Ken and Me…the vintage years

Posted on October 24, 2023 by james

James B Fowler begins the book with a short text that sets up the story of the period (1956 -63) which he labels “a Perfect Bubble”.
Fowler illustrates his book with beautifully photographed images (taken by photo artist Walter Segers) of Ken in all of the complete outfits and pak accessories from the original, vintage (1961-1967) period. The dolls and clothes are joined by objects from the similar years of mid-century modern America that amplify Ken’s story.
A cohesive look and read that will delight the fans of the vintage years of Ken and the fan of mid-century America.

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VINTAGE KEN #5

Posted on September 4, 2023 by james

THE LAST OF WHAT WE CALL “VINTAGE” KEN

KEN worked very hard to achieve a new body and head sculpt for his return in 1969!

He had grown out his signature flat top and his sideburns and eyebrows too.

And he could talk.

He had become a college “man” instead of a college “boy”.

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VINTAGE KEN TAKES A BREAK

Posted on September 4, 2023 by james

You could still find Vintage KEN and or ALLLAN on some store shelves, there was still stock in the warehouse to move, but, they were no longer manufacturing SL (straight leg) or BL (bend leg) PH (painted hair) KEN or ALLAN. Times they were a changing and so was KEN.

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VINTAGE KEN #4

Posted on September 4, 2023 by james

VINTAGE KEN #4 / BEND LEG

VINTAGE ALLAN #2 / BEND LEG

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VINTAGE KEN #3

Posted on August 28, 2023 by james

VINTAGE KEN #3

This is the KEN that would see us through the rest of the vintage era 1963 – 1967.

The body is similar to #1 KEN, they ditched the Short body and appendages (SL/Straight Leg).

The hair is molded and painted, like the #2 Ken (PH / painted hair)

His Beach togs and the box are the same as #2

This is my personal fav, and I have many many of them, some in boxes, some not, some in great condition, some quite played with…I love ’em all!

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VINTAGE KEN (#2) / bye bye fuzzy, hello molded hair…

Posted on August 27, 2023 by james
1962 KEN arrives in a similar box, except the swimsuit pictured on the lower left is now solid red.
Fuzzy head was loved and played with.But sadly, his hair wore off within the first few days for most doll owners.
So fuzzy wasn’t fuzzy, was he?
He was bald.
“Fuzzy Head” was discontinued and in 1962 Painted Hair (PH) KEN arrived. Mattel had changed his hair, now the flat top was part of the new head mold. The rest of the head mold changed in accordance. The new “sculpt narrowed out the face a bit. The makeup artists slimmed down those bushy brows. 
They also put the new head on a new body.1962 ken was almost ½ an inch shorter, and his legs would be close together unlike the wide leg stance on the original KEN. They also decided to sculpt the knee in a little more detail.
He could still wear the clothes from 1961, as well as the many new offering that were to follow!
KEN was once again a teenage fashion star.
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VINTAGE KEN (#1) / THE FIRST NINE OUTFITS

Posted on August 25, 2023 by james

Here are the 9 original outfits (not necessarily the same details as the Mattel catalogue samples shown earlier)

They came out in 1961 to go with the original Fuzzy headed KEN! The dolls, outfits and boxes are all mint and all mine, lol!

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VINTAGE KEN (#1) / FIRST COMMERCIAL

Posted on August 24, 2023 by james
https://youtube.com/watch?v=Z5pcyHT838g%3Fsi%3DPYqWs9z-3Niv7AsI
Mattel was one of the first to create toy advertising that was shown on kids tv shows.
This lead to kids telling their parents what they wanted instead of the parents telling the kids…Mattel was very smart.
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VINTAGE KEN (#1) / 1961

Posted on August 24, 2023 by james
You got him MIB, (Mint in Box).
He came in this original outfit, a towel lined striped beach jacket and coordinated trunks, (the trunks never came in the signature “Barbie” black and white stripes as pictured on the box and in the first advertising) they were red instead!
There was a cello bag over his head to protect the flocking, kind of creepy, this one, like most had dried up and fallen off. Phew!
In a second cello bag you got the infamous catalogue, for dreaming and of course planning future shopping. Mattel understood marketing!
You also got a pair of red strapped sandals and a yellow towel.
A wire stand completed the kit. Everything Ken needed for a day at the pool or beach.
KEN was news! He was a teenage male fashion doll, a buddy for Barbie. Mattel was on a role.
Ken’s  measurements (unlike “Barbies”) were closely matched to the typical male of the period. 
Here he is lined up with famous American product designer “Henry Dreyfuss’ ” illustration for architects and designers, on the cover of his ground breaking book “The Measure of Man”. The drawing and the doll were an almost perfect match! 
Pictured are the prototypes of KEN’S first 9 outfits, (by the time they hit manufacturing there were several changes, including the B&W striped trunks.)
There was something for every occasion in a young mans life (young men dressed much differently than today’s dude.) They coordinated perfectly with Barbies fashions, making KEN her perfect accessory. Why sell one outfit when you can sell 2? 
 
“You can tell they’re Mattel, they’re SWELL!”
 
But of course, KEN could also stand alone, without Barbie, which would allow more comfortable (for the average parent) purchase and play for their little boys too!!
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KEN, in BARBIE (THE MOVIE

Posted on August 24, 2023 by james
Of course as I am a KEN fan, I had to rework the movie poster. Interestingly the movie does have a lot more KEN than I sould have imagined, but it seems to catch KEN at a much later period than we see Barbie enter the picture. Follow the posts and I’ll bring you up to speed…
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