Thursday, January 31, 2013
Friends Who Talk Back, or Walk Back...
Walking and Talking Dolls by Mattel reached a highpoint in 1962, as evidenced by this full page, over-sized magazine advert (carefully edited into sections here for you since the whole thing won't fit on my scanner.) I really like that Chester O'Chimp doll and would give anything to hear him say things in his banana scented brogue! And I'm blown away that they actually made a talking Mr. Ed puppet, I never even knew it existed until now! Ummm, who wants to see shy lil Shrinkin Violet bat her eyes, or hear Tatters the woeful waif pleading to sleep with you? *raises hand
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8 comments:
Although I find it incredibly bizarre that Chester O'Chimp has an Irish brogue I would kill to hear it.
Actually - I wouldn't mind hearing what all of them sound like - even Baby Pataburp.
And I can only imagine what it would be like if Singin' Chatty started singing in the middle of the night in the pitch black dark? Not good.
I've been trying to get a working Mr. Ed puppet for quite a few years. I even drive a Studebaker Lark because of Mr. Ed.
Haha, Baby Pattaburp unleashing one in the dead of night could be just as horrific! "S-s-suddenly it smells like belched blood in here-- Aieeee!!!"
Let us know if you ever find a working Mr. Ed, Anon-- and good luck!!
I apologize for this comment in advance...
Somebody at that ad company had to know how that Shrinkin' Violette sounded to adults. "softly pleads"?
I'm going to have to take scrub my skin with volcanic rocks until it flayed off after that! *shudder*
Obviously you're unfamiliar with Mattel's line of naughty "Pleaders" dolls, Brian-- wind 'em up and watch them go-go!
I'm kind of smitten with the idea of a talking Porky Pig doll. Yeah, that's what I want to spend valuable talk technology on--a doll that freakin stutters. It'd be kind of like having a walking FDR doll--it really rolls!
The voice effect for my talking Pee Wee Herman doll is all out of whack, as if he didn't already talk fast enough, it's now so sped up its impossible to understand anything he says... even if you supply a little bit of drag on the pull string yourself to force it to slow down, it's totally unintelligible.
"Baby Pattaburp" is a ridiculous name; I can't believe they trademarked it!
The creepiest dolls were yet to come a few years later -- those life-sized girl and boy dolls that can walk with the kid (I've forgotten the company name).
There's a commercial on YouTube that has the girl sharing her bed with the girl doll, and even switching clothes with it.
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