*DISCUSSION* American Girl Courtney Moore 1986 Concept - Fail? Or Fabulous?

 I want to talk about the new historical doll and share my opinion. I would love to hear feedback from mom's out there.

 
At first I was disappointed. I feel the concept has fallen short.
Is she maybe Mary Ellen's daughter? The Mary Ellen look-a-like is uncanny. It seems a bit lack luster to make a brand new historic concept doll EXTREMELY similar in features to an already existing one.

 

Second, her hair is very disappointing as I had HOPED she would have CRIMPED hair. AG has several curly haired dolls already and Courtney's hair, though supposed to be a perm, is in ringlets. An 80's perm would have layers and HEIGHT on the top and longer bangs.

 

 They could have spiked it on top and slicked it back on one side.

 

Lastly, I'm VERY saddened that they didn't emphasize music enough in her collection. Pop culture was booming with movies like Back to the Future, high school films staring the "Brat Pack" while concerts were happening all over the USA. Duran Duran was EXPLODING on the music scene in 1984-85 so much so, dubbed the second British Invasion.

What about MTV?? What about VH1?? What about Headbangers Ball??

Here are some key items that I love from Courtney's collection and feel they accurately represent the 80's.

 

1. PAC-MAN™ Arcade Game
   
2. Splatter-Print Dress & Cropped Jacket Outfit
   
3. Courtney's™ Accessories
   
4. Caboodles® & Hair Accessories Kit
   
5. High-Top Sneakers 
6. Denim jacket
7. Denim jean
8. Sleepover set
   
    

 I dislike the following items from her collection because I feel they represent more 90's styles similar to Saved by the Bell TV show.  

 

1. Cardigan

2. Care Bears gown 

3. Tie (shirt is accurate)  

4. Tie & suspenders (Steve Urkel) 

5. Fanny pack 

When it comes to her bedroom, I feel that most of it is accurate though none of my friends had bunk beds. The wall pattern is great and I did own the clear princess phone! And the boombox! We all had one with our favorite store bought cassettes. We would often exchange custom playlist cassettes with our friends. It saved money on music - LOL

 Hopefully you have enjoyed our coverage of Courtney Moore!

 

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITES?

WHAT ARE YOUR LEAST FAVORITES?

DO YOU FEEL COURTNEY'S 80'S CONCEPT IS FAIL? OR FABULOUS??

LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW.

*DISCUSSION* American Girl Courtney Moore 1986 Key Collection Pieces

The 80s were VERY much about music! Michael Jackson, Madonna, Prince, Duran, Duran, the Go-Gos, Spandau Ballet, The Eurythmics, Thompson Twins, Flock of Seagulls, Tears for Fears and Human League were popular Top 40 artists.

1986 was the year for arena rock with bands like Dokken,  Whitesnake, Motley Crue, Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, Tesla and Ratt.

Video games were picking up in popularity around 1981 and took off in 1986. All of the arcades were busy and so was miniature golf and roller skating rinks.

The walkman was GREAT for listening to your favorite cassettes at school or the beach. In high school we would trade cassettes over the weekend. MTV was VERY popular where you could catch all of your favorite bands and their latest videos.

 So this is very appropriate since Pleasant Company catalogs were first mailed to homes in 1986. I remember being in 11th grade and receiving a catalog quarterly. (Took me 27 years later to buy my first AG doll.)

Courtney doesn’t consider herself a “doll girl,” but when she learns about Molly, who also misses her dad, she feels a connection. She’s totally surprised when her dad gives her this Molly doll for Christmas in 1986—making her one of the first to have a doll from the brand-new Pleasant Company. Set includes:

• A mini Molly™ doll wearing a sweater, skirt, glasses, shoes, socks, bloomers, and two hair bows
• A classic Pleasant Company® mini doll box where Molly can be stored
• A Meet Molly mini book that tells the character’s story
• A mini version of the very first Pleasant Company® catalogue where Courtney has circled all the things she wants for Christmas

 WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE ITEMS FROM COURTNEY'S COLLECTION??

