1975 The Sun Set Malibu Ken, Funtime Ken, Gold Medal Skier Ken & Free Moving Ken & Curtis

THE SUN SET MALIBU KEN #1088

I have discovered several (The Sun Set) Malibu Kens with slightly different looks, markings and boxes. The first one to be made in Taiwan was packaged in a white box, though in Europe and Canada he came in the earlier packaging. Most are like the one shown below, with quite a large head, hefty black eyebrows and a big smile. All (The Sun Set) Malibu Kens I’ve seen MIB from here on came with green shorts and no towel.

1975 #1088 Sun Set Malibu Ken
1975 #1088 The Sun Set Malibu Ken
1975 #1088 Sun Set Malibu Ken
1975 #1088 The Sun Set Malibu Ken
1975 #1088 Sun Set Malibu Ken
1975 #1088 The Sun Set Malibu Ken
1975 #1088 The Sun Set Malibu Ken identification
© 1968 Mattel Inc. U.S. & For. Patd. Other Pats. Pending Taiwan
1975 #1088 The Sun Set Malibu Ken in original packaging
1975 #1088 The Sun Set Malibu Ken in original packaging
1975 #1088 The Sun Set Malibu Ken original packaging
Reverse of packaging
1975 #1088 The Sun Set Malibu Ken
1975 #1088 The Sun Set Malibu Ken with brown eyebrows
1975 #1088 The Sun Set Malibu Ken
© 1968 Mattel Inc. U.S. & For. Patd. Other Pats. Pending Taiwan

The European/Canadian version kept the earlier packaging.

1975 #1088 Sun Set Malibu Ken (European/Canadian version)
1975 #1088 Sun Set Malibu Ken (European/Canadian version)
1975 #1088 Sun Set Malibu Ken (European/Canadian version) packaging
Reverse of European/Canadian packaging

FUNTIME KEN #7194

Funtime Ken was a European release. Also known in Italy as Ken In Vacanza. There is a second version from 1976, with the revised head and body (see the 1976 boys section).

1975 #7194 Funtime Ken
1975 #7194 Funtime Ken
1975 #7194 Funtime Ken
1975 #7194 Funtime Ken
1975 #7194 Funtime Ken
1975 #7194 Funtime Ken
1975 #7194 Funtime Ken
Identification: © 1968 Mattel Inc. U.S. & For. Pat’d. Other Pats. Pending Taiwan.
1975 #7194 Funtime Ken in original packaging
1975 #7194 Funtime Ken in original packaging
1975 #7194 Funtime Ken original packaging
Reverse of packaging

GOLD MEDAL KEN SKIER #7261

The Gold Medal Ken Skier has lighter colouring and a smaller head than the Malibu blondes. Also known in Canada as Ken Médaille d’Or Ski and in the Netherlands as Ken op skies. I have seen a special Sears Winter Sports packaging for their Gold Medal Barbies (a printed pink and white box), so it is possible that there was a similar box for their Gold Medal Kens.

1975 #7261 Gold Medal Skier Ken
1975 #7261 Gold Medal Ken Skier
1975 #7261 Gold Medal Skier Ken
1975 #7261 Gold Medal Ken Skier
1975 #7261 Gold Medal Skier Ken
1975 #7261 Gold Medal Ken Skier
1975 #7261 Gold Medal Skier Ken
1975 #7261 Gold Medal Ken Skier accessories
1975 #7261 Gold Medal Skier Ken identification
© 1968 Mattel. Inc. Taiwan U.S. &. Foreign Patd. Patd in Cannda* 1967.
1975 #7261 Gold Medal Ken Skier in original packaging
1975 #7261 Gold Medal Ken Skier in original packaging

* Printing error for Canada

Note how in this version with the variation liner Ken is not wearing the bib.

1975 #7261 Gold Medal Ken Skier in original packaging (Variation liner)
1975 #7261 Gold Medal Ken Skier in original packaging (Variation liner)
1975 #7261 Gold Medal Skier Ken reverse of packaging
Reverse of packaging

The Canadian Skier Ken is the only Ken sold after 1974 which came with a wrist tag. He also came with a unique gold medal.

1975 #7261 Gold Medal Ken Skier (Canadian version)
1975 #7261 Gold Medal Ken Skier (Canadian version)
1975 #7261 Médaille d'or Ken Ski (Canadian version)
Reverse of Canadian packaging
1975 #7261 Gold Medal Ken Skier (Canadian version)
1975 #7261 Gold Medal Ken Skier Canadian version wrist tag
1975 #7261 Gold Medal Ken Skier Canadian version accessories)
Gold Medal Ken Skier Canadian version accessories

The Free Moving boys both came with tennis and golf accessories. The outfit is a one-piece – the first to be made like this. They are both great dolls, though quite brittle, so need to be handled carefully. Despite using the Brad head-mold, Mattel called the black doll Curtis. No other Curtis dolls were produced, and no other clothing was designed for him. In Canada Ken was also known as Ken La Sportive (see box below – surely a printing error for Le Sportif?), and in Italy they were also known as Ken Sportivo and Curtis Sportivo.

