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Searching for a 1960s black Patti Playpal doll

Posted in Dolls

The woman walked directly to the dolls I had displayed on a table near the back of my booth. She was looking for a black Patti Playpal doll like one she had as a child in the 1960s, she told me.

None of the dolls in my booth were black; those go very quickly and sell very well at auctions, so I don’t get my hands on many of them.

I was a little surprised at her statement, though, because I had read that there were no black Patti Playpals from that far back, that the first one had not been made until the 1980s. Hearing the conversation, my auction buddy Janet, who was sharing a booth with me, spoke up.

Black Patti Playpal doll.
An up-close view of a 1981 black Patti Playpal doll I bought at auction. The auctioneer had found the row of life-sized Pattis a bit eery.

She, too, remembered having the doll when she was a girl, and the two women got to reminiscing. The early doll had sleep eyes, the woman said, and that’s how you can tell the difference between the 1960s and 1980s dolls.

As I listened to them, I was intrigued about whether such a doll existed and how the memories had instantly connected two people who five seconds before were strangers. Dolls are like that; our memories of them lie just beneath the surface waiting for only a nudge to be awakened. Right then and there, their experiences of playing with a black Patti Playpal created a capsule in time that took them back to those carefree days when their dolls were their companions.

They were among the lucky ones to have had a black doll at a time when only a few companies were making them in the likeness of little black girls. I don’t recall having any black dolls.

Black Patti Playpal doll.
A full view of a 1981 black Patti Playpal doll I purchased recently at auction.

They were playing with black dolls at the nascent of African Americans’ accepting themselves with pride, and a few companies were seeing the profit in it. It had not always been that way: Two decades earlier, sociologists Kenneth and Mamie Clark had conducted an experiment with black and white dolls to show the effect of racism on black children. They found that the children preferred white dolls over black dolls, and saw the black dolls – and themselves – as lesser or subordinate.

The original Patti Playpal was a white doll produced by Ideal Toy Co. from 1959-1961. She was designed by Neil Estern, who worked for the company modeling dolls, and her first batch of clothes was designed by his wife. A sculptor, Estern would later create the Franklin D. Roosevelt memorial on the National Mall in Washington, DC, along with other statues.

Several versions of Patti were made: some were walkers, some not, some had twist arms. They were marked Ideal Toy, G-35. They were 35 inches tall, the size of a 3-year-old.

Black Patti Playpaldoll
A 1960s Patti Playpal-type doll called Black Princess Peggy from the Horsman company. From the website Playpal Doll Pages.

Ideal did not make a black Patti Playpal doll until 1981, according to several doll websites, including Black Doll Collecting whose author has written a book on black dolls. Several other companies – including Horsman and Uneeda – made Patti Playpal-types during the 1960s and 1970s, according to the website. I found another website with photos of what it identified as Patti Playpal types. The Ashton Drake company made a black Patti Playpal with sleep eyes in 2006.

Apparently the doll that Janet and the woman remembered were not Ideal’s Patti but dolls modeled after her. I found a few of them on the web but none looked like the white 1959 Patti, indicating that they were not made from the same mold.

A couple weeks ago, I picked up a 1981 black Patti Playpal at an auction. She was in a special doll sale that offered more African American dolls than I had seen in one setting – some sold in pairs, some solo, some combined as lots, some still in their original boxes. Several were made by Shindana Toys, a black doll company from the 1960s.

Black Patti Playpaldoll
This Ashton Drake Patti Playpal doll was produced in 2006. From the website Black Doll Collecting.

There was even an Amosandra doll whose arms and legs had melted and caved in. This doll was based on the daughter of Amos from the Amos and Andy radio show on CBS in the 1940s. It was designed by Ruth Newton, a children’s book illustrator. The doll was missing its painted eyes.

