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Controversial Dolls
By Euphrates
Controversial Dolls Parents have been worrying about children's safety for as long as man has had tools and furniture. It wasn't until the Baby Boomer era they also had to worry about their children and their toys. Over the last few decades, Ralph Nader and fretful parents have been scrambling desperately to intercept toys that they feared would sear skin, block windpipes, penetrate eyeballs or corrupt tender minds.

The word "dolls" conjures up happy images of diapered pink stubby-legged babies, smiling little girls in blue gingham dresses and teen brother and sister fashion dolls in smart sweaters and poodle skirts. Well, every family has its black sheep, and in this year of lists, we will review some of the most memorable dolls and action figures that were ever banned by government agencies, recalled by manufacturers or cast out by parents.

Controversial Dolls

Joey Stivic 1976 - Ideal All in the Family's Meathead and Gloria's anatomically correct grandson. Its fun to imagine how Archie Bunker might have responded to this doll. "Sheeesh, now why does he have to have one of THOSE?" Gay Bob 1977 - Harvey Rosenberg, Inc. This guy came in his own closet complete with purse, necklace and earring. A purse? After a steady diet of Jerry Springer, we are now smart enough to ask "Was Gay Bob really gay or just a transvestite?" Pee Wee Herman 1988 Matchbox Rubens and Matchbox teamed up for this great line of toys but stores couldn't give Pee Wee merchandise away fast enough after his arrest. Nightmare on Elm Street Talking Freddy Krueger 1989 Matchbox Parents just didn't approve of a serial killer from an "R" rated horror film as a chum for their children. Initially he word "MATCHBOX" was removed from the box and then finally he was just pulled from shelves. Mommy's Having a Baby 1992 - Tyco Mother gives birth to baby hidden in a pouch beneath her dress. Designed to educate but many parents were offended. "Let 'em learn that stuff when they're married!" Cabbage Patch Snacktime Kid 1995 - Mattel Mouth simulates chewing. Cute, but not good for little girls with long hair... Toy Story Talking Woody Thinkaway Toys Underneath those skinny poseable arms lurks skin-piercing wire! Virtually every bendy figure we had as kids in the '60s was contructed of jagged wire coated with soft rubber. Rambo Nomad 1998 - Coleco Nomad was one of Rambo's antagonists from this mid-eighties line of action figures. The Arab community protested the stereotypical portrayal of an Arab as a terrorist and were successful in having the figure pulled. Rad Rappin Tarzan 1998 - Mattel Hand moved up and down suggestively in front of his scantily clad loins while screeching the famous Tarzan yodel. Doll was replaced with an inanimate arm. I almost resisted a Pee Wee Herman reference. Teletubbies Talking Po Playskool - 1998 Cute little critter with the Swearing Linda Blair voice chip. AKA Potty Mouth Po. Dolls were pulled and replaced with the appropriate voice chip. Incident is similar to the famous Topps Star Wars C-3PO card with exaggerated genitalia. My goodness, how DO these things get out of the factory? Armed Terrorist Doll - The Villain 1999 - 21st Century Toys Inadvertently released around the time of the Columbine shooting in May 1999. 21st Century Toys and Sears had the good taste to pull 'em off of shelves even though it was just a matter of bad timing. Austin Powers Talking Doll 1999 - McFarlane Toys Talking GI Joe used to say "GI Joe, reporting for duty!" Talking Austin says "Do I make you horny baby? Do I?" Dr. Evil laments "Why must I be surrounded by freakin' idiots!" One mother pretty much kicked off the crusade by protesting that she wasn't ready to teach her small child what "horny" meant. Barbie - Honorable Mention Mattel Barbie has offended on many occasions. Here are some of the modern examples. Harley Barbie Butterfly Art Barbie AKA Tatoo Barbie Earring Magic Ken AKA Gay Ken Growing Up Skipper Barbie as George Washington Cool Shoppin' Barbie - Mastercard affiliation

Controversial Toys

Aurora Monster Scenes Guillotine and Hanging Cage Models - moral issues Clackers / Klack Klacks - balls shatter on impact Halloween Costumes that are not flame retardant Kenner Easy Bake Ovens - light bulb and hot metal trays Little Black Sambo Books - issues with stereotyping Mattel Agent Zero Sonic Blaster - firing simulation too loud Mattel Thingmakers Ovens - hot ovens Metal Slinkys - sharp edges Model Glue - recreational use did not involve models Potato Guns - powerful enough for eye damage Topps Wacky Packs and Garbage Pail Kids Trading Cards - moral issues

Does a little dark cloud over a new doll's head impact it's price? Of course it does. But not always like you might expect. When the Pee Wee Herman controversey happened, Pee Wee toys were pulled or marked down to next to nothing. Only in the last few years have they crept up to collectible status they deserve. If a toy just gets bad press but isn't pulled right away, dealers and profit takers will gobble up everything they can find on the toy shelves, hoping that someday the price will mature dramatically. This happend with Gay Bobs and especially Joey Stivics. You can find a boxed 1976 Stivic for $20 all day, as long as the seller doesn't have it marked at $50 or more. If they do they will probably own it forever. Bad vibes do not always translate into super-collectible pricing.

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