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Basic Crissy Information by Year of Issue

Above, Crissy in 1969: Included in the box with the doll, a cellophaned rat-tail hairbrush, directions, letter to mother and she was wrapped in orange tissue paper, green tissue for the black doll.

The very first Crissy is marked 1968 on her neck and 1969 on her bottom. She was made available for sale in 1969. The first part of this production year, the doll was sold with hair that extended down to the floor. The doll was available in a white (orange dress) and black (green dress) version. The 1969 doll had a straight waist with no joint. All dolls in the below pictures are being shown in their original issue outfits.

Later that same year, Ideal began selling Crissy with hair that only grew to her tushy. They had to change the box. The hair to the floor dolls' boxes say: "With hair that grows down to her toes." The box that shows pictures of Crissy with hair to her bum says: "With hair that grows and grows and grows."

Interestingly, Ideal produced a prototype box for the number one Crissy that never made it into production. Look closely at this rather small photo, as found in the Ideal buyer's catalogs. In the picture area, not only does Crissy appear with her hair fully extended to the floor, but also four of her earliest fashions were presented!

As we all know, the box turned out to have three smaller pictures of Crissy with her hair at varying lengths, with no pictures of her sold-separately clothing line.

Left: A photo of the early, 1969, prototype box.

These early outfits, as well as all of Crissy's fashions, can be viewed on the Crissy's Closet page.

Additionally, please view all of the educational links in the drop down menu below where the reader will learn about a multitude of accessories for the Crissy family of dolls.

Whether you are looking for information on games, paper dolls, wigs, hair cair sets, clothing, cases, etc., it's all there for you.

Now let's continue with the Crissy production year, 1970.

Above, 1970 (left), 1971 (right). In 1970 and going forward, her hair only grew to her bum. This doll wears an aqua mini-dress and matching panties. The photos on her box changed to illustrate what she was wearing. The black 1970 doll can either be wearing her 1969 apple green dress OR this new aqua dress. However, there is no new box that shows black Crissy in this new dress. She is only shown wearing the apple green dress. The 1970 issue doll, like her 1969 predecessor, had a straight waist with no joint. However, this production year, many of the dolls had a smooth, round knob instead of the flower knob. The collector will find both knob styles on all dolls though.

The new 1971 doll, Movin' Groovin' Crissy had a new body style. This one has a jointed waist that allowed her to twist and turn. New collectors and doll dealers often confuse her with Look Around Crissy (below) and vice versa. MG Crissy wears an orange jersey midi-dress tied with a brown and orange rope sash. She also sports orange vinyl boots. She came with a brush, a hairstyle book and sometimes a booklet that featured her new 1971 outfits.

Above, Talky Crissy, 1971 and 1972-73, and Look Around Crissy, 1972

NOTE: Typical Talky Crissy dolls have an unusual haircut. Her foundation hair usually is cut in a shag and looks nothing like the usual foundation style found on earlier dolls.

Talky Crissy, for her 1971 offering, was sold in a purple box that pictured her in her issue pink housecoat, with her hair in three different lengths. The illustration in the center of the box showed her wearing her original 1969 orange lace dress (Talky never wore that dress). The 1971 doll spoke 12 phrases: "Hi, I'm Crissy!" "Velvet talks too." "Let's have a party!" "I love you." "Make my hair long." "I've got a secret." "My hair grows!" "Brush my hair please." "Make my hair short." "I like to dress up!" "Set my hair, please." "Please dry my hair."

The earlier, 12-phrase Talky Crissy has a pullstring (at the end of which is a butterfly-shaped tab) that comes out of her left hip , and her housecoat has a buttonhole strategically placed to allow access to it.

The later Talky Crissy issues (72-73) were sold in a different box. This doll only spoke six phrases: "What did you say?" "I'll never tell." "I don't think so." "Why not?" "I'll tell you tomorrow." "That sounds like fun!"

There are a few dolls that say seven phrases. In addition to the previous phrases, these dolls also say "You're really good to me." There are two in this collector's archive.

This version of Talky Crissy has a pullstring situated at the base of her back . Her housecoat has the buttonhole placed over the pullstring on her back to accommodate its location.