*DISCUSSION* Covid -19 and Toy Industry Affects

Hello everyone, I was hesitant to begin this discussion, but felt it should be addressed. LADL is a community of toy lovers from around the world. Please beware of "click bait" articles and YouTube videos that continue to spread misinformation.

The Covid-19 headlines (and misinformation) have created panic at grocery stores and we are now seeing several retail stores affected. American Girl and Disney Store (brick and mortar) closed temporarily, but remain open for e-commerce.

How will this impact the toy community? 

Will YOU be buying toys at this time? 

Schools have closed for a minimum 2-week period across the globe.

 LADL will continue with regular post roll outs, as long as the internet is alive. What would you like to see from LADL? With an international audience in 47 countries, we want to HEAR FROM YOU!

 Please leave comments/questions below on your concerns, buying plans, self quarantine, activities, etc.

We will help to provide boredom busting content for at home kiddos and creative people who want fun distraction, albeit a small one, from the non stop pandemic news. It's best to keep kids busy!

*Article* A Doll For Everyone: Meet Mattel's Gender-Neutral Doll

A child opens a box. He starts jumping and screaming with joy—not an unusual sound in the halls of Mattel’s headquarters where researchers test new toys. But this particular toy is a doll, and it’s rare for parents to bring boys into these research groups to play with dolls. It’s rarer still for a boy to immediately attach himself to one the way Shi’a just did.

An 8-year-old who considers himself gender fluid and whose favorite color is black one week, pink the next, Shi’a sometimes plays with his younger sister’s dolls at home, but they’re “girly, princess stuff,” he says dismissively. This doll, with its prepubescent body and childish features, looks more like him, right down to the wave of bleached blond bangs. “The hair is just like mine,” Shi’a says, swinging his head in tandem with the doll’s. 

Then he turns to the playmate in the toy-testing room, a 7-year-old girl named Jhase, and asks, “Should I put on the girl hair?” Shi’a fits a long, blond wig on the doll’s head, and suddenly it is no longer an avatar for him but for his sister.

Continue Reading....

*DISCUSSION* Is GOTY17 Just a Contemporary Doll or a Real GOTY?

In a previous report from last June, LADL mentioned the discontinuation of the GOTY line. AG Facebook is denying this, however if you make note of the info on her slides from the AG website...it makes one wonder.

If a GOTY is from Jan.1 - Dec. 31 of the same year, WHY does it say 2017 and BEYOND? I believe Gabriela is part of the contemporary doll series.

While I love her clothing and collection, albeit small, it seems it was an opportunity to squash out two "needs" all at once: 

First GOTY DOC and 1980's theme. 

 What are your thoughts about this?

*DISCUSSION* AG Truly Me - Decline in Quality?

I have always been a doll collector but recently started collecting American Girl dolls.

The last couple of months when I have ordered via the website - the Truly Me dolls have come to me in a very unpleasant way - meaning no hair tags, hair nets or doll activities kit - am wondering if other collectors are noticing such a vast decline in quality?

There is no comparison to the quality comparing to A Girl for All Time dolls or even Maplelea Dolls - these two brands in my opinion are so much better - even their Customer Service ranks much higher compared to American Girl -just wondering if other collectors are noticing the difference
Thank you for your time,

Eleanor 

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Read reviews here:

A Girl for All Time

Maplelea

*DISCUSSION* AG Doll Lending Programs - Yes or No

 Library Lending 

When my daughter was in kindergarten the children each had an opportunity to take Corduroy the Bear home for one weekend. My daughter always waited every week with anticipation for her turn. 

When her name was selected, she proudly brought Corduroy home and cared for him all weekend long. 

 

Was she sad on Monday morning when she had to return him? Of course! However she knew other children were eagerly waiting their turn just like she had.

Arlington Library

In several states on the east coast many libraries have adopted the doll lending program. Typically an Historical Doll is loaned out for one week along with her meet book and a journal to record all of the activities the child shared with the doll.

I attempted to implement a program like this at my local library. I was turned down on the basis of "anticipated theft". A lot of the AG books rarely are returned back to our four branch libraries either from damage, loss or theft. Since the dolls are $110, the library frowned on my urging the program. Also they have limited staff to monitor the program even with volunteers (like me). This is why I was so grateful and thrilled to host the Kirsten Event last summer. 