Most of the dolls at the auction were from the 1960s and had belonged to one collector, according to an auction-house staffer. The black Patti had been arranged standing against a back wall with about four other life-sized dolls in the Patti family. The auctioneer noted some eeriness in having to walk past dolls that looked much too real.

The black Patti didn’t spark intense bidding, but at least two people wanted her. I watched as the bidding went back and forth until it stopped at around $50. I wasn’t about to let this sweet little girl go for so piteous a sum, especially since she was in such good condition. So I stepped in and pushed the bidding up to a price that was less than $100. A white Brunette Patti Playpal went for a little less.

 

18 Comments

  1. Renee Austin
    Renee Austin

    Hi,
    I’m 64 years old and I still own one of the original Black Patty Play Pal dolls. My understanding is this doll came out when I was 6 months old. My mother brought one at that time. I have to admit her age is catching up with her. She wears a wig and loss a couple of fingers, nothing gloves can’t hide. Otherwise she looks great for her age! I still change her clothing according to the weather! I wish I could attach a picture of her!

    October 31, 2022
    |Reply
    • sherry
      sherry

      Hi Renee, all of my research showed that Ideal did not make a Black Patti Playpal in the 1960s. Its first Black Patti was manufactured in 1981. Your 1960s doll was perhaps made by another company to resemble the white Patti Playpal. Did you check the doll’s neck to see if the Ideal name is on it, or the name of another company?

      October 31, 2022
      |Reply
  2. Virginia
    Virginia

    My dad bought me one and I was sent back to live with my mother and my mother was very scared of her . So my mother made me throw mine away but instead of putting her in the trash I gave to my friend and asked her to take care of it for me. I was so heartbroken that I have never forgiven my mother for making me throw her away.

    December 18, 2018
    |Reply
  3. Doreen Kearney
    Doreen Kearney

    I’ve had my African American Patty Playpal doll since I was three years old. I saw her in the window and would not go home until my Grandparents brought her for me. I had no idea how much she cost or how much they couldn’t afford to buy her. all I knew was that I had to have her. I’ve now had her for 54 years and she needs work done. I’m going to re-do her myself, since I have no idea where her arms are. Every time I move one of the arms gets lost. I was trying to find a pattern to make her a new dress and shoes. As I was looking I stumbled upon your website. It was interesting reading everyone’s comments. Thanks for allowing me to add my comments.

    October 9, 2017
    |Reply
  4. Sharron
    Sharron

    I am so glad that you bought that Black Patti Playpal doll. I have one still in my mother’s closet. When I was a toddler I didn’t want to play with it because it scared me. She looked so real. If my mother passes before I do ( the only way I’ll get that doll) I’ll have her cleaned, appraised, and decide what to do with her. I have no daughters or grandkids, and will not be having any. I’m not sure what my husband will think of the doll.

    March 14, 2017
    |Reply
    • sherry
      sherry

      Hi Sharron, I’m not a collector but I’m hanging on to her for now. Can’t seem to let her go. Sherry

      March 14, 2017
      |Reply
      • Omi
        Omi

        I’m looking for a 1950’s or ’60’s Patty Playpal. My aunt Catherine bought me one when I was about 7 or eight. I don’t remember how old I was when she surprised me with it. I let her go about five years ago. 🙁 she had curly hair, sleepy eyes and looked so real! I kept her for more than fifty years!

        March 23, 2018
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        • sherry
          sherry

          Hi, did you try searching on eBay? That’s probably the best place to find a Patti Playpal.

          March 23, 2018
          |Reply
          • vanessa myles
            vanessa myles

            Thats a sweet story to share I’m also searching for the same doll for my mother

            May 20, 2021
  5. I am looking for a 1960 African American Play Pal.
    I am looking for a 1960 African American Play Pal.

    I have had a vintage Ideal Patti Playpal for about 59 years. However, the African American Play Pal type by Ashton Drake or other companies came out with their rendition later as well as Ideal. Since I had received my doll for Christmas from Santa, my parents were not about to spend another $29.95 again for a doll. In those days, $29.95 was a lot for even SANTA!

