Mel Birnkrant is the creator of the Galoob Baby Face doll. He has been in the toy industry for many years and is a leading toy designer. Mel Birnkrant was the Creative Director for Colorforms Toys for over 20 years. While in this position he created a cornucopia of products that included the Mickey Mouse and Disney Colorforms toys. He licensed the Baby Face doll design in partnership with Kiscom Toys to the Lewis Galoob Toy Company in 1990. All the original outfits worn by the Baby Face dolls were created by Judy Albert, who also has fame for the Cabbage Patch family of dolls.
Mel and his wife, Eunice converted a three-story schoolhouse in upstate New York into a home for themselves and their unusual collection of rare comic character toys.
The first dolls' names were:
• So Surprised Suzie
• So Happy Heidi
• So Sorry Sarah
• So Shy Sherry
• So Delightful DeeDee
• So Playful Penny
• So Innocent Cynthia
• So Loving Laura
• So Sweet Sandi
• So Funny Natalie
All the dolls have acrylic glass eyes and real eyelashes. The dolls are made of a high quality vinyl and are about 13" tall. Being jointed at the neck, shoulders, elbows, hips and knees (a true strung doll) they are able to stand and pose in many different ways. They are fully jointed and completely poseable. These features were formerly only found in more expensive collector dolls. All the Baby Face dolls have rooted hair of various colors, but mostly blondes (except the black, Asian and Hispanic versions). There were Canadian, Portuguese, Finnish and Japanese Baby Face dolls as well, and a few prototypes of proposed styles waiting when Galoob abruptly discontinued the line. Each doll is similar, yet unique, and sold for about $20 each. Six of the 10 were also produced in black versions. An Asian and Hispanic doll was added to the line.
The six additional outfits and diapers that were sold separately for the Baby Face dolls included:
• Goin' to a Ball
• Goin Hollywood (also known as Workin' Out)
• Fashion Diapers (was a package of two Baby Face diapers)
• Goin' to a Party
• Playin' Outside
• Goin' Beddy-Bye
• Goin' Swimmin
Not available in stores was an outfit called the "Special Offer Party Dress." Also included in some of the boxes of dolls was mail in offers for this particular dress. The deal was to send in two Baby Face proofs of purchase and a check or money order for $2. The outfit came with headband, shoes, no socks or diaper.
Accessories included:
• Stroller
• Sewing patterns
• Party supplies
• Children's footwear
• Watches
• Backpack
• Waist pack
• Sleeping bag
• PVC figures
• Magic Diaper babies
This article is FREE to publish with the resource box
© 2007 Connie Limon All Rights Reserved
Written by: Connie Limon. For more information about starting and maintaining a Vintage Doll Collection visit http://smalldogs2.com/VintageDollCollecting For a variety of FREE reprint articles as well as special sections in U.S. History and the Kennedy Administration visit http://www.camelotarticles.com
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