Here are two Shirley Temple dolls from the 1930's.
The average American who was lucky enough to be
working made a little more than $1300 per year. A
Shirley Temple doll cost between $3 and $10
depending on the size, which was a couple of days
wages for some workers. For others, they might
only make that in a whole week! For many others,
they wouldn't make any money at all.
Shirley Temple dolls are not only marked with a
little button with Shirley's name and picture, but
also on the dress tag and often on the back of the
head and shoulders. The little button had a copy
of Shirley's own signature on it. The dolls were
marked in so many ways because many companies
saw how much everyone loved Shirley and the dolls
and decided that they would make "copies" of the
dolls! But only one company was truly allowed to
make real Shirley Temple dolls and that was the
Ideal Novelty and Toy Company. Even today,
people are confused as to what a real Shirley
Temple doll is.
The average American who was lucky enough to be
working made a little more than $1300 per year. A
Shirley Temple doll cost between $3 and $10
depending on the size, which was a couple of days
wages for some workers. For others, they might
only make that in a whole week! For many others,
they wouldn't make any money at all.
Shirley Temple dolls are not only marked with a
little button with Shirley's name and picture, but
also on the dress tag and often on the back of the
head and shoulders. The little button had a copy
of Shirley's own signature on it. The dolls were
marked in so many ways because many companies
saw how much everyone loved Shirley and the dolls
and decided that they would make "copies" of the
dolls! But only one company was truly allowed to
make real Shirley Temple dolls and that was the
Ideal Novelty and Toy Company. Even today,
people are confused as to what a real Shirley
Temple doll is.
| Welcome to my Antique Doll Page for kids Page 2 -The 1920's - 1950's |
The 1930's brought The Great Depression. This was a hard time for America and the rest of the world. Many
people lost their jobs and children had to do without the toys and luxuries that they had once enjoyed. Below is a
letter that a little girl named Patrica wrote to President Roosevelt's wife in 1938. It's hard to read, but the last line
says "I wish I had a Shirley Temple Doll. Dady can not buy one." But times got better for Americans within a
couple of years and hopefully this little girl eventually got her dream doll! Many girls who didn't get a Shirley
Temple doll when they were young ended up buying them as collectors when they got older!
people lost their jobs and children had to do without the toys and luxuries that they had once enjoyed. Below is a
letter that a little girl named Patrica wrote to President Roosevelt's wife in 1938. It's hard to read, but the last line
says "I wish I had a Shirley Temple Doll. Dady can not buy one." But times got better for Americans within a
couple of years and hopefully this little girl eventually got her dream doll! Many girls who didn't get a Shirley
Temple doll when they were young ended up buying them as collectors when they got older!
Even if a girl's family couldn't buy her a Shirley
Temple doll in the 1930's, a little girl could earn
one! Here is an advertisement offering a Shirley
Temple doll to anyone who could sell a certain
number of magazine subscriptions. She is exactly
like my little Shirley doll shown to the right. Maybe
some lucky little girl won that doll many years ago.
She, like the doll in the picture, wears a dress
from the movie "Bright Eyes" from 1934. Maybe
your great grandmother also had a Shirley Temple
doll.
Temple doll in the 1930's, a little girl could earn
one! Here is an advertisement offering a Shirley
Temple doll to anyone who could sell a certain
number of magazine subscriptions. She is exactly
like my little Shirley doll shown to the right. Maybe
some lucky little girl won that doll many years ago.
She, like the doll in the picture, wears a dress
from the movie "Bright Eyes" from 1934. Maybe
your great grandmother also had a Shirley Temple
doll.
Even if a girl could not afford a large doll, there were small dolls available for
very little money. Can you guess why these tiny dolls were called "penny
dolls"? They could be carried in a pocket or played with in homemade
dollhouses.
very little money. Can you guess why these tiny dolls were called "penny
dolls"? They could be carried in a pocket or played with in homemade
dollhouses.
The 1940's and 50's brought better times for most Americans, as the company entered World War II which
created factory jobs for many Americans. You may be the owner of an American Girl Today doll or even a
My Twinn doll. But the idea of making a doll that looks like its owner is not a new one. It was first done in
the late 1930's and into the 1940's by a doll artist named Dewees Cochran. She made dolls that looked
like real children. These were called "portrait" dolls. Along with her one of a kind dolls, Dewees Cochran
also designed different head molds for the Effanbee company and a little girl could go into a department
store where a special worker would match her face and hair color to that of one of the dolls. They were
called American Children.
created factory jobs for many Americans. You may be the owner of an American Girl Today doll or even a
My Twinn doll. But the idea of making a doll that looks like its owner is not a new one. It was first done in
the late 1930's and into the 1940's by a doll artist named Dewees Cochran. She made dolls that looked
like real children. These were called "portrait" dolls. Along with her one of a kind dolls, Dewees Cochran
also designed different head molds for the Effanbee company and a little girl could go into a department
store where a special worker would match her face and hair color to that of one of the dolls. They were
called American Children.
