Barbie unlocked several memories for us, among them, some of the discontinued dolls that many of us children grew up with. Or maybe we just didn’t know them, and that’s why we were shocked when we saw their cameos in the film, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t exist.
Because Greta is not crazy, and they did exist. Here are all the dolls that appeared in Barbie but are now sadly discontinued.
Discontinued Dolls That Appear in Barbie
Mattel has released hundreds and hundreds of different Barbies throughout the decades, but unfortunately, not all of them have been successful… for them. Greta Gerwig’s Barbie did not hesitate to show some of them to mock the brand and unlock a few memories of our childhood.
Sugar Daddy Ken
No, it’s not a sugar daddy, it’s more like Sugar Daddy’s… or not. This is an older Ken doll (because Mattel probably intended to represent older rich men) and was released in 2009 as part of their 50th anniversary. This adult doll was intended to illustrate Palm Beach men’s fashion and includes a little dog named Sugar. Sugar Daddy was not discontinued, but rather, because it was a special edition, its sale was limited.
Skipper
Skipper did exist and was launched in 1975, so I’m sure not many will remember her. Her outfit stood out with a red top, a knitted skirt with red touches, and a kind of blue scarf. However, she had another quite peculiar feature, being Barbie’s sister, if you turned her left arm, the little girl went from girl to teenager, yes, just as you read it. This movement made her bust, hips, and height grow. Later on, Skipper had fewer creepy features and had many versions throughout the years only as Barbie’s younger sister.
Barbie Video Girl
Barbie also has a cameo in this model and it did exist. It was launched in 2010, and its name was Barbie Video Girl, a doll with a video camera hidden in her chest (which simulated a necklace) and with which girls could make videos of up to 30 minutes. This model was discontinued because the FBI warned about the risks it had, as it would become a tool for pedophiles and the distribution of child pornography. The doll was discontinued in 2012.
Midge
Midge or the famous ‘Pregnant Babie’ has been one of the most iconic and desired, and was launched in 1963 to break down the stereotype that Barbie was a sex symbol. Midge was part of the ‘Happy Family’ collection, which was supposedly Allan’s wife. However, the most conservative minds decided to protest against it because it would incite girls to get pregnant at an early age. And not only that, they considered it a serious matter that the doll was distributed without an engagement ring. The doll was no longer sold four years later, but Greta included it in the film, and even jokes were made about its cancellation.
Allan
Good Allan has been applauded after the release of Barbie… and the reason there was only one of him in Barbieland is that in real life there was only one edition. This doll was released in 1964; Ruth Handler decided to name him after her son-in-law, and he filled the role of Ken’s buddy. Allan was Midge’s husband, and they had three children; however, he never achieved the same fame as Ken, and Mattel decided to discontinue him in 1966.
Do you have some of these Barbies that hardly anyone remembers? They might be worth some money now!
This story was written in Spanish by Kate Nateras in Cultura Colectiva
Read more:
My Scene, Barbie’s Decadent Phase When She Was Displaced by Bratz
Blonde Barbie Isn’t The Only One; Meet Barbie’s Dolls Of The World Collection
