Chatty Cathy
Chatty Cathy was a doll produced by the Mattel corporation starting in 1959 and first advertised on television in 1960. Revolutionary for its time, the doll spoke 11 phrases; Chatty Cathy would "speak" when one pulled a string in her back. Seven more phrases were added in 1963, which was also the last year the first version of Chatty Cathys were sold.
Revolutionary for the time, Chatty Cathy spoke one of eleven phrases at random when the "chatty ring" protruding from its upper back was pulled. The ring was attached to a string connected to a simple low-fidelity phonograph record in the doll's abdomen. The record was driven by a metal coil wound by pulling the toy's string. The doll said phrases such as, "I love you", "Tell me a story", "Will you play with me?", and "Please take me with you". Seven more phrases were added to the doll's repertoire in 1963 for a total of 18 phrases.
Originally, Chatty Cathy had blonde hair and blue eyes. Brunette and auburn-haired versions of the doll were introduced in 1962 and 1963 respectively; an African American version of the doll with brown skin tones was produced those same years. In 1960, two outfits were available for the doll: one included a blue dress with a white eyelet overblouse, panties, crinoline, blue shoes and white socks, and the other included a red sunsuit with a red pinafore, and overskirt of white voile, red shoes and white socks. Other accessories accompanying the doll were a story/comic book, shoehorn, and paper wrist tag that was also a numbered warranty card. The doll and its accompanying accessories were advertised at less than $20.
Chatty Cathy was on the market for six years and was the second most popular doll of the 1960s after Barbie (also made by Mattel). After the success of Chatty Cathy, Mattel introduced Chatty Baby in 1962 and Tiny Chatty Baby, Tiny Chatty Brother and Charmin' Chatty in 1963. The last doll to have the word chatty in its name in the '60s was Singin' Chatty in 1965.
The doll was reissued by Mattel (in both white and black versions) in 1969. Maureen McCormick, who had become a role model to young girls due to her role on The Brady Bunch, voiced the new Chatty Cathy phrases. She appeared in television commercials with Brady Bunch co-star Eve Plumb to endorse the doll. The new Chatty Cathy did not catch on and was discontinued in 1971.
A specific Chatty Cathy reissue did not occur again until Mattel put out special editions of the doll in 1998 and again in 2001. A 1980s Mattel doll called Chatty Patty had similarities to Chatty Cathy but a direct link was not acknowledged by the company.
A Canadian Chatty Cathy doll was released for the corresponding market in the early 1960s. Some of her phrases were edited to reflect the slight cultural differences between Canada and the United States, and the irises were shaped like pinwheels. Canadian Chatty Cathy dolls were discontinued in 1965.