MATTEL BUY-OUT RUMOURS and MATTEL TO SELL LEARNING COMPANY: Rumours about a buy-out of the Mattel company have been swirling around in financial circles in the last few days.  Most analysts think that they are just that--rumours, and nothing more, but Mattel stock did slide 6% on the rumours on Wednesday    Excite News.  However, it DOES appear that Mattel is going to sell The Learning Company.  It was reported by Dow Jones News that" it is unlikely to net Mattel even 10% of the $3.5 billion it paid for the company only 16 months ago. As such, the deal may top Quaker Oats' 1997 sale of Snapple as one of the worst-ever corporate bungles. Quaker bought Snapple for $1.7 billion and sold it three years later for $300 million." 

NINE ELLE DOLLS IN ALL:  SC2OO2 (Sandra) has also been busy exploring the Elle dolls (the new dolls that are roughly the size of Gene/Tyler/Alex/Willow Daisy, etc. and retail for $19.95 at big-box retailers.  Sandra shares on the Forum: "This weekend I got another new Elle doll. I suspected that I was missing one because there were 3 in the "Wild Side" line, and 3 in the "Trend City" line, so I thought there had to be 3 in the "City Chic" line...but I had only been able to find 2. I got lucky this weekend while roaming all over the area with my husband (who was looking for computer parts). I made him stop at all the toy/doll stores we passed. I found this one at Toys R Us in New Hampshire (I actually live in Massachusetts). I had to get a TRU employee to climb up on a ladder and get all the Elles down for me. This was one of them. I was so happy! She's one of my favorites. One of the first things I noticed was that she had great shoes. I like the shorter hair, too. I've attached pictures.  The pictures are on the Forum; the short hair IS a nice change, and she wears a red suit:  http://forums.about.com/ab-collectdolls/messages/?msg=1498.1 

GREAT FASHION MODEL BARBIE PICTURES and REVIEWS: Wow!! SC2OO2 (Sandra) has taken some great pictures of the new Fashion Model Barbie and shared them on the Forum with everyone--don't miss them!  And, Elphaba Throop has reviewed the Blonde Fashion Model and the Garden Party Fashion (with great photos).   These dolls are SOLD OUT at Mattel (that means that dealers cannot order any more) so if you want the Fashion Models, I would order them soon. Pictures of Brunette Fashion Model in Various Fashions: http://forums.about.com/ab-collectdolls/messages/?msg=1419.7
Review of Blonde Fashion Model and Garden Party Fashion:
http://forums.about.com/ab-collectdolls/messages/?msg=1515.1

iDolls Implement EZ Pay: iDolls has just implemented an EZ Pay installment program.  With EZ Pay, customers can simply order the product(s) they want, pay a pre-determined percentage right away and pay the remaining balance in subsequent monthly payments. The plan is not a layaway plan and it's not credit card financing -- so you do not have to wait to receive the product as with a layaway, and there is no interest as there is with credit card financing. To begin the program, iDolls will have it available for orders totaling $300 or more -- and only for orders placed by phone.  It is not yet available for orders placed online. For details, customers can call 1 800 -730-4891 and talk to an iDolls customer service representative.

NICK HILL CHAT: The chat was informative and interesting--much thanks to Nick for being our Special Guest!  For those who missed the chat, I will have some excerpts from the chat script available in the next few days.

Have you been to our chat room?  Its open 24 hours a day, and its free!  Just invite your friends in any time, or stop by to see who's there!  http://collectdolls.about.com/mpchat.htm. 

GENE BON VOYAGE AND HEART OF HOLLYWOOD: These dolls are now shipping!  Also, Gene St. Moritz is also shipping. 

Mystery Guide Of The Day:  Did you know that we have over 700 Guides at About, all bringing you the best on their topic? Click on the picture of the Guide to find out who this Guide is and to visit her site--HINT:  you might want to check out this Guide's site if you have children and you want to TAKE them somewhere....

