Vintage 1950s Toys

Paper Dolls

          A popular "toy" for girls in the 1950s were paper dolls. Accompanying clothes, costumes, and accessories were included.  It could be a figure of a person, animal or inanimate object. Small extending tabs were included in the picture. The girl would cut out the doll and the accessories then fold the tab over the shoulders of the doll to place the clothes on them.

          Magazine Paper Dolls were free with the purchase to the periodical. Good Housekeeping was a major contributor of paper dolls, showcasing the work of many artists from 1909. Sheila Young's Polly Pratt enjoyed the company of Little Louise, Thomas Lamb's Kiddyland Movies, and "walking" dolls by Elmer and Bertha Hader. Extension magazine, published by the Catholic Church Extension Society, presented a series by Martha Miller of Patsy, her friends and family from 1931 to 1935. They published other paper dolls off and on from 1936 through 1959.

          Betsy McCall is perhaps the best-known magazine paper doll in America. She came along after a long tradition of paper dolls in McCall's Magazine from 1904 to 1926, featuring many artists. The 1951 Betsy McCall was designed by Kay Morrissey. She was followed by an unknown artist in 1955, then by Ginnie Hoffman in 1958.

          I have fond memories of playing with my Betsy Mc Call paper doll with the many clothes and costumes for her many adventures.