Ruth Handler, cofounder of Mattel, had a
specific desire that she wanted to accomplish with a new doll. Something never done
before! In 1958 Mattel hired an engineer named Jack Ryan,
(previously worked for the US government on the Hawk missile).
Ryan was to come up with a doll that could say
several different phrases at random, a new idea and one that would require great thought
and technical ability. Could this be done? A record player in a doll?
Ryan developed a voice-box
for Mattel's talking toys. He created the voice-box for
the new talking doll. She had a needle,
"turntable" and record, the pull-string activated
the system.
The design of the
doll was placed into the hands of the very talented Tony
Haller. Mr. Haller, using his daughter Margaret as a
model, created the freckled-faced, buck-toothed, little girl
we have all come to love.
This yet unnamed doll was being formed at Mattel
through their team of experts. Handler wanted the doll to look like a typical 4 year
old. But what to name her? After much thought and consideration,
while driving along, Ruth and
Eliot Handler (her husband) decided that the name needed to be catchy and easy to
remember. They chose "Chatty Cathy."
In February 1960 Chatty Cathy was introduced
at an American toy fair in New York City. She was a hit for Mattel! Chatty
Cathy is only second to Barbie.
The first Chatty had blonde bobbed hair and
blue eyes. Her face was soft and she was able to speak eleven phrases at random.
Mattel succeeded in their goal!
Several years later, Chatty had changed her
appearance. By 1964 she had a hard face and came with Blue or Brown eyes and auburn,
brown of blonde hair. There were even 5,000 Black Chatties
made so that even more
children would have an opportunity to own a doll "just like me."
Chatty Cathy is still a beloved doll of many
today! The craze continues.. trust me, buy a Chatty and see what happens!
You'll want more.
©DH 9/19/02
|
