If you are over 30 years old, you probably remember the craze of the cabbage patch dolls in the 1980s. Friedrich,the strange cabbage patch craze, time magazine 12 dec 1983. Nov 01, 2019 in 1982, the dolls received the name we know them by. After signing contract with appalachian artworks, inc.
Sep 23, 2016 cabbage patch kids were the toy industrys biggest fad of the 1980s and one of americas longestrunning doll franchises. Now called cabbage patch kids, line becomes massive hit. Babyland general hospital in cleveland, georgia remains a top tourist attraction and special event locale. Two cabbage patch kids, a line of soft sculptured dolls invented by xavier roberts, july 1987. The story behind the cabbage patch doll craze back in 1983 parents all over the country were frantically searching for their childs dream christmas present. Jan 24, 2020 while the coleco company produced the dolls between their primitive years, 1982 until 1988, the craze of the cabbage patch began to decline and in 1994, many years after coleco filed for bankruptcy, mattel began producing cabbage patch kids. The crazy cabbage patch doll craze of 1983 cbc archives. In 1976, roberts became fascinated with a german fabricsculpture technique from the 19th century known as. Since 1978 authentic cabbage patch kids and little people created by xavier roberts, cuties, adoptimals, and other cabbage patch toys and gifts are available at. Vintage cabbage patch dolls pre 1990 cabbage patch kids, known as cpks for short, are a line of softbodied dolls that are just waiting to be adopted. Not only do we see cabbage patch kids still selling well among children and among the nostalgic but the same trends from these dolls are wellreceived among other products.
In november 1983, america went bonkers for cabbage patch kids. Dec 26, 2019 the cabbage patch kids doll was the original it toy, the musthave childrens product of the year. That time when milwaukeeans thought cabbage patch dolls would fall. The first cabbage patch doll was released in 1983 and designed by a man named.
The doll was in such rabid demand that shoppers camped overnight at toy stores, stormed displays, and mobbed parking lots. Do you remember the cabbage patch kid craze of the 80s. Most stores at the time typically only stocked between two and five hundred of the product, yet with thousands of customers surging the store attempting to obtain one of the dolls, many fought with other customers in order. The mattel cabbage patch dolls are not limited to cloth bodies and included dolls made from vinyl, which produced a more durable play doll. The dolls were considered ugly by many, but the concept and subsequent marketing were stunning. The cabbage patch kids dolls were the rage of the doll market during the holiday season in 1983, causing nearriots at several department stores as hundreds of people, some waiting at the doors for. This same year, they went into mass production and distribution. The great cabbage patch doll craze of the 1980s posted by tiger ryno on 111114 at 7. Most stores at the time typically only stocked between two and five hundred of the product, yet with thousands of.
Some of the more popular doll lines to come out under the cabbage patch kids name included the birthday kids, splash n tan kids, and pretty crimp and curl. The kind of craze you saw for cabbage patch kids was a. For the holiday season of 1983, a cabbage patch kid was the musthave gift on every listand demand way outstripped supply. Vintage cabbage patch kids that are worth a fortune.
The cutthroat saga behind the cabbage patch kids craze. Cabbage patch kids craze this transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate. Georgiana has long pigtail braids and is dressed in her original outfit. You might have a valuable cabbage patch kid in your. The allnew cabbage patch kids 9 me and my cutie is a must have. Cabbage patch kids dolls, manufactured by coleco, come with adoption papers and a birth certificate. Mar 02, 2005 the cabbage patch craze drew me in big time. Riots were breaking out in stores and desperate parents. It seemed like a pretty straightforward story until you look a little deeper into it. My mom was a newly single mom at the end of 1983, and my baby sister had just been born, so she was also newly mom of two. For those of you who were alive and breathing with any form of cognitive thought in the 1980s. This cutie also features a removable hood and traditional baby powder scent. It didnt take long for these unique toys to start flying off the shelves. Boys, girls, and collectors can enjoy these pre1990 cabbage patch kids.
