Louis Marx Dolls 1919-1979 USA
The Louis Marx Company was founded in 1919 in New York City as a maker of children’s games, tin wind up toys, dolls and more. Marx soon became a leader in the toy industry and became famous for introducing the world to the Yo-Yo in 1928.
In the 1960s to 1970s Marx produced hard plastic, vinyl dolls and action figures. Marx is probably best known during this time for their Johnny West doll family of Action figures from 1965 to 1976.
Marx Mexico subsidiary was named Plastimarx. Quaker Oats bought Marx in 1972 and ceased operating in 1979, the company name was revived in the 1990’s and reissued some action figures, but has now ceased operating.
Louis Marx Vintage Dolls Identified
ca. 1950s Marx Amosandra doll, black baby doll
ca. 1950s Marx Amosandra doll, black baby doll, “Amos n’ Andy’s favorite baby is creeping now!” a mechanical crawling Amosandra doll.
1961 Marx Miss Seventeen doll, 15″ tall
1961 Marx Miss Seventeen doll, 15″ tall, a Bild Lilli clone doll or look a like, but taller with the Bild Lilli Hong Kong head mold. The Miss Seventeen doll has rooted black pony tail hairstyle, painted facial features with the high arching eyebrows, closed mouth, plastic jointed body, wore a black helenca knit swimsuit, high heel shoes and a sash with her name on it and a doll stand. Marx Miss Seventeen doll has a wardrobe of separate fashions that could be purchased,
1962 Marx Bonnie Teenage Fashion doll, 11 1/2″ tall
1962 Marx Bonnie Teenage Fashion doll 11 1/2″ tall, 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 who is much smaller and may have used the Hong Kong Bild Lilli doll head mold. Bonnie is a hard to find doll. See the Barbie clone doll page for other multi-jointed similar dolls.
1962 Marx Miss Marlene doll 6 1/2″
1962 Marx Miss Marlene doll, 7 1/2″ tall, teenage fashion doll, Miss Marlene is about the same size as the 1969 Dawn dolls, came with fashions that could be bought separately. Bubble cut or pony tail hair style, little Bild Lilli like head mold and facial features, jointed body, with high heel feet.
1963 Marx Miss Marx doll or Miss Toddler doll, 18-21″
1963 Marx Miss Marx doll or Miss Toddler doll, 18-21″ tall, battery operated walker doll, molded hair, painted eyes, closed mouth, with molded white shoes.
1965-1976 Marx Johnny West doll family
1965-1976 Marx Johnny West doll 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.
Johnny West’s family members each had a horse, there were also native American Indian dolls, both male and female, a Fort Apache, covered wagons, plastic guns and tons of accessories for hours and hours of fun!
1965 Marx Myra doll with vanity, 9 1/2″
1965 Marx Myra doll with vanity, 9 1/2″, a Skipper sized competitor, rooted hair in a short page boy, blonde maybe other hair colors too, vinyl posing body, had a wardrobe, fashion accessories and furniture a vanity, buffet plus more.
1965 Marx Twinkie doll, 5″
1965 Marx Twinkie doll, 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, doll marked LOUIS MARX & CO. INC. MCMLXV on back.
1970s Marx Ginny Bones doll, 40″ tall
1970s Marx Ginny Bones doll, 40″ tall, pink plastic tube “bones” that were connected to create Ginny, she has real hands, head with brown molded hair and painted facial features, stationary plastic eyes, weighted feet kept her up right, other dolls in the Bones family are brother Skinny Bones, dog Ham Bones and a horse.
1978 Marx Sindy doll dressed 11 1/2″
1978-1979 Marx Sindy doll, 11 1/2″ tall, Action Sindy jointed body, jointed wrists, blonde rooted hair, painted eyes & lashes, she looks similar to Ideal’s Tammy dolls. Sindy’s black doll friend is Gayle. Some outfits were exclusively made and sold only in the USA and Canada. Doll marked 2 Gen 1077/033055X on heads, Hong Kong on backs. Pedigree was the originator of the Sindy doll, who also made and distributed Sindy everywhere else in the world.
