Today is World Doll Day. (A reprint from the past )

                                     (a few of my dolls)

World Doll Day is today.  It is always the second Saturday in June.  I am posting Mildred Seeley's proclamation announcing World Doll Day.  So what are you going to do to celebrate the day.

Below is a copy as written by Mildred Seeley.  Please tell all your doll friends.

So, you haven't heard of World Doll Day? This is not surprising. As of an hour ago, I hadn't conceived the idea. Bob Isbell, who does my printing, says when I ask for something to be done by tomorrow, "I'll make it hap­pen," This is what l would like to do with World Doll Day - make it hap­pen. I need only one thing - COOPERATION! I need cooperation of every doll collector, every magazine editor, doll newsletter, doll shop, library, dollmaker, mother, grand­mother, father, grandfather, and all the stray aunts and uncles. The first World Doll Day is the Second Saturday of June 1986. I am getting a doll ready to give. If you don't have a child to give a doll to - find one. There are many children with no dolls. Give a doll to a grownup child in the family or just a friend. 

Think of it this way, and ship a doll to another country. I have always felt that the common doll could be an instrument of world understanding. From the time I first started writing books on dollmaking, I had the hope that dolls would help make friends all over the world and develop a little love among all.
World Doll Day will also be a day for doll exhibits. It is my hope that all libraries will have a special doll exhibit; museums will publicize their doll exhibits and have special exhibits at this time. Magazines will put out special editions. Doll stores will put on selling campaigns weeks ahead. Dollmakers will make special dolls for World Doll Day. There will be doll competitions with World Doll Day awards, plaques and trophies.
The logo is made from artist Boots Tyner's doll representing a child. The child carries a German bisque doll to represent this doll col­lector's gift. Feel free to copy the logo or have more made.
Everyone can join the fun, as there are no fees, no permission needed, no obligations, nobody owns the day, no club, no company. It's a free-for-all. Take up the day, its ideas and fly with it. Let's do it now - World Doll Day.
If you think World Doll Day is a good idea, then appoint yourself a committee of one to do something about it - only then can it become a reality. Would you tell five people, ask them to tell five people and each of them tell five more and so on. World Doll Day's birthday is June 14, 1986.
Sincerely, Mil and Vernon Seeley

P.S. This letter may be copied, and copied, again and again, until the world knows about World Doll Day.

Please write and leave a comment in the comments area telling us how you plan to celebrate the day.

Chatty Cathy A Talking doll

Chatty Cathy

1st edition issued March 1960.

A Mattel company talking doll.



Chatty Cathy was introduced in March of 1960 at the New York Toy Fair. She had blonde, red or brunette hair styled in a pageboy with bangs. She said 11 phrases when the pull string on the back of her neck was pulled.  The speaker holes are in her chest.  The pattern of the speaker helps to identify year issued.  Most of the Chatty family of dolls had two large front teeth and freckles.  Today unless the doll has been restored, the freckles can hardly be seen.  They can easily be restored with a dark brown permanent marker.  Place the doll under a bright light and replace them using the faint originals as a guide.

The original dolls in the Chatty Family of dolls had a wide variety of looks. The dolls were put together with parts made in many different countries. Some Chatty's had soft heads and some hard heads. They had different eye colors and different skin tones. Some had eyes that looked straight ahead and some looked to the side.  Today the there is at least one arm or leg that has a slightly different skin tone.

Even the hairstyles differed in that some had short hair with bangs to long hair in ponytails depending on year of issue. 

Some years had several of the styles.

Collectors can have a large collection of these dolls with no two
just alike. Finding the different combinations is quite a challenge and thrill to find for the collector.

The Chatty Family includes: Chatty Cathy, Chatty Baby, Tiny Chatty Baby, and Tiny Chatty Brother, Charmin Chatty, and the last doll released was Singing Chatty. 1965 was the last year the original Chatty Family of dolls was made.

In 1970, The dolls were again introduced in new sizes and different looks. They were not well received and were not in production for very long.
Chatty Cathy was a popular favorite of children of that time.

 Today many collectors wanting to replace their childhood dolls Chatty Cathy is their first choice. Due to the dolls having been played with and well loved by their owners, most do not still talk. There are places they can be sent for repair and it is very expensive as the doll must be totally taken apart. Most all can be repaired but parts are difficult to come by as the dolls parts were made in many countries and a part has to be found to fit that particular mechanism. Also some dolls took baths with their young owners and as a result the mechanism is rusted. Others had holes poked in the speakers or the

pull string is broken.

Did you know?
* The first Chatty Cathy came out in 1960.

* Original voice for Chatty Cathy was Maurine McCormick of       the Brady Bunch fame, a popular TV show.
* Hair colors are: Blonde, Brunette and redhead.
* Eye colors are: blue and brown, with blue most common.      * The hardest to find are African American ones.

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