Cabbage patch kids was originally 16 inches tall, shrinking down to 14 inches in 1989, and had a big round plastic head. Remembering the cabbage patch craze houston chronicle. Although she is a doll from later on in the cabbage patch kid craze, she is still in great condition and nearly 30 years old. The weird, rabid history of the cabbage patch craze. Troubled coleco is cashing in big on the years hottest toy. Cabbage patch kids was a staple to the american childhood during the 1980s. The demand for the dolls skyrocketed to the point that people were mobbing stores. Nov 22, 2019 in november 1983, america went bonkers for cabbage patch kids. During the 1983 christmas season, parents in the united states frantically searched everywhere for the coveted. People are starting to sell their prized cabbage patch kid dolls for thousands of dollars. Cabbage patch kids were the toy industrys biggest fad of the 1980s and one of americas longestrunning doll franchises.
Probably the best known toy craze of the 80s was the cabbage patch kid dolls released in 1983. The company changed the name from little people to cabbage patch kids and went on to sell millions of the dolls. By the end of the year a whopping 3 million cabbage patch dolls had been adopted. Cabbage patch kids by allie townsend wednesday, feb. The dolls were so scarce and demand was so high that riots broke out in. Vintage cabbage patch dolls pre1990 for sale in stock ebay. The cabbage patch craze lifetime private autobiography.
In the 80s it was a cabbage patch craze throwbacks. Folks waited for hours only to be turned away, and for some, this led to violencemany witnesses who lined up during those fateful days recall a stampeding, hairgrabbing frenzy that can only be. Cabbage patch dolls flew off the shelves during the holiday season of 1983. The cabbage patch kids dolls were the rage of the doll market during the holiday season in 1983, causing nearriots at several department stores as hundreds of people, some waiting at the doors for hours, scrambled to get their hands on one. Remembering the cabbage patch kids doll craze pictures. Nov 24, 2014 probably the best known toy craze of the 80s was the cabbage patch kid dolls released in 1983. You might have the most valuable cabbage patch kids just. Most stores at the time typically only stocked between two and five hundred of the product, yet with thousands of customers surging the store attempting to obtain one of the dolls, many fought with other customers in order to. Xavier roberts introduced the world to his little people or cabbage patch kids in 1976 in new york and sold the rights to a major toy manufacturing company in 1982. The crazy cabbage patch doll craze of 1983 cbc archives cbc. Nov 23, 2019 cabbage patch kids dolls fans in 1983 a happy customer displays his newly purchased cabbage patch kid doll on sunday, nov.
That time when milwaukeeans thought cabbage patch dolls would fall from the. Dec 15, 2016 such was the epic cabbage patch kids craze of 1983. Many of the cabbies i have come across have been well filthy. One of the biggest scandals in the history of toys. One report from the time featured a texas woman gripping her doll tightly even as another shoppers purse strap was wrapped around her throat. Cabbage patch kids dolls fans in 1983 a happy customer displays his newly purchased cabbage patch kid doll on sunday, nov.
The cabbage patch craze why on earth was this floppybodied doll so popular for a hot second. The wild story of the cabbage patch kid riots of 1983. Cabbage patch kids werent actually born in a field of vegetables, but out of the entrepreneurial mind of a 21yearold art student, xavier roberts, in helen, georgia. Theres an alleged stolen idea from a previous doll, youve got the original toy craze that caused stampeding, and it may have also created festivus. They experienced popularity in the 1980s, and original cabbage patch dolls made before 1990 are considered vintage. That year, cabbage patch kids had been released for sale in the united states, causing a tremendous demand for the product. Today, we see america still loves these soft, round, colorful dolls. Cabbage patch kid craze led to frenzied and violent christmas season faced with a shortage of the dolls, panicked parents went to extreme lengths to avoid disappointing their. Celebrating healthcare hero moms on the frontlines of. In 1976, roberts became fascinated with a german fabricsculpture technique from the 19th century known as needle molding. Product title cabbage patch kids rocker doll, blonde hairbrown eye girl average rating. The thing that had managed to get itself on the top of every childs christmas wish lists were cabbage patch kids. Such was the epic cabbage patch kids craze of 1983. Anyone who sees cabbage patch kids immediately notes how colorful and varied they all are.