Right away you will notice that the six phrase doll has nipples molded on her chest. None of the other Crissy issues had this unusual characteristic.

Under her housecoat she wears matching panties. Included in the set with the twelve phrase doll were hair accessories, sealed in a large baggie: plastic curlers, velvet ribbons, yarn hair ties, bobby pins and rat-tail brush. Her shoes could be the usual bow-flat style or the new Mary Jane with a thin strap and slight wedge heel. They were typically carnation pink. There is no black Talky Crissy.

The 1972 Look Around Crissy had a softer make-up style and her foundation hair was a bit more wavy. The gimmick for 1972 was her ability to look around! Just pull her pullstring located on her back (it had a butterfly on the end of it too ) and she would look around. She is jointed at the neck and waist and both moved back and forth in tandum after the string was pulled. She wears a long, plaid taffeta gown in jewel tones that gives her a bit of a holiday appeal. Her panties were made of the same fabric. Her shoes, in dark green, were either the usual bow-flats or they could be the new style, a Mary Jane with a thin strap and a slight wedge heel. Either way, they were the same color. This doll was also issued in a black version, wearing the same costume.

To see information on Ideal's patent for the mechanism of this doll, go to this page. It will launch into a new window for your convenience. It's quite an interesting read! Our thanks to Bob Pope for sharing this link!

Above, the 1973 Beautiful Crissy with Swirla-Curler, black or white. This unique doll was created with curly foundation hair. Her make-up was rather sparse too. Both dolls wear a one piece dress that is constructed to look like a blouse and jumper. She wears white panties. She is wearing the new style Mary Jane shoe in shiny red-orange, the same for both the black and white doll. The Swirla Curler device was inserted into her grow hole and then her ponytail (Ideal literature calls it a 'tail) was divided into five sections. Once the sections were dampened, wrapped around the posts, and allowed to dry, Crissy had beautiful curls! Included with her hair device was instructions on its use. Ideal probably gave this Crissy issue curly foundation hair to go with the "curly hair" that would result from using the Swirla Curler device. It's a neat concept! The doll has a straight waist but leftover inventory of Look Around Crissy bodies were used up on this doll. So one should not be surprised if they find an MIB example with the Look Around body.

The box is as pretty on the back as it is on the front.

Above, 1974, Beautiful Crissy with Twirly Beads. This doll is identical to the Swirla-Curler doll in that she has the same hair and sparse make-up. Her dress however is a lovely pink and white checked sleeveless dress that goes down to her ankles. Under that she wears plain, white panties. Her shoes are the wedgie style Mary Janes in white, the same for both black and white dolls. Her hair gimmick was the new Twirly-Beads Hairdo Dangle. The pink and white dangles, molded to resemble beads, were attached to a cone that was inserted into her grow hole. Then the child would wrap the 'tail in and around the dangling beads to give her a new and unique style. Very cute. This doll came in a white and a black version and was a straight waisted doll with no waist joint.

The above were not very popular. The Magic Hair Crissy was released in 1977.

Her white platform mules and outfit were the same for both black and white dolls. She is "Crissy" in name only. She did not grow hair. Her hairpieces attached to her head by means of Velcro. She had Velcro dots positioned among her short base hair. There was a fall, a curly perm style, a fantasy style of ribbons, braids and flowers, and two curly braided dangles with white and pink beads on the ends.

Above produced in 1982 and 1983 with Velvet molds. The 1982 Country Fashion Crissy was sold in a black and white version. People often confuse her with a Velvet doll, even calling her a "rare" redhead Velvet. Her hair functions different. Instead of the button and knob mechanics, she has a pullstring ponytail. Her one-piece gingham country dress is constructed to look like it has a blouse underneath. She wears white t-strap shoes in the style of Velvet shoes.

The 1982-83 Beautiful Crissy doll, shown above on the right, was constructed the same as the Country Fashion Crissy. Her dress was a cute white, sleeveless dress trimmed in pink and white lace. She has a pink ribbon sash. Under that she wears white panties. Her shoes are styled like Velvet's shoes, in white.

Curiously, both of the Crissy doll styles from the early 80's can have either dark brown "Crissy" eyes or she might have purple glassene eyes like the 1970's Velvet doll. An additional oddity is that some "might" have a knob and pin to make their hair grow. Not many have this feature. It was probably an effort on Ideal's part, to use up old parts.