    January 22, 2017
    |Reply
  6. Hi Sherry,

    I was searching the internet for an Ashton Drake Patti Play Pal when I came across your website along with the pic of the 1981 African American Patti Play Pal. I bought one off Ebay and she is in very good condition. I enjoyed reading your articles. Keep up the good work!

    September 20, 2015
    |Reply
    • sherry
      sherry

      Thanks, Raven. I’m glad you found out more about the Patti Playpal and enjoyed my blog posts. Please continue to check me out.

      Sherry

      September 20, 2015
      |Reply
  7. Phyllis Stollings
    Phyllis Stollings

    Hi Sherry
    I have several different versions of Patti Playpal. Ideal did not make the black version until 1981. There are Playpal Type dolls from the 50’s and 60’s but not by Ideal Co. I did take 2 1959 black haired Patti Playpals made by Ideal and dyed them rich chocolate skinned. They are beautiful and I have them displayed with the white versions. People are amazed when I tell them they were airbrushed and dyed.

    Enjoy your dolls and happy collecting…
    Phylllis

    December 9, 2013
    |Reply
    • sherry
      sherry

      Thanks, Phyllis. I’d love to see photos of your airbrushed dolls.

      Sherry

      December 9, 2013
      |Reply
  8. i have a black pattiplaypal 1981 and i truly am pleased to learn that there is one, as i was told there wasn’t as well. It was fantastic to learn there truly was one. I also have a patti playpal white doll as well. I was wondering if you would know the value of these 2 dolls as i have been unable to locate this information. My mom has been a doll collector in her home for a long time, but since her health has been declining and having to move from a house to a small apartment, she has had to sell some and has since given myself and my daughter several more to sell as she will once again be moving, tho she is not happy about selling them. They need to be cleaned as they have been just sitting around for years. Any information you could give me would be so appreciated. Sincerely. Jackie

    October 27, 2013
    |Reply
    • sherry
      sherry

      Hi Jackie, unfortunately, I don’t know the price of the doll. As I always say, value/worth/price is based on what someone is willing to pay for an item at a given point in time. I always suggest checking eBay and Googling to see what items are selling for right now at auction or a retail site online. You could also consult an auction house that sells dolls (you can find auction houses in your area via auctionzip.com).

      I also recently wrote a blog post about a Houston woman who has been selling her mother’s doll collection for the past few years. She offered a lot of pointers on how she did it:

      https://myauctionfinds.com/staging1/2013/10/02/baby-dolls-dont-eat-cry-or-grow-up-sass/

      Much luck,

      Sherry

      October 28, 2013
      |Reply
  9. A Martin
    A Martin

    Hi Sherrie,

    I just noticed your inquiry about African American Patty Playpal doll. Well, guess what!! I have one in mint condition. I am the original owner since the 50’s. Not sure what year my mother bought her. She’s the size of a 3 yr child, hard plastic, her eyes actually close, and her arm moves. She used to be able to walk by movig her arm. I also have the original red and white dress. I had a repair done on her neck by a well-known doll repair person. He told me she was one of the rare Patty playpal dolls, that fetch a hefty price. I took her once to a doll show to just inquire. Many people showed interest as I walked around with her, but I still have her. So, those black ladies you met were correct in remembering this eveidently rare doll. I’m not sure what company actually made this doll, however, but she is from the 50’s, as far as I can remember.

    A Martin

    October 26, 2013
    |Reply
    • sherry
      sherry

      Hi. Ideal made the white Patti Playpal doll that was available from the late 1950s to 1960s but the company did not make a black version of the doll until 1981. So while your white Patti Playpal may be original and marked, your black companion doll is a clone or a Patti Playpal type. Apparently, several doll companies made Patti lookalikes that were black but they were not the real deal.

      Sherry

      October 28, 2013
      |Reply

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