The other day I found one of the many interesting toys (un-used even) created for young girls during the Carter Administration-- it's, the Amy (Carter) Paper Doll (1977), which to me sort of has a 70's underground comic vibe in not only the colorful box art design, but even in Amy herself, (that smile on her face harkens a bit to a certain Devil Girl by R. Crumb!) And yes, you'd be as surprised as me if you knew this cute lil thing even existed, let alone the other toys created in her image (google the astounding Amy Carter Love Doll from 1978 by Tom McPartland, for example!) They really played up the "Peanut Power" angle with this paper doll though, (I was barely a pre-teen during this era but I'll never forget that slogan), highlighted by a nutty, toothy peanut mascot among the other groovy 70's clothing choices to dress her up in. So what'll it be? A sailor? A dutch girl? The president's funkadelic daughter? "Hours of fun" it says right there on the lid...
My first thought when I saw this- this is either the sister or cousin of Bevis from Bevis and Butthead.
ReplyDeleteNo offense intended towards the Carter family, but it's hard to deny the similarity in appearances.
It's Funny Because It's Wrong Dept.: "Magic Touch Feature--Rub On/Peel Off".
ReplyDeleteAdd speaking of Ms. Carter and wrong/funny, here's one of my favorite old SNL bits they couldn't get away with anymore:
Yesterday was Amy Carter’s twelfth birthday and, as usual, her family and friends had a tough time picking out the proper presents. After all, what do you give a girl who has nothing?…
--Bill Murray, "Weekend Update", 10/20/79
It shows how much things have changed; back then it was just a paper doll meant to celebrate but now-a-days it could be that or it could be sarcastic or it could be a troll or ... something. It's hard to tell intent now!
ReplyDeleteI would wear that peanut power shirt!
It certainly has an underground art feel to it, but that just might have been a more common style back then, especially in the 70s.
I'm feeling a little odd about this being a thing at all. What is it with White House daughters? I'm always a bit chagrined at the onus they have to bear as mostly ridiculed accidental public figures. I appreciate that this paper doll works so hard to present a relatively realistic Amy Carter, without really idealizing her in any way. But that also feels like a bit of a slight to me, too.
ReplyDeleteDivorced from all that baggage though, I do like the cornfed homegirl art-style here, and agree that it feels like a Crumb. Or maybe Dan Clowes? I can certainly imagine Amy popping up in Ghost World. Especially in that Sam Spade getup.