The 1940's brought the
invention of plastics into
doll making. Popular
fashion dolls made their
appearance in the late
1940's and 1950's, as
the use of newly invented
plastic and vinyl allowed
more detailing and a
more natural look in the
molding of the dolls. The
first Barbie doll was made
in 1959.
invention of plastics into
doll making. Popular
fashion dolls made their
appearance in the late
1940's and 1950's, as
the use of newly invented
plastic and vinyl allowed
more detailing and a
more natural look in the
molding of the dolls. The
first Barbie doll was made
in 1959.
1950's fashion doll "Sweet Sue Sophisticate".
By now, you have definitely learned something about antique dolls that you didn't know before! I hope you liked your
visit here!
I would like to encourage you to pursue your interests and if there is something you like, to read as much as you can
about it! And not only will it be fun, but someday it could even be useful to you in everyday life! When I grew up, I
was able to use all that I learned to not only buy, but sell and repair dolls. I have three online stores and have sold at
doll shows for many years. I have my own line of artist repaint Sasha dolls as well. The most fun thing is that I'm still
learning today!
visit here!
I would like to encourage you to pursue your interests and if there is something you like, to read as much as you can
about it! And not only will it be fun, but someday it could even be useful to you in everyday life! When I grew up, I
was able to use all that I learned to not only buy, but sell and repair dolls. I have three online stores and have sold at
doll shows for many years. I have my own line of artist repaint Sasha dolls as well. The most fun thing is that I'm still
learning today!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For parents and educators:
Old dolls or toys provide a great opportunity to introduce history and past culture to children in a tangible way that
they can relate to and remember. Old dolls or toys can also be a great springboard for a writing project! Some
ideas might be to use point of view to write a story about what a doll or toy has done in their lifetime or stories they
may have to tell. Other writing ideas may be to look at books or photos of old dolls or toys from a local library and
have them select their favorite and write reasons that they like it. There are many classic children's books about
dolls and toys, such as The Velveteen Rabbit, Hitty, and of course the Raggedy Ann series of books by Johnny
Gruelle.
Old dolls or toys provide a great opportunity to introduce history and past culture to children in a tangible way that
they can relate to and remember. Old dolls or toys can also be a great springboard for a writing project! Some
ideas might be to use point of view to write a story about what a doll or toy has done in their lifetime or stories they
may have to tell. Other writing ideas may be to look at books or photos of old dolls or toys from a local library and
have them select their favorite and write reasons that they like it. There are many classic children's books about
dolls and toys, such as The Velveteen Rabbit, Hitty, and of course the Raggedy Ann series of books by Johnny
Gruelle.
Dolls have always reflected the fashions and trends of their time in history.
This group of Patsy dolls at the left was made in the late 1920's and early
1930's. The 1920's was a time of change. There were new inventions, new
music and new attitudes. Notice the short hair on these dolls. It is called a
"bob". It was a fashionable style for young ladies in the 1920's, as they cut
off the long hair that had been popular in years past. Little girls too,
adopted the new short hairstyle where the front was longer than the back.
Dresses became shorter for both women and girls. Of course, doll clothing
reflected this also! Patsy was a popular doll through the 1930's and if you
have seen the Shirley Temple movie "Bright Eyes", Shirley receives a Patsy
doll for Christmas!
This group of Patsy dolls at the left was made in the late 1920's and early
1930's. The 1920's was a time of change. There were new inventions, new
music and new attitudes. Notice the short hair on these dolls. It is called a
"bob". It was a fashionable style for young ladies in the 1920's, as they cut
off the long hair that had been popular in years past. Little girls too,
adopted the new short hairstyle where the front was longer than the back.
Dresses became shorter for both women and girls. Of course, doll clothing
reflected this also! Patsy was a popular doll through the 1930's and if you
have seen the Shirley Temple movie "Bright Eyes", Shirley receives a Patsy
doll for Christmas!
An example of a "bob" or "flapper"
hairstyle from the side. The back is
shorter than the front.
One of the major problem with composition
dolls was that the wood pulp would expand
or shrink under the paint depending on
the heat, cold or wet that it was exposed
to. That causes composition dolls today to
almost always have cracks in their paint
surfaces. You can see it in this doll's head
if you enlarge the photo.
hairstyle from the side. The back is
shorter than the front.
One of the major problem with composition
dolls was that the wood pulp would expand
or shrink under the paint depending on
the heat, cold or wet that it was exposed
to. That causes composition dolls today to
almost always have cracks in their paint
surfaces. You can see it in this doll's head
if you enlarge the photo.
Below are my own store sites. Enjoy!
Rainbow Round My Shoulder at Ruby Lane
Babesntoyland at Ecrater
Rainbow Round My Shoulder at Blujay
Joe and Kelly's Sasha Dolls Page
Rainbow Round My Shoulder at Ruby Lane
Babesntoyland at Ecrater
Rainbow Round My Shoulder at Blujay
Joe and Kelly's Sasha Dolls Page
CLICK THE PHOTO TO THE
RIGHT TO SEE HOW THIS 100
YEAR OLD DOLL WAS FIXED!
RIGHT TO SEE HOW THIS 100
YEAR OLD DOLL WAS FIXED!
And here is a fun site for young and old fans of
Shirley Temple dolls! A kids page here too!
http://shirleytempledolls.com/kidzone.html
Shirley Temple dolls! A kids page here too!
http://shirleytempledolls.com/kidzone.html