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Skipper Roberts

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Skipper Roberts
A vintage straight-leg Skipper doll with red hair wearing her original swimsuit.
First appearance	1964
Last appearance	2003
Created by	Mattel
Information

This article is about the doll. For other uses, see Skipper.

Skipper Roberts was a doll created by Mattel in 1964 to be Barbie's younger sister, as well as to oppose controversies directed at Barbie. Since Skipper was introduced, she has changed immensely. When she first came out, she was 9.25 inches in height (compared to Barbie's 11.5 inches), and then as newer versions were released she gradually became taller with an older appearance, eventually turning out to be almost as tall as Barbie. At first, Skipper was available with three different hair colors, but later was only available as a blond. Usually, Skipper dolls had blue eyes. Skipper has also had many same-size friends and a few boyfriends. The doll also appeared as a character in several Random House novels and Marvel Comics. A fictional biography was developed for her from these, as well as from the backs of the boxes which held the dolls that were sold. Several celebrity and fantasy dolls were produced at the Skipper size, most recently two twin dolls from the Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses line.

1 Versions
- 1.1 Modern (1973-Present)
2 Popularity
3 Friends
4 Biography
5 See also
6 Notes and references

Versions

Skipper was created, along with Midge, to counteract criticism that claimed Barbie was a sex symbol. Midge's facial appearance was gentler than Barbie's, whereas Skipper was a response to requests that wanted Barbie to have children; however, instead of having a married, pregnant Barbie, which would make her too domestic, Barbie would babysit Skipper.^[1] As Barbie's little sister, Skipper was Barbie's first family member sold. Since their introduction in the early 1960s, Skipper dolls have changed drastically.^[2] 1964

Skipper Barbie's Little Sister
Barbie Wedding Party Giftset Skipper Ken Barbie Midge

1965

Skooter
Ricky
Bendable Leg Skipper, Skooter
Skooter Cut 'n Button Set (Sears Exclusive)
Skipper On Wheels

1969

Twist & Turn Skipper
Sears Exclusive Skipper Perfectly Pretty Gift Set

1970

Dramatic New Living Skipper
Skipper Barbie's Little Sister re-issued
Twist & Turn Skipper

1971

Living Skipper
Fluff

1972

Sun Set Malibu Skipper
Pose N Play Skipper (Sears Exclusive)
Pose N Play Tiff

1973

Quick Curl Skipper

1975

Growing Up Skipper, Ginger

1976

Malibu Skipper

1978

Malibu Skipper

1979

Sun Lovin' Malibu Skipper
Super Teen Skipper
Scott

1982

Sunsational Malibu Skipper
Western Skipper

1983

Horse Lovin' Skipper

1984

Great Shape Skipper
Sun Gold Malibu Skipper

1985

Hot Stuff Skipper

1986

Tropical Skipper

1987

Jewel Secrets Skipper

1988

Teen Fun Cheerleader Skipper
Teen Fun Party Skipper
Teen Fun Workout Skipper
Teen Sweetheart Skipper
Island Fun Skipper

1989

Homecoming Queen Skipper, Skipper AA
Teen Time Skipper, Courtney
Beach Blast Skipper
Pepsi Spirit Skipper Toys R Us Exclusive
Cool City Blues Barbie/Ken/Skipper Giftset Toys R Us Exclusive

1990

Cool Tops Courtney, Kevin, Skipper, Skipper AA
Wet 'n' Wild Skipper
Dream Date Skipper Toys R Us Exclusive

1991

Hawaiian Fun Skipper
Babysitter Courtney, Skipper AA, Skipper
Kevin
Barbie/Ken/Skipper Giftset Toys R Us Exclusive

1992

Pet Pals Skipper, Skipper AA, Courtney, Kevin
Sun Sensation Skipper
Sharin' Sisters Barbie/Skipper/Stacie Giftset
Beauty Pageant Skipper Toys R Us Exclusive
Totally Hair Skipper, Courtney Toys R Us Exclusive
Bathtime Fun Skipper Target Exclusive

