Monday, January 24, 2011

Michael and Melinda from 1976 - NOT - Grin

Two bloggers-from-the-doll-zone recently posted about Mattel's Michael from The Young Sweethearts, produced in 1976. Thanks, Niel and Erynnis , I enjoyed reading your comments and information about these dolls. What I remember most about these dolls was the evil way I "got rid of" Melinda: I gave Melinda to my younger sister. My sisters were NOT doll-fond in any way. Also, there was a The Young Sweethearts' Wishing Well Park. Here that park became part of Fairmount Park.

I found an old journal - yes, I was scribbling even then. Not so much about dolls and action figures as complaints about younger siblings and neighborhood feuds. So I won't bore anyone with excerpts from that year's journals, LOL. The mentioned Michael and Melinda of The Young Sweethearts by Mattel, Tuesday Taylor and Eric [no last name, lol] by Ideal ... were two of the interesting series of that year. In this newsletter excerpt shown below, Doll Doings from Lifetime Career Schools publication (Vol. 17, No. 9. July, 1976. Page 2)*, here is some information about dolls for that year. [Please click for a larger photo.]


Oh, and here is a new Michael photo with his second girlfriend, Baggie Francie, who also appeared in this year. His first girlfriend was the lovely Suntan Tuesday Taylor. [I'll post about her in the future ;-D]



By the way, 1976 was the U.S. Bicentennial, our two hundredth birthday. The Young Sweethearts dolls were evocative of the time, but not connected to the Bicentennial in any way.


*Published with permission from “Playthings,” copyright 1976 by Geyer-McAllister Publications, Inc., New York
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5 comments:

  1. NielJanuary 25, 2011 at 3:14 AM

    Ekkk! I thought the title meant that Michael and Melinda was not from 1976 and you have clipping to prove it.

    Wow! Thanks for sharing this. Did you write "I either got or determined to get" on the clipping? So determined back then, I see.

    I wouldn't be surprised if Melinda got dumped. LOL. Your Francie is a beauty...but my Michael is waiting for his Allan to arrive. LOL.

    That reminds me, I have to post another pic of Michael and Melinda before they part ways (at least romantically, since I have no plans of letting Melinda go.). :)

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  2. AlruniaJanuary 25, 2011 at 4:02 AM

    I have to say Francie is cuter than Melinda :P
    Two mentions of "anatomically correct" dolls. Huh. I was picturing fashion dolls but reading it again I guess it's baby dolls they are talking about.. still.. huh.
    I love Tuesday Taylor, cant wait for the entry about her :D

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  3. D7anaJanuary 25, 2011 at 6:32 PM

    Sorry for the scare, Niel ;-) You are welcome - I'm glad to share the information. Yes, that was my teenaged handwriting.

    I hope your Michael is happy with his Allan ;-D

    Alas, my Francie and Michael are no longer together. (No, Michael isn't with my Allan, LOL)

    Yes, Francie is cuter than Melinda.

    Hi Alrunia! I'll have links about Tuesday, too.

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  4. Karen CJanuary 26, 2011 at 9:32 PM

    I missed your comments about Michael. I recently found a Michael at an estate sale and do know a little of his history. I think he makes a great companion to the Dollikin dolls of the same era - they're all so poseable. I have a photo somewhere of the happy hippie couple.

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  5. D7anaJanuary 28, 2011 at 2:24 PM

    Thanks for finding my Michael comments, Karen C! Dollikins and Micheal. Hmmm ... I remember Dollikins, but I didn't consider her pretty enough for Michael. But from the poseable angle ... yes.

    If you have your hippie couple photos online, please send the URL and I'll post if for Michael fans here to link to.

    Come to think of it, I gave my Baggie Francie - one of the least poseable dolls - a Dinah-mite bike. Sigh.

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