The California line--The Ice Cream Shoppe

From the 1988 booklet, with the mat included

1989 booklet, mat not included.
FYI, the dolls are Jewel Secrets Ken in
#2691 Love Notes and
blonde Funtime Barbie in her original outfit.

 The Barbie Ice Cream Maker was sold between 1987 and 1990.  It was pictured in the 1987, 1988 and 1989 American booklets and the 1989 and 1990 Estrela booklets from Brazil.  It was not officially part of the California line but since it was sold at the same time many associate the two series.

These are the versions of the Ice Cream Maker.

1987 and 1988 #3653 Ice Cream Shoppe with the mat (Purchased at a flea market for $6.)

1988 #5163 California Ice Cream Cart sold only in Europe

1989 #3653 Ice Cream Shoppe without the mat

1989 Estrela Sorveteria (Ice Cream Shoppe) sold only in Brazil, came with the mat

1990 #5323 Ice Cream Maker

Accessories were clever but also very odd.  Chairs convert into ice cream cups.  Barstools double as plastic spoons.  (I wonder how many of those spoons ended up in the trash with other plastic spoons after a picnic?)  The push handles on the cart do not stay attached.  Since I am missing the backdrop sign, I would have not known what the stand with the two poles was, except for the booklet photos.  On the other hand, I love the mat and the Barbie-size ice cream cones!

This playset is beautiful, but its proportions are off, as you can see by my photos compared to the prototypes in the booklets.  The chairs and table are slightly short for the dolls.  Don't get me started on the bizarre ice cream spoon bar chairs which aren't really sturdy enough to hold a doll.  Meanwhile, the ice cream cart is several scale sizes too big for Barbie.

Notes:

If I learn the Kmart variations for knit outfits #4464 Los Angeles and #4466 Santa Monica, I will add that information.  I will also add the company names or stock numbers of the licensed merchandise when I learn that as well.

The "Living Doll" record was written by Brian Wilson, Eugene Landy (Brian's infamous psychiatrist) and Alexandra Morgan (Landy's girlfriend).

#4467 Los Angeles from Kmart and #4469 California are two of my all-time favorite Barbie and Ken outfits.  Although Fashion Friend #7488 is actually a top and skirt, together they make what I think is the most beautiful sundress Mattel has ever sold.

As for making ice cream?  I will give you an update when I have the time to try this set to make it.

From the 1990 Estrela booklet from Brazil

As you can see, the 11 1/2 dolls
such as Mrs. Heart
are too tall to stand under the umbrella.

Only the smaller dolls
such as Megan Heart and California Skipper
fit in the ice cream cups/chairs.

Island Fun Barbie and Megan Heart
wearing outfits that match the Ice Cream Shoppe.

Perhaps all those yellow and white striped outfits
were meant to be the Ice Cream Shoppe employees' uniforms?