April 3, 1974, a good day for Barbie but a bad day for everyone else

Ruth, Barbara and Elliot Handler (center photo)
invited all of their co-workers to Barbie's birthday party in 1974.

I have a newer Barbie reference book called All Dolled Up, by Jennie D'Amata, published by Running Press in 2009.  What makes this book different from the others is that reproductions of various pieces of Barbie paperwork, including the first 1959 booklet, are included.

But what caught my eye is an invitation from Mattel for April 3, 1974, in conjunction with the release of Sweet 16 Barbie.  I think the party was for Mattel employees.  Mattel sent out invitations to a party at the Western Sales parking lot.  It included an agenda for a birthday breakfast or lunch, cake and a performance by the Hawthorne High School Band.

I had never heard of this party before, probably because something happened that day that was horrible.  The invitation freaked me out a little because of the April 3 date at the top.  If you were a Silent Generation member, Baby Boomer or Generation X-er living east of the Mississippi River in 1974, you should remember this day well.

This was the date of the Super Outbreak tornadoes.  If cable TV news had been available then, this series of horrible storms would have been the lead story for days.  As it was, it merited a few minutes on the national evening news.

Look up the Sayler Park tornado.  It formed in Rising Sun, IN, jumped the Ohio River one mile wide) into Taylorsport, KY, and then crossed back over the Ohio River again! It demolished about half of Sayler Park, then climbed a large steep hill into Mack, Bridgetown (where I still live) Dent and Monfort Heights.  I was 13; my sisters 11 and 8.  Mom looked out the window and saw the twister (later rated an F-5) and screamed at us to go to the basement and get under the table there.  It is the only time I can remember my mom screaming at us.  No, I didn't see the funnel cloud.  Mom pushed me away from the kitchen window.

Nothing happened.  The tornado, a mile away, ran parallel to the house and lifted up a few miles later.  Our house lost a few shingles.  I could write way more but it has nothing to do with Barbie dolls.

What's with the wings?

There were at least three ballgowns sold for Barbie in the 1980s that had wings, a shawl, ruff, whatever you want to call it.  I don't own these outfits because I wasn't fond of them when they were new at the store.  It's just been recently that I noticed this continuous theme.

In 1980 (booklet 0007-2750 B) we had Fashion Favorite 1429 Fresh N Cool.  This one had a shawl with three layers of ruffles.

In 1982 (booklet 0007-3130 G3), there was Fashion Collectible 3678.  In Europe this outfit was called Opera, and the wings are actually sleeves with three layers of ruffles.

Lastly, in 1984, Barbie wore Twice as Nice 4828 Party Pair in booklet 0007-4680-G2. In Europe this dress was called Sonfonia (Symphony).  This dress was light pink and blue.  There may have been a Kmart variation of this outfit.

I am just going to show you the booklet pages.

In 1980, Barbie had a ballgown called Fresh N Cool.
It is red in the booklet but it is actually more of an orange tone.

The 1982 gown called Opera is featured
on several of Barbie's cases for that year.

The skirt but not the ruffled top
could be switched inside out in 1984's Party Pair.

Umpteen variations of Drink Pepsi-Cola outfit fabric colors

I am close to completing my "Drink Pepsi-Cola" outfits collection.  I found Francie's slacks and Barbie's shirt and visor in the past few months on etsy.

Mattel sold outfits for Barbie, Ken, Francie and Skipper in 1974 with the logo for "Drink Pepsi-Cola" on the fabric.  Included with each outfit was a pop bottle and a hamburger.  Ironically, the pop bottle looked nothing like an actual Pepsi container, which should have been a clear swirly bottle.  I did a little research and discovered the bottle is similar to a 1950s Fanta bottle (thank heavens for Google!).

I obtained the Skipper outfit and two other 1974 Best Buys for her NRFB years ago.  I don't remember where I got them from or how much I paid for them.

I put the outfits on dolls from 1974.  I don't have a Francie specifically from that year, but I do have Quick Curl Tuli-Chan, so she is wearing the pants.  Tuli wears her original tulip pendant necklace and her original shoes and the blouse from Checkmates.  Sweet 16 Barbie looks wonderful in her outfit!  Sun Valley Ken wears the shirt and dickie to his outfit and his original polyester satin pants.

The outfits didn't come with shoes, but the clothing was made in Korea, so the shoes Barbie and Ken are wearing are also from Korea.  Yes, I have only one red Barbie clog!

The stock numbers are 7756 Barbie, 7761 Ken, 7766 Francie and 7700 Skipper.  No two of the red fabrics are alike, and even the print logo goes from cream to snow white.  The shirt that Ken is holding is odd.  Notice the white stitching along the edges.  Someone took two strips of Velcro and sewed them to the shirt to keep it closed!

Tuli-Chan, Barbie and Ken model their Drink Pepsi-Cola outfits
next to my rare NRFB Skipper slacks and halter.