Monday, September 15, 2008

Dawn and Friends

How could I mention the namesake of this doll without gloating? Truly we have no connection.....and no look-a-like! She's cute just the same.





Dawn was made by Topper in 1970-73, she immediately grabbed a foothold and some historians believe more were produced than the floundering (at the time) Barbie. Parents and grandparents loved Dawn (snicker), being just over 6'' tall with feet less than a inch, she used up small spaces. Mothers could buy the doll and a whole wardrobe, fitting it all in a less than a 1' x 2'' deep case!

The small worlds of Dawn and her friends could be easily found at the five and dime.
They included a show stage, sofa phone, beauty pageant stage, dance stage, apartment and beauty parlor. In the second production Dawn reintroduced herself as a dancing doll, being able to twist at the waist. 3 males were made in this year, Gary, Ron and Van (how cool that name is!). Mine fellow is Gary.

Two more grouping were produced, one included a short haired Dawn with 3 wigs called "Head to toe", the other was modeling and Majorettes. The Majorette had a baton that twirled and glowed in the dark.

Topper went bankrupt in 1973, they seemed to run out of ideas to innovate Dawn, clothing looked the same only different fabric. Unlike Barbie who changed with the time and picked up speed again in the 80's, Dawn didn't. Many of the dolls that are left over, have a current value at 40$, doll, wardrobe, and case together.


No one seems to really know what the immediately attraction to Dawn is, I can tell you though when Madame and I unpacked some of my collection, Dawn was the only one Madame requested. Madame muscled on to Dawn like she was a bar of gold, stroking her long hair......


and wishing she could have her.

That wasn't to lame of a expert speaking on Dawn, was it? C&G design

13 comments:

tina said...

She looks alot like Barbie. Great you have a namesake doll Madame likes.

Dawn said...

Dawn is sooo tiny. Someone made her the bead necklace, more than I would do!

Dawn said...

Fastest finger I tell ya.....forgot to check e-mail, doesn't work if you do it after clicking publish!

Jean Merriman said...

Reading this post, when I came to Majorette, I thought, oh now there is the one for Madame and the I read where she wants another one. So go figure. The hair is the winner I guess.

You sure do have a lotta dolls. Is Dawn (teehee) left from your childhood hood or did you get it later in life. I think you did have a Dawn as a kid.

Jean Merriman said...

I forgot but the necklace looks like the old pop beads of my teen years but I think they would have been too big to put on such a tiny doll. And btw, Dawn the doll is not as pretty as Dawn the blogger!!

Skeeter said...

I believe I have a Dawn doll! She has the twist waist and when you move her hand, her head moves in sequence! Her markings read, "1970 by the Topper corp." She is dressed in a pink and white halter party dress with white fringe hanging down the neck in front... She is in excellent condition with straight gold hair and she has her shoes too! I have a Ski set that I believe belongs to her. Boots, skis, jacket, etc...

Dawn said...

Yes! You have the second production, hang onto her, she is one to display cause almost everyone knows her.
We are getting really warm air from Ike. Poor Tartarus, the wind blew the deck door shut and almost got him!

Dawn said...

Mom, just missed you, are you getting wind? This Sat @ 1pm @ my old school.

Dawn said...

yes, both Tina and I had a Dawn but I don't know what happened to it, I got these at a flea mkt.
And thanks, but you are my mother.

tina said...

Hey you all, Ike did some damage here and in Evansville. No power in Evansville since yesterday at 9 am and they are not expecting it on for a week or more. Poor people. That is very close to us. No damage to our house but many Bradford pears and people's dead trees down. I was glad my neighbors cut down their three dead trees on Saturday!

That is pretty cool about Dawn the doll. I do not clearly remember having one. You know me, would have rather had a hammer in my hand. I kept many for a long time and I am not sure where they went. My girls don't even want their Barbie stuff:(

Jean Merriman said...

Dawn I know I am your mother but that really has NOTHING to do with a pretty face and the doll may have a figure that will beat just about any human figure but your face IS much prettier than hers!!!

We are getting wind but a very warm wind.

We will be there and if you have time, dig me some joe pye if you are coming. I know you usually do come but am not sure now with Gene in icu. Let me know.

I thought you girls had the Dawn doll, just seems like, with the name, I would have to had bought it. Also in reading what Skeeter wrote, it sounds like one that one of you girls had. I do remember those outfits kicking around. But then again, with 4 girls, there were many doll outfits kicking around. LOL.

Wow Tina, I did not know that Indiana had damage like that. A week is a long time without power.
I am not a winter person but I will still take a few months of a Maine winter over the hot, humid and terrible storms that some people have to endure. Until last winter we have not had barely any snow for several years. I must admit when we do not have it at Christmas time I get disapointed. It does make the lights look magical and the snow adds to the spirit of the season. We have had too many bare ground Christmases of late.

Skeeter said...

Jean, it is too early to start talking about snow.. lol...

DP Nguyen said...

She does look like Barbie, but she is so cute. And their little shoes! Reminds me of my childhood barbies. I even made clothes for them!