1993

Baton Twirling Skipper, Baton Twirler Skipper AA, Basketball Kevin, Cheerleader Courtney,
Glitter Beach Skipper
Mermaid Skipper and the Sea Twins
Hollywood Hair Skipper
Sharin' Sisters Barbie/Skipper/Stacie Giftset

1994

Camp Fun Skipper
Cool Crimp Skipper, Skipper AA, Courtney, Kevin
Babysitter Skipper
Sun Jewel Skipper

1995

Pizza Party Skipper, Skipper AA, Courtney, Kevin
Tropical Splash Skipper
Travelin' Sisters Barbie/Skipper/Stacie/Kelly Giftset

1996

Phone Fun Skipper, Skipper AA, Courtney
Winter Holiday Barbie/Skipper/Stacie/Kelly Giftset
Sparkle Beach Skipper

1997

Splash ‘n Color Skipper
Teen Skipper, Courtney, Nikki

1998

Extreme Green Teen Skipper
Pearl Beach Teen Skipper
Cool Sitter Teen Skipper/AA

1999

Florida Vacation Skipper
Totally Yo-Yo Skipper, Nikki, Courtney

2000

Pajama Fun Skipper, Courtney, Nikki
Let's Drive Gift Set Skipper And Barbie Toys R Us Exclusive
Hawaii Skipper

2001

Fashion Party Teen Skipper, Courtney, Nikki

2002

Palm Beach Skipper

2003

Skipper as Velma
Rio de Janeiro Skipper
Pajama Fun Tote Barbie And Skipper/AA

2007

Knitting Pretty Barbie & Skipper

2008

Phone Fun Skipper (Re-issued 1995)

Fashions 1964

Ballet Class
Under Pretties
Red Sensation
Silk 'n Fancy
Masquerade
Flower Girl
Dress Coat
School Days
Skating Fun
Dreamtime

1965

Day At The Fair
Sunny Pastels
Cookie Time
Me 'N My Doll
Platter Party
Outdoor Casuals
Rain Or Shine
Land & Sea
Ship Ahoy
Happy Birthday
Fun Time
Sunday Suit
School Girl
Town Togs
Wooly P.J.'s
Party Pink
Lights Out
Saturday Show
Little Leaguer

1966

Can You Play
Tea Party
What's New at the Zoo
Chill Chasers
Rainy Day Checkers
Dog Show
Loungin' Lovelies
Let's Play House
Country Picnic
Junior Bridesmaid
Learning To Ride
Sledding Fun

1967

Beachy Peachy
Flower Showers
Rolla Scoot
All Spruced Up!
Right In Style
Popover
'Jamas 'N Jaunties
Hearts 'n Flowers
Glaid Plaids
Lolapaloozas
Velvet 'N Lace
All Prettied Up!

Modern (1973-Present)

In 1975 Growing Up Skipper was released. The gimmick of the doll, which led to much controversy in the newspapers, was that if Skipper's arm was rotated, the doll would become an inch taller and small breasts would appear on her rubber torso.^[3] ^[4] In 1979 Skipper's entire appearance changed. She was advertised as "Super Teen Skipper." She had a new body mold which included small permanent breasts, and a different head mold that made her look slightly older.^[2] In 1985, Hot Stuff Skipper was released, which had another new head mold that included the addition of dimples and a longer face.^[2] Skipper changed again in 1988 with the release of Teen Fun Skipper. Her new body mold was taller and more graceful. Her waist was more flexible and her breasts were slightly bigger. Her eyes were also enlarged, giving her a cartoon-like look. At this stage she appeared to be somewhere between 12-15 years old. Later, Skipper had a new head mold with smaller eyes in a Pizza Party line, but with the same body mold.^[2] Many collectors believe that the 'Pizza Party' head mold was the most popular, if not the prettiest, version of Skipper. Dolls with the 'Pizza Party' Skipper head mold and the 1960s head mold are the most sought after Skipper dolls by collectors. Finally, in 1997, Teen Skipper was introduced. She again had a new body mold and was now almost as tall as her sister Barbie. This was mostly because of her legs, which were now long and lanky. Most notable of all, however, was Skipper's new face mold. She no longer looked like a child, but more like a girl on the brink of becoming a woman, appearing to be about 16 years of age.^[2] In 1994, the first vintage reproduction Skipper was produced specifically for collectors to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Skipper's introduction. Instead of the usual vinyl, the dolls were made of porcelain. She wore a blue reproduction dress from 1965, known then as "Happy Birthday." ^[5] In 2007, Mattel released their second vintage reproduction Skipper doll, this time sold in a gift set along with a reproduction of a vintage swirl ponytail Barbie doll.^[6]

