Happy Valentine’s Day! I love everything about February 14th! It adds a little flurry of excitement to these long winter days.
Tomorrow is dedicated to love and friendship. Like most little girls growing up in the 1970s, I cherished my dolls and toys and my days were dedicated to play time.
There were always lots of clothes, shoes, and hair accessories for various dolls scattered around Dartmouth Ave. In my mind, the girl dolls needed to get glammed up for a big date with the boy dolls.
The toy companies were on target for making these matches possible. It was pure imagination thinking where these couples would go. Probably to McDonald’s for a Happy Meal or to Baskin Robbins for an ice cream cone.
Here are some toy couples from back in the 70s.
–Dressy Bessy and Dapper Dan. I owned Bessy and loved typing the ribbons in her hair.
–Barbie and Ken. I had several Barbies including Ballerina Barbie..but half her crown eventually broke off) My friend had Ken and he usually spent the night on the plastic couch..lol
-The Fisher-Price Little People mother and father. Peoples were my favorite so I had many sets of the mom and dad. Wherever they went, Dad always drove.The ones in the picture above are my originals!
–The Fisher-Price dolls Joey and Audrey. I always played with these dolls together and often.
-Who remembers The Sunshine Family Dolls? The set came with Steve, Stephie, and their baby dressed in yellow pajamas. For a while, they hung out with my Barbies in her house.
-I had a couple of the Honey Hill Bunch dolls, Lil’ Darlin’ and Spunky. They had velcro on their hands to hold the accessory that came with them. (Lil’ Darlin” held a purse and Spunky held a frog). I used to make them hold hands.
–The Bionic Woman and Million Dollar Man doll. I didn’t have either but they were the coolest duo back in the day!
-Raggedy Ann and Andy. Classic! I had a large Ann and a small Andy doll with a sailor hat.
Who are you hanging out with on Valentine’s Day? Whether it’s your significant other (mine is my husband, Jack, of 33 years!) a friend, family, or even your pet (my cat, Theo!), make it a fun day! Happy Heart Day!
Writer McWriterson
Dressy Bessy! Oh, I forgot about her—I loved my Dressy Bessy doll!
My kids loved Little People (like the ones in the picture above) when they were little. I love that they’re still around.
Happy Valentine’s Day to you and Jack! We had a nice little lunch at home, and tonight, Mike, Ella, and I are picking up Friday fish fry from a local pub and taking it to my mom’s house to watch a movie with her! ❤️
myheartinpen
Wasn’t Bessy the best?! I am still obsessed with Little People and every time I go into an antique store I need to look for them! I think Friday Night Fish and a movie sounds like the perfect Valentine’s Day! Enjoy your family, my friend!
Writer McWriterson
Thank you, friend! We had fun—I hope you did too!
One more piece of nostalgia because I know you’ll appreciate this… I had a Mrs. Beasley doll when I was very little, and I carried her everywhere. I even took off her little black glasses and wore them myself! I wondered if you remember her.
myheartinpen
I know the doll but didn’t own her. Haha..yup, I can see the attraction with wearing her glasses!
Melanie R
Why don’t I remember the Sunshine Family dolls?! I remember all the others.
myheartinpen
I had the Sunshine Doll Family! They were smaller in size than Barbies. They were cute!
Nicole MacPherson
I had those Fisher Price Little People too! I played with them in the Sesame Street playhouse – did you have one of those?
myheartinpen
I was a Little People fanatic!..lol. I had most of the sets like the yellow house, airport, boat, camper, castle, town, but not Sesame Street! That’s probably one of the few that I didn’t have! I saved and still have a small box of my people. Such fun!
Suzanne stevens
If not for Dressy Bessy, I’d not be able to tie my shoes today. 🙂 I love this post! I remember several of these (Raggedy Ann!) and had several, but a few are unknown to me. Perhaps they were regional? I grew up way down in South Florida. I love that you still have your Fisher Price Little People; so very cool.
I spent my V day with my husband of 33 years as well!
Judy Palermo
Wasn’t Bessy the best?! I wish I still had her. Yeah, I’m still fan of Little People! Although my random people just live in a box, it’s one thing I can’t part with. We were married in Oct of 1991 but it looked more like an 80s wedding. Yikes..my dress was not pretty…lol!