|
Chatty
Cathy - Talking doll first advertised on
television in 1960. The Chatty-Cathy doll
featured a pull-string at the back of her neck
that activated a built-in 3-inch vinyl
turntable/record in her tummy that recited 11
classic phrases at random including "Will you
play with me?" and "Tell me a story."
The
original Chatty Cathy sported a blonde hair,
blue eyes, and wore a blue satin hair ribbon,
two-toned blue party dress, eyelet shorty
blouse, dark blue velveteen shoes, panties,
petticoat and socks.
The doll also came with an
eight-page story-book, shoe horn, wrist tag,
warranty and a numbered certificate of
authority.
Costing less than $20, Chatty Cathy
came in a variety of skin tones (such as an
African American model), hair colors (blonde,
brunette and redhead), eye colors (blue and
brown) and models like Charmin' Chatty, Chatty
Baby, Singin' Chatty and Tiny Chatty Baby. Later
versions of Chatty Cathy spoke 18 phrases.
Vocal
artist June Foray provided the original
prototype for Cathy Chatty's voice [circa 1959].
Foray also did the voices of Rocket J. Squirrel
in the Rocky & Bullwinkle cartoons.
In the 1970s,
Maureen McCormick who played Marcia Brady on the
sitcom THE BRADY BUNCH/ABC/1969-74 provided the
voice to Mattel's updated version. She also
appeared in a black and white TV commercial for
the original Chattys along with her "Brady
Bunch" sister Eve Plumb.
The anthology series THE TWILIGHT ZONE
broadcast an episode entitled "Living Doll"
(11/01/1963) based on the Chatty Cathy doll
product line.
For more information
read: "Chatty Cathy and Her Talking Friends: An
Unauthorized Guide for Collectors" by Sean Kettelkamp (Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., 1998)
External Links
Back to Top
|