A lot of parents also voice concern for cleanliness of these dolls as they travel from house to house. While they raise a good point - lice, bed bugs, stains, etc. - the other side of this argument is that there are MANY buyers buying USED dolls on eBay, Craigslist, at yard sales and Goodwill. What is the "cleanliness" of these dolls?

The other valid argument is the cost. We all know these dolls are expensive and many patrons feel it is a waste of resources. However if the dolls have been DONATED there is no cost (except for their accompanying books) and what about the children whose families can not afford an American Girl doll? Wouldn't they love to have the opportunity to borrow one? 

For me, I think this boils down to MAKING MEMORIES. I am all for making wonderful memories throughout one's life, and if you have the opportunity to do that you should. If I could donate a gently used AG doll to my library where several children, who lack funds to own one, could enjoy the doll for a week, it's worth it!

I collect these dolls and I know how important my collection is to me. Every child - boy or girl - should have the opportunity to borrow Kaya, Felicity, Caroline, Josefina, Marie Grace, Cecile, Kirsten, Addy, Samantha, Rebecca, Kit, Molly and Julie. 

Can you imagine if YOUR library had one of EACH historical doll? That equals 13 weeks of AG books and play time.  

Northland Public Library

Her is a great article on such a program.

 I would love to hear your thoughts on this subject.  

*Article* The Making of an American Girl - Addy Walker

 In 1993, (American Girl) the doll company set out to introduce its first black character. All she had to do was represent the entire history of black America.

Credit: Lisa Larson-Walker/Slate

 In February, the American Girl brand, beloved for its expansive (and expensive) line of books, toys, and clothing, made an announcement: A new doll in its collection of historically themed characters, a black girl growing up in Detroit in 1963, was on her way.

Continue reading....
Thank you Ticia for the link.

*Discussion* The "New" AG vs Classic PC + Felicity's Possible Return

Not sure how this will be received because I don't often "air" my personal opinions during open discussions. I leave them for readers to express views, opinions, their likes and dislikes.

As a whole, I'm a fan of AG, however there are some key issues that bother me....

1. AG brings in huge profits for Mattel, however they seldom acknowledge fans, bloggers or vloggers who provide FREE marketing of their products via reviews, photo stories, opening videos and instagram photos. All of which I enjoy! Only recently did AG take notice of a handful of fans on IG by posting their images in the catalog.
2. Many companies send out products for preview. AG does not.
3. AG facebook continues to opt for "we do not have any information at this time" answer instead of being straight forward. (I find this distasteful.)

It seems to me, AG chooses to ignore it's cult-like following and very seldom gives solid responses to the general public. They're late getting their catalogs out, if at all! If you want to hear or see something of interest, you typically have to go to the AG community to find it.

 

There's just a huge disconnect between AG and it's LOYAL CONSUMERS. Only recently did they begin the rewards program and it was bit confusing at first as to which past purchases would be credited.

But what about those who don't purchase "often"? How will AG reward the young collector (their target consumer) who LOVES AG, but lacks a lot of funds? Many save chore money or baby sitting money...that's a lot of patience and determination since dolls are $115 and clothing sets can be $28 - $48 each! 

Or the large family? Parents on a budget may find it challenging to toss hundreds of dollars AG's way with several children to buy for. Such families may purchase once or twice a year. Who rewards them?

Does AG rely upon social media giveaways to fill in this gap? Bloggers, vloggers, Facebook fans and AGIG (American Girl Instagram) are not provided doll products from AG. Individuals BUY the items to host giveaways for their own followers. And...who rewards them?

I have really enjoyed both Maryellen and Melody's BeForever launches/collections. Probably because they were released as BF characters. The classic historical doll makeovers under the BF concept is unappealing to me! So much so, that I have determined that immediately I will not be adding any BF clothing items to my classic historical doll's collections. 

AG quality fluctuates. You may find one item to be great quality, while another item released around the same time, cheap by comparison to the original standard. 

