Personalized Dolls

Introduced in 1965 by New York toy manufacturer Jet Party Favors.

"Customers mail in a photograph of the person to be modeled, specifying hair and eye color. The photo is reproduced on a strip of photo-sensitive linen, which is put through a pressure-molding process to suggest facial contours such as noses, eyes, and dimples. The hardened, mask-like shell is then dolled up by artists, attached to a blank head, and mounted on a standard doll boy, girl, or baby body. Price: $9.95."

The dolls were said to be popular with "grandparents who desire reminders of grandchildren living in other cities, ... narcissists who want dolls depicting themselves as youngsters, necrophiles who want dolls of deceased relatives, and teen-age girls who mail their doll-like images to boy friends stationed overseas."

Source: Newsweek - Feb 22, 1965

Books Selected and endorsed for Pure Weirdness by Your WU Team

Who We Are
Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over forty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. Contact Us

Posted By: Alex - Tue Oct 13, 2015
Category: Toys | 1960s

Comments

I had a personalized doll made up of me but it was all stitched and was more a character than this sickness. IIRC, one of my God Daughters still has it.

Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 10/13/15 at 10:35 AM

I'm sure there is a Twilight Zone story in there somewhere.

Posted by KDP on 10/13/15 at 02:26 PM

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH
(gasp; deep breath; looks again)
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Posted by Bill the Splut on 10/13/15 at 02:42 PM

Those aren't creep0y at all, no, not at all. :gulp:
Bill, honey, it will be okay. Just drink half a bottle of Jack Daniels and take a nap sweetie. 💋

Expat, so what did that kid ever do to you?? 😉

Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 10/13/15 at 04:16 PM

This product looks like it would have done well in the Voodoo market!
(Just add your own pins!)

Posted by Captain DaFt on 10/13/15 at 05:03 PM

@Patty: Every now and again I can put one over on folks.

Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 10/13/15 at 10:59 PM

Commenting is not available in this channel entry.