September 25, 2000:  Ginny and Vintage Barbie Auctions; Online Toy Store Wars
September 22, 2000:  Daisy and Willow Line In Turmoil; Olympic Dolls; Lee Middleton Showcase
September 18, 2000:  Top Holiday Toys List; Barbie Markets to Moms; Black Widow Released
September 13, 2000:  New American Girl Kit; $15,000 Gene Package; Robert Best; eBay and Featured Items
September 11, 2000:  $8,000 Fashion Model Barbie Doll; Lee Middleton Dolls; eBay tackles fraud; Encore Gene shipping
September 8, 2000:  eToys; The World's Biggest Toy Store; Some Alexs' Sold Out; No AA Fashion Model Barbie
September 6, 2000:  Doe Barbie Manipulate Children; Venus and Serena dolls; Baby Boomer Toys; Robert Tonner 18" dolls 
September 1, 2000:  Modern Doll Convention; New Barbies; John F. Kennedy Doll; ViewMaster 
August 30, 2000:  Reproduction Dawn; Electronic Toy Shortage; Theriaults Upcoming Online Auctions; Paper Dolls
August 28, 2000:  Auction-Site Shake-Out; Barbie in the New Millennium; New Links
August 25, 2000:  Ask the Editor Chat; AA Prince Ken; Doll Reviews

• Timeless Treasures: The Story of Dolls in Canada is on display now through  March 30, 2003 at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Hull, Quebec. For more information on this huge (over 400 dolls) landmark exhibit, visit http://www.civilisations.ca/cmc/cmceng/pr113aeng.html 
• National Gene Convention 2000 will be held Oct. 20-23 at the Arlington Heights Hilton in Arlington Heights, Illinois (a suburb of Chicago). Registration is $325 and limited to 700. For more information, contact genecon99@aol.com

Be a Roving Reporter!! Become a Roving Reporter and write a report on a doll event!  Or, do you have a doll event to promote, a new doll to announce, or an updated web site?  Please e-mail me at collectdolls.guide@about.com and put "Newsletter" in the subject line--For events, please give me 7 to 10 days advance notice (at minimum!) in order to have your event appear on time. Some events will also/alternatively appear in the Events Calendar.

Do You Have Dolls For Sale Or Trade? Did you know that you can place FREE classified ads for your dolls for sale or trade (or, dolls wanted) in the Dolls Forum?  Dealers, collectors, everyone welcome; feel free to link to your eBay auctions as well!  Visit the Dolls Forum to find out how to place your ad; if you are not yet a member, click on GUEST, but you will need a free Forum ID to place your ad.

 Want to keep up to date on all the latest in the world of Dolls?    Sign up for the weekly About Dolls  Newsletter! It's free, and is delivered to your email address every week, full of links to new articles, new clip art, additions to the Doll Price Guide and Galleries, Forum Discussions and more!   Don't miss a single issue--- scroll to the end of this page to sign up now!

More GREAT Hobbies News On About.com
Collectibles News * Toy News * Board Games News

2000 Doll News Archive:

January
Madame Alexander 16" Fashion Doll; Mattel Execs Leave * 
Doll Costumer Guild Announces New Publication; *
Barbie® PC; Barbie Auction *
February
Jill Barad Resigns From Mattel  *
All The Toy Fair News! *
Toy Fair Recap; Toy Fair Toys are Technological  *
March
New Theriault's Auctions; Dorothy Coleman Dies *
TRU Big Event, Virginia Graves Carlson Dies *
April
New Doll Books; New Barbie® Releases in Stores *
Jill-Neimrow Nelson Resigns; Americana 2000 Projects; Fashion Doll Convention *
Barbie for President, Sign Language Barbie®; Betty Spagetty and eBay Antique Dealers *
Special Online Doll Auctions; Pleasant Co. Toys For Boys, Cool Collecting Barbie®*
May
Pleasant Company Founder Retires/Doll Discounts/Harley Ken HOT! *
Who's Brave Enough to Run Mattel/Hello Kitty Barbie®/Barbies in stores now *
Toysmart OUT of Business; Where are Asian Barbies; NEW Mattel CEO *
June
Barbie®20001 line info; Gene News; Sailor Moon NEW USA Dolls! *
eBay users dislike advertisements; GI Joe in a Dress; new 16" Fashion Dolls *
Barbie® Bazaar, ITCA, Simply Gene Platinum, Barbie Convention
July
New Doll Costuming Magazine; Harry Potter Mania; Dollmakers Convention *
UFDC Sky-High Convention Dolls; Online Convention Clubs Voted In; NEW Fashion Dolls Magazine * 
Paralymics Becky; Sotehby Barbie® Auction; HSN Doll Event
August
New Elle Dolls; Teri Lee Repros; iDolls Sale; TRU joins Amazon 

For all 1999 editions of "Dolls This Week" please go to the 1999 Dolls This Week Archives.