The original PC American Girl's Collection concept is what drew me to collect my beloved historical dolls. 

Kirsten

Samantha

Molly

Felicity

Addy

That being said, I am understandably nervous at the prospect of Felicity being let out of the archives. Fingers crossed her clothing collections are not bright orange, yellow, green or (gasp) pink. I am interested more in what Felicity's furniture and accessories collection will be like.

As a FAN of PC American Girls Collection, I will be "dishing out" my hard earned dollars at the secondary market for classic items for my classic historical dolls.

*Discussion* AG Branching Out....

Ok, ALREADY mixed reactions on social media to the news AG is branching out into TRU and Kohl's.

AG previously branched out - QVC, Jill's Steals and Deals, Costco, B&N, Target, Michael's, Zulily and most recently TRU (Mega Bloks).

Let's open the discussion....what are YOUR thoughts about WellieWishers becoming available as early as this Sunday at TRU? 

What do you think about TM and GOTY becoming more "accessible" outside the AG boutique?

In your opinion, is this a good or bad marketing decision?

*Discussion* BeForever Clothing Collections

When I added BF Rebecca to my collection in 2014, I was very excited to see what BF items would be added to her collection. I am not a "fan" of the color coding for each doll. (Samantha - pink, Addy - blue, Rebecca - purple).

I would like to see more variety within each doll's collection. Now I have no intention of Rebecca exiting my collection, I am however frustrated that all I have for her, is her BF meet outfit, accessories and her classic PJs.

I would love to add her summer dress, lace dress, school outfit and classic meet outfit to my collection. 

This has also been the case with Samantha. I am a huge PC fan, but I purchased the BF frilly frock, special day dress, meet dress, flowering picking dress and pink travel coat. Nellie had so few clothes. I only own her meet outfit, PJ's and a knock off of her Christmas dress - I gave Nellie Samantha's BF clothing.

To date, I have no desire to add any BF clothing pieces to my collection. I'm not sure "what" it is that doesn't inspire me about BeForever clothing. I am however very excited for Melody's collection.

Opening up the discussion on BF clothing. What is your opinion? What do you like or dislike about the new line?

*Discussion* Managing a Large Doll Collection

I'm new to the doll community. I've got three young daughters, and a son, that are just getting into dolls! Looking forward to this journey as I loved dolls when I was little, and am finding out I enjoy them just as much as an adult.

I'd like ask LADL community a question....Since I have three daughters, I'm starting to run into the situation where two or more want the same doll. I'm curious how other readers handle such situations. Do they encourage their kids to pick different dolls to increase diversity of the total family collection?  Or do they get what each child asks for, as each child truly has their own collection? I'm torn.

Any assistance you can provide is appreciated. Thank you!

Best, Belle

Girl Scout Maryellen - Story Discussion

 

Maryellen is a Girl Scout. In 1954, things looked differently within the Girl Scout organization.

Girls wore berets and badges were sewn onto the sleeves of their dress.

Girl Scout calendars were produced every year. 

It's unclear whether Maryellen will eventually have a GS uniform added to her collection. I have re-created my own outfit to show as example of what GS uniforms may have looked like in 1954.  

 Other interesting tidbits about Maryellen, her BFF is a boy named Davy. She and her siblings have bunk beds. She enjoys roller skating. She is a cartoonist. She speaks Italian. She becomes a TV-news feature.

*Discussion* What "IS" Maryellen's Story?

We still don't know exactly what Maryellen's story will be about. A lot of you said the Space race. The surprise launch of Sputnik 1 happened in 1957.

Her story begins in 1954 as is dated on the cover of her 224-page book. There was a rumor by an insider, who said the next BF character (2015) would be disabled. By the book titles and cover it "doesn't appear" that the 1954 polio vaccinations are a part of her story.

In 1954 the cost of a new house was $10,250.00. The average income $3,155.64/year. The cost of a new car $1,700.00.  Gasoline was 22 cents/gallon. 

Interesting info:

  Edwards AFB in CA was upgraded to a NACA High-Speed Flight Station.