FREE MOVING KEN #7280

1975 #7280 Free Moving Ken
1975 #7280 Free Moving Ken
1975 #7280 Free Moving Ken
1975 #7280 Free Moving Ken
1975 #7280 Free Moving Ken
1975 #7280 Free Moving Ken
1975 #7280 Free Moving Ken
1975 #7280 Free Moving Ken accessories
1975 #7280 Free Moving Ken identification
Identification: © 1968 Mattel, Inc Taiwan U.S. Patent Pending.
1975 #7280 Free Moving Ken in original packaging
1975 #7280 Free Moving Ken in original packaging
1975 #7280 Free Moving Ken in original packaging
1975 #7280 Free Moving Ken (Variation liner)
1975 #7280 Free Moving Ken original packaging
Reverse of packaging
1975 #7280 Free Moving Ken in Canadian packaging
1975 #7280 Free Moving Ken in Canadian packaging
1975 #7280 Free Moving Ken Canadian packaging
Reverse of Canadian packaging

FREE MOVING CURTIS #7282

1975 #7282 Free Moving Curtis
1975 #7282 Free Moving Curtis
1975 #7282 Free Moving Curtis
1975 #7282 Free Moving Curtis
1975 #7282 Free Moving Curtis
1975 #7282 Free Moving Curtis
1975 #7282 Free Moving Curtis
1975 #7282 Free Moving Curtis accessories
1975 #7282 Free Moving Curtis
Identification: © 1968 Mattel, Inc Taiwan U.S. Patent Pending.
1975 #7282 Free Moving Curtis in original packaging
1975 #7282 Free Moving Curtis in original packaging
1975 #7282 Free Moving Curtis in original packaging
1975 #7282 Free Moving Curtis in original packaging (Variation liner)
1975 #7282 Free Moving Curtis reverse of packaging
Reverse of packaging

BOOKLETS & CATALOGUES

From 1975 Mattel Toys Spring Introductions catalogue
From 1975 Mattel Toys '75 catalogue
From Mattel Toys ’75 catalogue
From Mattel Toys '75 catalogue
From Mattel Toys ’75 catalogue
From 1975 Spiegel Christmas catalogue
From 1975 Sears Wish Book
From 1975 Sears Wish Book
From 1975 Sears Wish Book
From 1975 Sears Wish Book

Mod Hair Ken was still being sold in 1975, and the Montgomery Ward catalogue offered their tuxedo-version Mod Hair Ken from 1974 at a discount price.

From 1975 Montgomery Ward Christmas catalogue
From 1975 Montgomery Ward Christmas catalogue
From 1975 Montgomery Ward Christmas catalogue
From 1975 Montgomery Ward Christmas catalogue
From 1975 Eaton's Christmas catalogue
From 1975 Eaton’s Christmas catalogue
From 1975 Aldens Christmas catalogue
From 1975 Aldens Christmas catalogue

JCPenney still shows an original Sun Set Malibu Ken, though I doubt he was the version actually sold. The text certainly makes no mention of a towel.

From 1975 JCPenney Christmas catalogue
From 1975 JCPenney Christmas catalogue
From 1975 JCPenney Christmas catalogue
From 1975 JCPenney Christmas catalogue
From 1975 Canadian Simpsons Christmas catalogue
From 1975 Canadian Simpsons Christmas catalogue
From 1975 Simpsons Sears Christmas Wish Book
From 1975 Canadian Sears Christmas Wish Book

The Italian Mattel promotional material for 1975 still shows the original Sun Set Malibu Ken with towel and red shorts.

From 1975 Italian Barbie booklet
From 1975 Italian Barbie booklet
From 1975 Italian Barbie booklet
From 1975 Italian Barbie booklet
From 1975 Italian Barbie booklet
From 1975 Italian Barbie booklet
From 1975 Italian Barbie booklet
From 1975 Italian Barbie booklet
From 1975 Italian Barbie booklet
From 1975 Italian Barbie booklet
From 1975 Italian Mattel Toy catalogue
From 1975 Italian Mattel Toy catalogue
From 1975 Italian Mattel Toy catalogue
From 1975 Italian Mattel Toy catalogue
From 1975 Belgian Barbie booklet
From 1975 Belgian Barbie booklet
From 1975 Belgian Barbie booklet
From 1975 Belgian Barbie booklet
From 1975 Belgian Barbie booklet
From 1975 Belgian Barbie booklet
From 1975 Belgian Barbie booklet
From 1975 Belgian Barbie booklet
From 1975 French Barbie booklet
From 1975 French Barbie booklet
From 1975 French Barbie booklet
From 1975 French Barbie booklet
From 1975 French Barbie booklet
From 1975 French Barbie booklet
From 1975 Dutch Barbie booklet
From 1975 Dutch Barbie booklet
From 1975 Dutch Barbie booklet
From 1975 Dutch Barbie booklet
From 1975 Dutch Barbie booklet
From 1975 Dutch Barbie booklet
From 1975 Dutch Barbie booklet
From 1975 Dutch Barbie booklet
From 1975 Dutch Barbie booklet
From 1975 Dutch Barbie booklet
1975 German Barbie booklet
From 1975 German Barbie booklet
1975 German Barbie booklet
From 1975 German Barbie booklet
1975 German Barbie booklet
From 1975 German Barbie booklet
1975 German Barbie booklet
From 1975 German Barbie booklet
From 1975 German Barbie booklet
From 1975 German Barbie booklet
From 1975 Swiss Franz Carl Weber catalogue
From 1975 Swiss Franz Carl Weber catalogue
From 1975 Dutch de Speelgoedkrant van Nederland (supplement)
From 1975 Dutch de Speelgoedkrant van Nederland (supplement)

ARTICULATION

With their jointed waists and tabs on their backs, the Free Moving dolls can be moved into various positions. Unfortunately they are also fragile and brittle, and are very easily broken. Free Moving Ken is relatively easy and inexpensive to find MIB online, but Free Moving Curtis obviously wasn’t produced in the same quantities, and is now quite a rare doll.

1975 #7280 Free Moving Ken
1975 #7280 Free Moving Ken
1975 #7280 Free Moving Ken
1975 #7280 Free Moving Ken
1975 #7282 Free Moving Curtis
1975 #7282 Free Moving Curtis
1975 #7282 Free Moving Curtis
1975 #7282 Free Moving Curtis