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The Louis Marx & Company
began in New York city (1919-1979) as a toy manufacturer. They were a leader in the toy industry
and became famous for the Yo-Yo introduced in 1928. In the
1960's-1970's they produced hard plastic, vinyl dolls and
action figures. They are probably best know for their
Johnny West family of Action figures from 1965-1976. Quaker Oats
bought Marx in 1972 and ceased operating in 1979. The company
name was revived in the 1990's and reissued some figures but has now
ceased.
Here are
some dolls from
the Louis Marx company 1960's-1970's
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1961 Miss Seventeen, 15"
tall, Bild Lilli & Barbie clone or look a like, but taller. Used
the Bild Lilli Hong Kong head mold. Probably came in several
different hair colors, but too few have surfaced to determine
for sure. Had a rooted pony tail, painted facial features with
the high arching eyebrows, wore a helenca knit swimsuit, high
heel shoes and a sash with her name on it, and stand.
Click
on the photos to see them full sized. |
1961 Miss Seventeen, 15" |
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1962 Bonnie, 12"
tall, teenage fashion doll, Bild Lilli & Barbie clone or
look a like, bubble cut hair-do, fully jointed body including
elbows, and an upper joint on the thighs, painted
facial features, marked on stomach with a circle, Made
in Hong Kong, in the middle of this is Marx inside
an X, then the Roman numerals MCMLXIV,
©Louis Marx & Co. Inc.
This doll looks just like the Petite Miss Marlene doll
pictured next, and must have used the Hong Kong Bild Lilli
doll head mold.
May 2005 - Thanks to Susan Orchard for
sharing about this doll and giving us photo's too!
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1962
Bonnie by Marx, 12" Photo
courtesy of Susan
Orchard |
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1962 Miss Marlene
- Petite, 6 1/2 - 7" tall, teenage fashion doll,
these are about the same size as the 1969 Dawn dolls, came
with fashions that could be bought separately. Bubble cut or
pony tail hair style, Bild Lilli like head mold & facial
features, jointed body, with high heel feet. This
doll is also very hard to find, but unlike the above 12"
size, I have seen her a few times at auction. |
1962 Miss Marlene
- Petite 6 1/2" |
| 1963 Miss Marx, or Miss
Toddler, 18-21" tall, battery operated walker doll. |
1963 Miss Marx |
| 1964 Campus Cuties, 5
1/2-6" tall, all molded plastic non-bending figures, eight dolls
in series, either pink or cream colored. Marked on bottom
of stand: MCMLXIV (1964). |
Photo N/A 1964
Campus Cuties, 5 1/2-6" |
| 1965-1976 Johnny West
family,
hard vinyl, articulated dolls with molded on colored clothing. Johnny
West, 12" tall, brown molded hair, brown clothing,
wife Jane West,
11 1/2" tall, blonde molded hair, turquoise molded
clothing, daughter's; Janice and Josie West and son's;
Jay
and Jamie West, plus more figures.
Also had a horse for each doll,
and there were Indian dolls both male and female. Fort Apache,
covered wagons, plastic guns and tons of accessories for hours
of fun!
Off site link to Stewart's Best
West -
Timeline
for the Marx dolls. |
1965-1976 Johnny West
family |
| 1965 Twinkie, 5" tall,
molded plastic, jointed at neck, shoulder, hips, has painted
white socks & black shoes, molded hair, came with wigs &
washable non-soil rubbery clothing wardrobe, marked: LOUIS
MARX & CO. INC./MCMLXV on back. |
1965
Twinkie, 5" |
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1966 Myra with Buffet, about 9
1/2" tall (Skipper sized), rooted hair in a short page
boy, blonde maybe other hair colors too, vinyl posing body,
had a wardrobe, fashion accessories and furniture
available. |
1966
Myra with Buffet & Accessories |
| 1970s Ginny Bones, 36"
tall, pink plastic tube bones that were connected to create
Ginny, she has real hands, head with molded hair, and
painted facial features, stationary plastic eyes, weighted feet
kept her up right, others in the Bones family are brother Skinny
Bones, dog Ham Bones & a horse. |
Photo N/A 1970s
Ginny Bones, 36" |
| 1975 The Archies series, 8 1/2". Archie,
Jughead, Veronica and Betty, comic book characters. They had
a car and carry case with accessories. |
1975
Betty, Archies 8 1/2" |
| 1978-1979 Marx Sindy, 11
1/2"
tall, Action Sindy jointed body, jointed wrists, blonde rooted hair, painted eyes & lashes,
she looks similar to Ideal's Tammy dolls. Some outfits were exclusively made
and sold only in the USA & Canada. Marked: 2 Gen 1077/033055X
on heads, Hong Kong on backs. Pedigree was the originator of Sindy, made &
distributed everywhere else. |
1978-1979 Marx Sindy, 11 1/2" |
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