These employees and this equipment supported the flight of the NACA D-558-II Skyrocket at the High-Speed Flight Station at South Base, Edwards Air Force Base, Jan. 17, 1954.

• February 28: Pan American World Airways signed its own sub-contract with RCA for the technical functions of operating and maintaining the range instrumentation systems. This included missile flight data processing, tracking instrumentation and communication links between the launch sites and downrange tracking stations.
• April 29: First launching of a three-stage rocket vehicle consisting of two Nike boosters in tandem and a Deacon rocket as a third stage, and also a first launching of a rocket booster system consisting of three "peelaway" Deacons as the first stage wrapped around a fourth Deacon as a second stage, and a HPAG rocket as a third stage, by NACA Langley's PARD at Wallops Island. 
•  June 2: With test pilot J. F. Coleman at the controls, the Convair XFY-1, a vertical takeoff aircraft, made the first free vertical takeoff and landing at Moffett Naval Air Station, Mountain View, Calif. 
• June 3: Cape Canaveral supported the first attempted recovery of a winged missile that flew a programmed pattern and then returned to the Cape for refurbishing and reuse. A Snark missile was successfully guided for landing on the Cape Canaveral Skid Strip, but the missile's skids failed and the vehicle crashed and exploded upon contact.
•  July 25: NRL transmitted the first voice earth-to-earth meassages using the moon as a reflector of radio signals. This was later developed into the Communications Moon Relay (CMR) system, which was successfully used in November 1959 when solar disturbances in the ionosphere disrupted conventional high-frequency circuits between Washington and Hawaii. 
• October: the council adopted a resolution calling for artificial satellites to be launched during the IGY to map the Earth's surface.

Source: NASA 

On the night and early hours of February 20-21, 1954, while on a ‘vacation’ to Palm Springs, California, President Dwight Eisenhower went missing and allegedly was taken to Edwards Air force base for a secret meeting. When he showed up the next morning at a church service in Los Angeles, reporters were told that he had to have emergency dental treatment the previous evening and had visited a local dentist. The dentist later appeared at a function that evening and presented as the ‘dentist’ who had treated Eisenhower. The missing night and morning has subsequently fueled rumors that Eisenhower was using the alleged dentist visit as a cover story for an extraordinary event. The event is possibly the most significant that any American President could have conducted: an alleged ‘First Contact’ meeting with extraterrestrials at Edwards Air Force base (previously Muroc Airfield), and the beginning of a series of meetings with different extraterrestrial races that led to a ‘treaty’ that was eventually signed. - Dr. Micharl Salla

I would like to open up the "discussion" for reader conversation about Maryellen's possible story, what you would like to see within her collection and the era of the 50s in general.

*Discussion* Kit's BEFOREVER Clothes

Due to the discussion about color schemes and styles of the new BEFOREVER clothes - Kit in particular, I thought I would browse Pinterest to see what exactly would represent girls clothing styles from 1930-1940.

We know Kit was said to not be fond of girly, frilly pink styles and is more a tomboy than her BFF Ruthie.

Girls 1930s dress patterns - note the silhouettes/ colors. 

These are very similar to the AG illustrations. (Which we will no longer have as an historical reference within the books.)

1930s Child star Shirley Temple - note the colors and silhouettes.

Darla Hood from the 1930's Little Rascals "Our Gang" show.

1940s Elizabeth Taylor in National Velvet

No teal green or bright yellow in any of these images. There's been a few comments left over the last few weeks about Kit's teal green dress. One comment stated "And unlike most of you, I'm actually going to keep faith that most of the items will be high quality and mostly historically accurate (yes, that includes Kit's turquoise dress, bright colors did exist in the 1930s, you know)."

No one is denying that color existed in the past including 1930-1940. However the HUE is where we do see a DISTINCT difference. Teal green is a 1980s color. Olive green, celery green and mint green are more in keeping with Kit's era. 

Bright Yellow is a 1980s color. In Kit's era it was mustard or pale banana. Some of my friends have said her reporter outfit is "clownish" and even something from a Gymboree store.

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For fun have a look at these darling photos of Shirley Temple with her dolls.