Popularity

Skipper Roberts was the original little sister of Barbie, and has been quite popular over the years.^[7] When she first came out, she was an alternative for parents who did not approve of Barbie's adult figure. The first vintage Skipper dolls now have a value of US$195 MIB (Mint In Box). The brass headbands alone that came with these dolls have a value of $20. While vintage Skipper dolls, clothes, and accessories can sell for a lot of money, modern Skipper dolls usually only have a value of $10 to $20 MIB. If they have no box, the value may be only $5 or less.^[8]

Friends

Skipper and her friend Courtney, both with the "Pizza Party" head mold.

Skipper's friends at the vintage stage were Skooter (1965), Ricky (1965), Living Fluff (1971), and Pose N' Play Tiff (1972).^[9] ^[10] Skooter and Ricky had their own head molds, and both had freckles. Skooter was available with the same three hair colors as Skipper had, but Ricky was only available with molded red hair, similar to Midge's boyfriend Allan Sherwood.^[11] ^[12] Fluff and Tiff shared a head mold which many collectors think is adorable, with a contagious smile.^[13] Most of Skipper's first friends were never seen after the lines they were produced for, but another Skooter doll, called Fun Time Skooter, was produced for the European market. She had auburn hair, a Twist N' Turn waist, and bendable legs. However, she had the head mold of the oldest version of Skipper, not the older Skooter doll, which many collectors found strange.^[3] Skipper's friend for the controveral Growing Up line was the brunette Ginger, made in 1976. However, after this line, Ginger was never seen again.^[9] Skipper's first boyfriend, who was named Scott, was created in 1980, and was introduced the year after Super Teen Skipper came on the market. Scott sported puffy brown 1980s style hair.^[9] Skipper gained two new friends after Teen Fun Skipper was first introduced. They included the brunette Courtney, made in 1989, and her second boyfriend Kevin, created in 1990.^[9] After Teen Skipper came on the market, her first African American friend appeared. Her name was Nikki, and she was made in 1997.^[9] Teen Skipper was originally going to have a third boyfriend named Zach who would have joined her in the "Totally Yo Yo line," but for reasons unknown, he was never produced. However, the head Mold for the unreleased Zach Doll was later used for Generation Girl Blaine, the token boy in Barbie's "Generation Girl" Doll line. ^[14]

Biography

According to the Random House novels of the 1960s, Skipper is the second oldest child of the fictional George and Margaret Roberts of Willows, Wisconsin, their first child being Barbie. In these novels, she attended Baker Elementary, while the Marvel Comics of the early 1990s had her at Central Junior High School. The box of the first Kevin doll, Skipper's second boyfriend, that was sold, "Cool Tops Kevin", described Skipper as "the most popular girl in school." Like her sister Barbie, she has had numerous "acquaintances," celebrity friends, fantasy friends and Disney friends that were produced at her size. Some of these other dolls include Chocho, sold only in Japan in 1974, made with the Quick Curl Skipper body;^[4] Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, introduced in 2000, made with the Teen Fun Skipper body; the Peppermint Rose dolls from 1993, also made with the Teen Fun body; and numerous versions of Ariel from the Little Mermaid, sold in either the Teen Fun or Teen versions. The Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses line sold two dolls named Isla and Hadley who were the size of Teen Fun Skipper dolls, but with a new appropriately-sized "belly-button" body.