Barbie Envy

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While not born a girl and being fortunate enough that my parents didn't try to raise me as one regardless, I find it odd how nostalgic this page makes me. I think as a kid I was envious that Barbie got that cool boat and Big Jim didn't.

Barbie and Jim shared campers, planes, cars and even that ski hill but for some reason, Jim got screwed out of his own yacht. I demand some sort of restitution, do you hear me Mattel?

Links of Possible Interest:

1973 Barbie Catalog

1976 Big Jim Catalog

For more Fashion Mockery and 70's toy love visit us at Plaid Stallions.com


More...

[Sowth]

Nice stuff Brian.

And that's your fourth Barbie related article on PS now.

Just letting you know is all.

Will

PS - Do you remember the best accessorised Barbie they ever made? It was called divorcee Barbie, and it came with Ken's house, Ken's car, Ken's pool... yuk yuk!

[palitoy]

Hey, it can't be G.i. Joe and Big Jim every day, gotta have a variety...

[Sowth]

And fair enough that is.

I've actually been on the trail of a MIB Barbie down here in Oz for a while (Shhhhh!) , it's an Olympic themed one released in '76 alongside the exclusive Aussie Olympic Big Jim, you can check them out here.

I've got the loose Big Jim with outfit and medal (never seen a boxed one) but the Barbie eludes me still.

Thus ends the confession...

Will

[palitoy]

There are Canadian versions of those too, I've seen them occasionally.

[toys2cool]

Barbie had some of the coolest stuff out there,My wife has a huge collection

and I have a few vintage Kens,I'd like to get started in that collection some day

[pooper_prez]

My wife's parents have hung on to her Barbie camper, which I think is the same as the one pictured.

[Earth 2 Chris]

Add me to the camp of Barbie collecting wifes. Her 70s stuff seemed more down to Earth, less glam and almost like "girl adventure team".

Chris

[kingdom warrior]

My Mom was the Barbie collector my sister collected when she was younger....I grew up with wall to wall Blondes all over the house.....Now my 20 month year old daughter has inherited my Moms collection....and she's already a Barbie fan playing with loose ones.

Those Ads bring back alot of memories my sis had the camper to my delight Big jim and The megos took over to my sisters dismay....

[Rallygirl]

might as well introduce myself before I get off track on Barbie. My name is Betsy. I stumbed upon your website & forums while I was stuck on the couch with pneumonia recently.

Anywho,...being a girl, I think I got the best of both toy worlds. I was definately a tomboy. Make no mistake about it, though, I had more than my fair share of Barbies also. Any day you could find my Mego Batman burning out on Evel's stunt cycle or Evel tooling about using the Batmobile as a clever ploy to pick up Skipper. Barbie was hotter, but she didn't fit in the Batmobile as nicely as Skipper.

If you think that the relationship between Evel and Skipper was scandalous, someday I'll have to fill you in on the torrid affair that occurred when my cousins' hand-me-down G.I. Joes moved into the same closet as my Barbies.

I had that great Barbie camper. However, in between trysts with Barbie in the clothes hamper, G.I. Joe was the one who used the camper most frequently. He took it fishing by the creek behind our house and on camping trips in the hedges.

After G.I. Joe met his fate at one of my mom's garage sales, I used his leftover equipment to turn Barbie into one butt-kicking spy! The passenger seat of Barbie's purple corvette was stuffed with life jackets, camouflage suits and combat boots, while the suitcase on the back was filled with Joe's guns! (In fact my only remaining Barbie toys are one Barbie, her Corvette & those guns!)

The wonderful Batman-Evel friendship came to a tragic end when Evel was lost in our 1979 move to a new town. At that point, my mother decided that I might lead a more normal childhood if I took a more active interest in girly dolls rather than superheroes. As my playroom became filled with more Barbie and Ken dolls, slowly the superheroes & soldiers disappeared. Too bad, I imagine that Robin would have looked awesome wearing Mod Hair Ken's ascot and stick-on mustache!

Yupper I got the best of both worlds!

P.S. Yes, I know I am long winded!

[monkey tennis]

Hello Rally Girl...hope you enjoy the place...and hope you feel better.

Stay for the pie...

[huedell]

Hey, it can't be G.i. Joe and Big Jim every day, gotta have a variety...

Not to mention BARBIE being on your blog probably brings in just about
more random hits than any other toy out there.

[palitoy]

The fashion is really the most powerful thing out there, unbelievable. I just know that about 50% of my regulars are women and I don't mind blogging about that stuff.

PS welcome Betsy, I've been loving your contributions!