie.
This, week, I add to the "what WERE the doll manufacturers thinking" list the Austin Powers Doll. The doll is racy enough visually--in its underwear, with its trademark overly-hairy chest. Push a button, and the doll asks "Do I make you horny, baby?" (seriously!).
Although the manufacturer claims that the doll was approved for sale in specialty stores such as record stores, and not toy stores, some reports have stated that the the toy is approved for ages 9+ (in fact, that is what it says about the dolls on eToys). In any event, the doll was inadvertently shipped to some Toys-R-Us including one in Atlanta, Georgia, which is where a mom got up in arms, slapped the store with a criminal complaint, and ended up starting the media firestorm.
Unlike the Tarzan doll, which children can innocently play with without seeing the sexual connotation, this doll cannot in any way be seen as appropriate for children. In fact, the entire persona of Austin Powers seems inappropriate for a doll for children--even the fully clothed version in the velvet suit, which says milder things like "Groovy, Baby!"
JILL BARAD, CEO OF MATTEL, INTERVIEWED IN LOS ANGELES
TIME MAGAZINE
Read the in-depth article, A Girlfriend To the End,
by Debra H. Hotaling, which explores Ms. Barad's history, and the current problems of the
Barbie doll line.
BARBIE'S FINGERS GET NEW LIFE--AS FINGERS FOR
AMPUTEES!
Now here's a fine use for all those collectible modern Barbies that
haven't held their value! The National Enquirer reports
on how actual prosthetic fingers for amputees are made from the joints in Barbie's
legs!
THERE'S NO GENUINE CRAZE ANYMORE; ITS ALL IN THE
MARKETING
Excellent
article by James A. Fussell of the Kansas City Star, exploring the psychology of
marketing toys and dolls as collectibles.
UPCOMING DOLL EVENTS
UFDC NATIONAL CONVENTION, Washington Hilton and
Towers, August 1 to 6
Yearly doll collector's convention; over 2,000 attendees, doll show,
competition, seminars, workshops, banquets, and yearly business meeting. Look for
live, daily updates from the convention on this site!
At the Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls and Toys, 1880 Gaylord Street
D.A.G. Oneonta New York Doll Show and
Festival, July 15-17
Yearly convention of the Doll Artisan Guild
DOLL EVENT REVIEWS: Have you recently attended a doll show, class, auction, or other doll event? Have your report or review of the event appear in "Dolls This Week!." Just e-mail your report to me at collectdolls.guide@about.com; you will be credited for the report, you will have my undying gratitude (since I can't attend them all!), and your web site link (if you have one) will appear as well.
Previous Weeks in Dolls:
The Tarzan and Butterfly-Art Barbie Controversies
The Year 2000 DAG Convention is Announced
Theriault Duet Auction
Loss of ODACA Artist Kathryn Williams Klunsman
Review of Anaheim Dollmaking Show
