Unknown Facts About The Girly “It” Toys of the 80’s (w/Infograph)

There are many toys from the eighties that have been reinvented to suit Gen Y but nothing compares to the original. If you were made in the 80’s – we’re going to travel as Michael J. Fox did – but this time around it will be “Back to the Past” and do a Care Bear Countdown to some unknown facts about our bodacious 80’s toys for the “it” girls of the eighties edition.

5. Cabbage Patch Kids

What you know:

• Cabbage Patch Kids were dolls that had hair made of yarn
• The dolls had hard heads and soft bodies
• Each doll came equipped with adoption papers, a birth certificate, and a name.

What You Don’t Know:

• The cute and loveable Cabbage Patch Kids first doll was created in 1978.
• Cabbage Patch Kids were originally called “little people”.
• The dolls were created by the name you see signed on the left side of their bottoms, by a Georgian businessman, Xavier Roberts.
• The earliest dolls were under the business name of Original Appalachian Artworks, Inc. It wasn’t until 1982 when our popular dolls became known as Cabbage Patch Kids and Babyland General Hospital was invented.
• 1984 was the height of CPK’s popularity and they sold 20 million dolls, by the end of the 20^th century 95 million Cabbage Patch Kids were adopted.
• The price for a Cabbage Patch Kid in 1984 is the same price newer versions are sold for today, $30.00.

4. Rainbow Brite

What You Know:

• Rainbow Brite was an animated television series that first aired in 1984.
• The doll of Rainbow Brite was made of a hard head, a soft body and clothing that shimmered.
• Her hair was made of yarn just like the Cabbage Patch dolls.
• Rainbow Brite had two horses – “Starlite” and “SkyDancer”
• The “Dark One” was the first to destroy Rainbow Land and was the main reason for Rainbow Brite’s purpose of being there.
• Each Character was assigned a “Sprite” – Rainbow Brite’s Sprite’s name was “Twink”.
• Lurky and Murky were her villains and always tried to steal the color belt from Rainbow Brite.
• The name of the color kids in the U.S. – Red Butler – Lala Orange – Canary Yellow – Patty O’Green – Buddy Blue Indigo and Shy Violet.

What You Don’t Know:

• Rainbow Brite was an orphan.
• Her original name was “Whisp”, which was her earth name prior to going to Rainbow Land.
• There were 8 color kids – one for each color of the rainbow.
• Indigo, was the least seen of all the characters.
• Rainbow Brite found her color belt in a cave when she was trying to get out of the rain. The color belt is the tool that brings color to the colorless world.
• Rainbow Brite’s first television show appearance was in 1984, in a syndicated animated prime time special called “Peril in the Pits”.
• Rainbow Brite also appeared in “The Mighty Monstromurk Menace” and “The Beginning of Rainbowland.” prior to landing her own regular series in April 1986.
• Star sprinkles are the responsibility of all 8 of the color kids to ensure that Rainbow Brite’s color belt has color. Their individual sprites worked in a mining cave to gather the colors.
• Murky’s full name was Murkwell.
• Despite her popularity, her television series only lasted 13 episodes.

3. Strawberry Shortcake

What You Know:

• Strawberry Shortcake doll was a rag doll and wore white and green tights with an apron and a hat. She had a soft head and body and like the first two “it” toys of the 80’s, she too had yarn hair. There were also Strawberry Shortcake small plastic dolls that came later.
• The doll was produced by Kenner Dolls from 1979-1985.
• Strawberry Shortcake lived with many friends in “Strawberryland”
• Strawberry Shortcake was always seen with her pink cat “custard”.
• All of the Strawberry Shortcake characters were scented and had matching dessert or fruit named pets.

What You Don’t Know:

• Strawberry Shortcake originated in Greeting Cards and is licensed by American Greetings.

• Strawberry Shortcake had a game for the Atari 2600 titled “Strawberry Shortcake Musical Match-Ups”
• Strawberry Shortcake had one show a year from 1980-1985
• Kenner stopped making Strawberry Shortcake toys after 1985
• Her strawberry house grew out of the ground just for her.
• Muriel Fahrion, is the original creator of Strawberry Shortcake.
• General Mills helped with the growth of the Strawberry Shortcake Franchise.
• Muriel Fahrion and her sister created the first Strawberry Shortcake doll, which was a rag doll.

2. Rose Petal Place

What you know:

• Rose Petal Place was a popular movie in 1984
• The movie was based around a little girl who was sad to leave her home and garden. From her tears and a wish that her flowers would live forever created a magical place and birthed Rose Petal and all of her friends that tended to this little girl’s garden.
• Rose Petal dolls were similar to our other “it” toys – Rainbow Brite and Strawberry Shortcake dolls.
• Rose Petal Place dolls were also made by Kenner.
• Rose Petal was a pink haired, pink doll whose singing kept the plants alive.

What You Don’t Know:

• Rose Petal was voiced by Marie Osmond.
• The concept for Rose Petal Place was created by David Kirschner.
• Another Rose Petal film was created in 1985.
• Rose Petal was only almost killed once by the black-widowed villain, Nastina.
• Horace the horse fly – Nastina’s assistant – was never made into a doll.
• A second set of Rose Petal and friend’s dolls were made in 1985 but were discontinued prior to making it to store shelves.
• Sue Blu, who was the voice of Rose Petal’s friends, Sunflower and Daffodil, also voiced characters of “Stormer of the Misfits” and Lin-Z Pierce, in another 80’s hit animated show turned doll – “JEM”.
• Nicole Egghart played the little girl who owned the garden on Rose Petal Place and would later be seen in shows such as “Charles in Charge” and Baywatch.

1. She-Ra Princess of Power

What You Know:

• She-Ra is a spin-off from the popular animated series “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe”
• The television animated series was produced in 1985
• The show revolves around Adora’s adventures with the Great Rebellion battling against the evil Horde.
• She-Ra ended in 1987.

What You Don’t Know:

• The show was based off of a Mattel doll “Princess of Power” as He-Man was with the “Master of the Universe” doll.
• She-Ra is He-Man’s twin sister.
• The series premiered in 1985 and was cancelled in 1986, after 2 seasons and 93 episodes.
• She-Ra’s real name is Adora.
• Most of the important characters on She-Ra were female, minus the evil Hordak.
• She-Ra and her twin brother He-Man a.k.a Adam were separated shortly after birth.
• The Sword is what would change Adora into She-ra.
• The name of the castle in She-Ra was “Crystal Tower”
• She-Ra found out that besides the normal characteristics of a super hero – that she could also heal animals which she learned when her horse “Spirit Wind” was critically injured.
• In order for She-Ra to visit He-Man she had to travel through a dimensional portal – if it failed – you always knew something interesting was about to happen.

We counted down in “Care Bear” style – from five to one – with the greatest “it” toys of the eighties and their unknown facts. We hope you enjoyed reminiscing with us and learning more about your favorite toys. We will soon feature an “Unknown Facts of the “it” Toys of the Eighties Guy Edition” – so keep your eyes peeled.

You go on with your 80’s self and keep sporting them parachute pants, dancing to MC Hammer in your “members only” jackets while wearing your sunglasses at night – because you are an itthing – and that my 80’s friend – is like totally awesome!

Here is an Infograph of more Unknown Facts of “it” toys of the Eighties:

Click to enlarge