1971-1980

Dawn is one of my fondest childhood memories - even the only two actual "Dawn" Dawns I ever owned managed to be identically factory-defective - both snapped apart at the waist when I tried to rotate them! :(

The one I managed to preserve from childhood was that then rarity, an African American model whose name was Dale.

These diminutive fashion dolls (at 6", among the smallest modern fashions to be found) were manufactured by a small operation called Topper Toys in 1970. They went bankrupt in 1973; but in that short time, they managed to produce a big collection of these small fashions.

Dale, Angie and Dawn herself were the first dolls. Then came other "friends;" these were presented as models living the "high life."

The Modeling Agency dolls came out later; there were six of these.

They had a huge collection of fashions, from complete everyday outfits through elaborate evening ensembles. There were a couple of wedding ensembles produced as well, one of which is of considerable rarity now.

The fashions all had fun names, such as "Pink Slink," "Furry Flounce" and "Mad About Plaid."

They also had boyfriends (and potential grooms) who went by the names of Gary, Kevin and Van, a very rare early African-American male fashion. (I find him interesting in particular due to his very ethnic appearance, which sets him apart from dolls whose head-molds are the same as the Caucasian males - which give them the appearance of Caucasians in "black-face," so to speak, rather than the appearance of a genuinely ethnic type.)

My Dale is still with me (I found her to be the coolest of the collection at seven years old!); she suffers from non-bending leg syndrome, but is otherwise in very spiffy condition.

These dolls also, unfortunately, suffer from that malady, copper gangrene. Again, a packaged example is not a guarantee against this, since moisture gets in depending upon how and where the dolls have been stored. (The ethnic dolls have less of this problem due to the dark shade of the vinyl.) The spotless examples are the most highly-coveted doll specimens to the collectors, once again.

Also as in the case of Kiddles, there were many accessories and peripheral paraphernalia to be had; there was a beauty parlor, an elaborate fashion-show theater complete with moving catwalk mechanism, a penthouse, furniture, various props (such as her tiny white poodle) and clothes, clothes, clothes.

I now have a pretty complete collection of the dolls I always wanted so badly as a child. They are all now waiting to be installed in their permanent display, a large white shadow-box which I have lined the back of with a vintage '70's hot-pink-and-gold-glitter paisley chiffon fabric (the box and fabric are both white in background color). The only thing holding up the project as of now is the lack of a single pair of tiny gold shoes for my Jessica, whose golden ensemble, named "Glimmer Glamor," is missing this single item. Frustrating! ;)