The California line--The dolls

California Barbie, Ken and Skipper in their original outfits 

This post is a corollary to my previous column about the separately sold swimsuits.

By 1988, I had already been collecting Barbie dolls for about five years.  Back then, pre-Internet, pre-Barbie Bazaar, there was no way to get new doll information unless you went into the toy stores or toy departments and actually looked at the merchandise.  Living in the suburbs, this was easy, as I was hanging out at said stores probably twice a week.

I remember the first time I saw the new line of California dolls in 1988.  It wasn't because of Barbie or Ken or Christie or their new friend Teresa.  It was because of the reappearance of an OLD friend.

Midge.

Midge?

THAT MIDGE?!  The friend who hadn't been around since 1966?!  Barbie's original bestie from Willows?!

I nearly fell over.  I suspect other Barbie collectors almost did as well.

The California dolls were not only beautiful, they were the first playline series aimed at both children and adult collectors.  Although department store specials and department store exclusives had been around for decades, Mattel had never officially created anything specifically for adults until it sold the porcelain Blue Rhapsody Barbie and the designer Billy Boy Barbie in 1986.

Even though the California line was sold only in 1988 and 1989, there were so many versions and so many available that you could find them on the shelves until the early 1990s.  I do not know the reason why the series name was changed.  The first dolls had the word "California" in block capital letters on the boxes.  The second version (likely 1989, although I don't remember exactly) had the words "California Dream" in a font called Mistral, which is the same font that California's license plates are written in.  There were playsets and separate outfits.  Even the Beach Boys got in the act, making a record that was included with the Barbie doll.

California Barbie with her box

Meanwhile, other countries had their own exclusives of these dolls.  Kmart had variations of all of the separately sold outfits.

I never have learned why Mattel reintroduced Midge, but she’s been available in stores in one version or another ever since.

"Living Doll" record

These photos are from my collection, the clothing booklets and reference books in order to show you what variety of California items there were.  There are other items as well; if you have them or know about them, could you tell me?  I have the vinyl record but I don’t know what the songs are on the cassettes.

Thank heavens for the Internet for providing me with so much information!  These are the items that I know about.  The hoarder in me kept many of my receipts when I originally purchased them (tax not included in prices).

Dolls

#4439 California/California Dream Barbie.  She came with a light blue vinyl 7-inch 33 1/3 record called Living Doll, recorded by the Beach Boys and a Treasure Map comic book.  The shredded black LP-looking thing is actually a tote bag.  (Original Toys R Us price $9.99.)  California Barbie also sold in Europe in a multi-language box.  Club California Barbie was sold only in Canada and came with a separate music cassette. Playa California Barbie was sold in Mexico.

#4440 California Skipper.  Sold only in Europe in a multi-language box and a Treasure Map comic book that was in English, Spanish, Italian and German.  (Purchased from another collector via mail order in September 1988 for $35.)  She was the last of the mass-market old-style 9-inch tall Skipper dolls.

California Skipper with her box

#4441 California/California Dream Ken.  Treasure Map was included.  (Purchased at a flea market for $7.)  California Ken also sold in Europe in a multi-language box.  Club California Ken was sold only in Canada and came with a separate music cassette and a separate comic book called Fishing for a Prize.  Playa California Ken was sold in Mexico.

From the 1988 clothing booklet

#4442 California/California Dream Midge.  Treasure Map was included.  (Original Toys R Us Price $9.99.  Resold for $15.)  California Midge also sold in Europe in a multi-language box.  Club California Midge was sold only in Canada and came with a separate music cassette and a separate comic book called Scavenger Hunt/Le Rally.  Playa California Midge was sold in Mexico.

#4443 California/California Dream Christie.  Treasure Map was included.  (Original Drug Emporium Price $11.99 on May 20, 1993.  Resold for $15.)  Club California Christie was sold only in Canada and came with a separate music cassette.  Playa California Christie was sold in Mexico.  This doll was not very popular because her round face and her oversized loose T-shirt made her chubby-looking.

The European and American versions
of  "Treasure Map"

From the 1990 Fashion Fun Guide

#5503 Teresa. Treasure Map was included.  Club California Teresa was sold only in Canada and came with a separate music cassette.  Although she’s shown on the back of the Playa California dolls’ boxes, she is not named, so I am unsure as to whether she was actually sold in Mexico.  Teresa is the hardest doll to find.