If you've not done it already, click on the above drop-down menus to learn about Irish Kerry, the two different Sears Tressy issues, and sun-tanned Brandi. And of course you will want to learn all about the Velvet issues, impish Mia, sun-kissed Dina, Sears Posin' Cricket, Tara, and the three different Cinnamon issues.

And don't forget to peruse the other learning and restoration links featured above. Enjoy!

Wanna be famous!? The "Me'N Crissy" page link is now active. Do you have pictures of yourself with your childhood Crissy family doll? Crissy And Beth would love to add your picture to the page! They are so charming and endearing. The files collected so far will definitely make you smile. If interested, get in touch now! You will be required to digitally sign your permission to use your photos. Thanks!

Have you heard? Crissy went on vacation! She has completed her 2006-2007 tour of the US, Australia, and Canada!

Read her on-line travel journal. On March 29, 2007, she made local news and was in the newspaper. Please read about it on her travel journal link, near the bottom of the journal entries.

The Glamour Dolls Dashboard link is now active! Have you ever wondered why the Crissy doll you just purchased is wearing clothing not identified on the catalog or aftermarket fashions pages found here on Crissy & Beth's website? They might have belonged to another doll altogether. Little ones were/are prone to dressing their dolls in any outfits that they have no matter who they belonged to. Grab a cup of java and see these dolls and their outfits by utilizing the dashboard.

Child Advocacy, 'Crissy & Beth' cares about kids > >
Are you expecting? Do you know someone who is? Is there a newborn in your home? Or do you have friends with a newborn? Please, if you don't read anything else on this site, you need to read about Neonatal Screening. With a simple heel stick, inexpensive neonatal testing prevents serious disability and even death.

Public Service Links for all Sorts of Good Things
Repurpose, Recycle, Re-use, Re-love, Re-live and just Be Envi!

Please know that you are welcome to come back often. I LOVE having company!

Clothing Items and Dolls for Sale (Fair and Fantastic Pricing!)

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Create Your Dream Crissy
This is a great site for bringing your Crissy family doll up to par! Enjoy!

My Story

I was waiting in the lobby for my daughter who was using the facilities at the hotel where the show was being held. At this point, I was still clueless what a doll show was, thinking perhaps it was some sort of traveling antique show where you could go in and "look" but I didn't expect anything more. When I noticed everything had a PRICE tag, I could hardly wait for my daughter so we could SHOP!! And shop we did. I had only brought $30 or so with me, thinking we'd need lunch money. But when I saw THAT Crissy doll, in her box, with an extra outfit, I was nearly heartbroken... the tag said $35.

Now back then, that was TOO much, but I didn't care. And since I didn't have enough money, the seller let me write a check. The rest, as they say, is history. She is the doll that started it all. Being a researcher by nature, my book Crissy doll and Her Friends: Guide for Collectors was released in 1998. It sold out in three years, but there are some available second hand on the Internet.

I believe I own the largest and most complete collection in the country, if not the world. It includes every doll issued mint in the box (MIB), every outfit issued by Ideal, mint in pack (MIP), a doll to model each Ideal outfit out of the pack as well, and every paper doll, coloring book, pattern, case, accessory set, etc. ever made. I also have the most complete catalog collection out there so that I can ID nearly any outfit that was sold to compete with Ideal's creations. Wards, Penneys, Sears, and several Canadian outlets created "knock-offs" and competition for Ideal. Therefore, my collection has grown quite vast. If you ever find yourself in Atlanta, let us know! Crissy and I would love to meet you!

During 2009, Crissy celebrated the 40th anniversary of her existence! See this page: Go Here
Or go directly to her blogspot to post your congratulations! Post now, or post later, just post something!

IMPORTANT NEWS: Please go to this remembrance page for our friend Perla Schultz, of Highway Dolls. Crissy's World lost a wonderful person and artist on June 25, 2009. Please leave your condolences.

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ALWAYS BUYING-ESPECIALLY BOXLOTS AND CHILDHOOD COLLECTIONS!

The name Crissy ® is now a registered trademark of Mattel, Inc. (The Ideal Toy Company no longer exists.)