The dolls body was made from fabric, and their hair was made from dyed yarn. While the coleco company produced the dolls between their primitive years, 1982 until 1988, the craze of the cabbage patch began to decline and in 1994, many years after coleco filed for bankruptcy, mattel began producing cabbage patch kids. Photo by barbara alpergetty images eventually, the cabbage patch craze died down. Near riots broke out in stores with the introduction of cabbage patch kids, the 80s toy craze that was born to be a wild success with kids and. Now little ones can be just like their favorite cutie with the adorable matching headband. The cabbage patch kids story begins in 1978 when roberts, then a twentythreeyearold artist, won a blue ribbon for sculpture for his first little people dollsplush and soft, with yarnknit hair and handpainted facesat an art show in osceola county, florida.
Artist xavier roberts converted a medical clinic into a hospital where the dolls could be adopted, complete. For those of you who were alive and breathing with any form of cognitive thought in the 1980s remember the cabbage patch kids especially the craze of 1983. Others would attack displays and even swarm through parking lots for one of the baby dolls. Riots were breaking out in stores and desperate parents were driving hundreds of miles to get one. That time when milwaukeeans thought cabbage patch dolls would. Each doll was oneofakind, but the novelty didnt end there. Cabbage patch kids craze born in 1980s antique trader. Jan 06, 2019 i definitely remember the cabbage patch kids craze of the 1980s and my sister owning at least one of them.
I definitely remember the cabbage patch kids craze of the 1980s and my sister owning at least one of them. So now you dont have to feel weird about keeping a whole lot of old baby dolls in your basement. The mattel dolls are mostly sized 14 or smaller, and most variants were individualized with a gimmick to enhance their collectibility, e. The weird, rabid history of the cabbage patch craze timeline. That time when milwaukeeans thought cabbage patch dolls. Most valuable cabbage patch kids in 2018 updated list. Thousands of frantic parents stampeded stores that might take delivery of two or three hundred dolls max. Imagine the insanity of black friday combined with the frenzy of the first iphone launch, and you have the cabbage patch kids craze, or doll mania. The cutthroat saga behind the cabbage patch kids craze history 101. They first appeared at the international toy fair in nyc and by october, parents were already going crazy trying to obtain them for christmas presents. The cabbage patch riots were a series of violent customer outbursts at several retail stores in the united states in the fall and winter of 1983. In 1983, a wisconsin radio announcer joked that a b29 bomber would drop 2,000 cabbage patch kids into milwaukee county stadium. Thirtysix years ago, in 1983, the cabbage patch craze ensued.
The dolls were so scarce and demand was so high that riots broke out in stores, parents were driving hundreds of miles to buy them. What are we to think of a homely, vinylfaced cloth doll that has become such an object of desire to so many people that 5,000 of them staged a near riot last week at hills department store in charleston, w. Why on earth was this floppybodied doll so popular for a hot second. That year, cabbage patch kids had been released for sale in the united. Inside the store, a pristine display of dolls will soon be ransacked, because the cabbage patch craze is in full swing. People waited in lines for hours just for the privilege of purchasing one of these dolls.
Vintage cabbage patch dolls pre1990 for sale in stock. Dec 27, 2017 the cabbage patch craze drew me in big time. The christmas cabbage patch kid craze of 83 is still talked about today. Jennifer rosenberg is a historian and writer who specializes in 20thcentury history. My problem was that i had to wait a seemingly endless number of months to get one. But even the grubbiest cabbie can clean up fabulously with a little love and elbow grease.