1980 Sport & Shave Ken, Sports Star Ken, Roller Skate Ken & Scott

SPORT & SHAVE KEN #1294

Sport & Shave Ken was Mattel’s most flexible Ken ever at the time; a similar body to SuperStar Ken, but with articulated wrists, and arms which bend at the elbow. He has a unique head-mold, and was the first Ken since 1976 to have rooted hair. He also came with an array of accessories and a ‘feature’: It was possible to draw on facial hair with the pen provided, and then ‘shave’ it off.

In Canada he was also known as Rase Ken le Sportif, in France as Ken Vacances and in Italy as Ken Con Barba. There is also a much rarer French/German version called Ken Loisirs with the unique code #638.

1980 #1294 Sport & Shave Ken
1980 #1294 Sport & Shave Ken
1980 #1294 Sport & Shave Ken
1980 #1294 Sport & Shave Ken
1980 #1294 Sport & Shave Ken
1980 #1294 Sport & Shave Ken
1980 #1294 Sport & Shave Ken
1980 #1294 Sport & Shave Ken accessories
1980 #1294 Sport & Shave Ken in original packaging
1980 #1294 Sport & Shave Ken in original packaging
1980 #1294 Sport & Shave Ken
Reverse of packaging
1980 #1294 Sport & Shave Ken in Canadian packaging
1980 #1294 Sport & Shave Ken in Canadian packaging
1980 #1294 Sport & Shave Ken Canadian packaging
Reverse of Canadian packaging
1980 #1294 Sport & Shave Ken Canadian packaging
Side of Canadian packaging
1980 #1294 Sport & Shave Ken Canadian packaging
reverse/side of Canadian packaging (Slight variation imprint)
1980 #1294 Sport & Shave Ken (European version)
1980 #1294 Sport & Shave Ken in European packaging
1980 #1294 Sport & Shave Ken (European version)
Reverse of European packaging
1980 #1294 Sport & Shave Ken side of European packaging
Side of European packaging
1980 #1294 Sport & Shave Ken
Identification: © Mattel Inc. 1968 Taiwan

The version sold as Ken Loisirs in France, with a box written entirely in French, was actually made in West Germany. This suggests that the elusive SuperStar Ken with the same markings on rear could also have been made in Germany for the French market (see also section 1978 The Boys).

1980 #638 Ken Loisirs (French version)
1980 #638 Ken Loisirs (French – Made in Germany – version)
1980 #638 Ken Loisirs (French - Made in Germany - version)
Reverse of French (Made in Germany) packaging
1980 #638 Ken Loisirs side of packaging
Side of French (Made in Germany) packaging
1980 #638 Ken Loisirs markings
Identification: Mattel GmbH 1978 West Germany

SPORTS STAR KEN #1336

Sports Star Ken was released in Canada and Europe only, and is one of the rarest Superstar Kens. Also known as Les Etoiles du Sport Ken in Canada and Ken Champion in France. He can easily be recognized by his unusual mustard colour hair, his small head with quite waxy skin, and side-facing hands. Also, he was the first Ken to be made in the Philippines (with accessories from Taiwan and Hong Kong). The original Canadian packaging seems to have copied the text partly from the Barbie box, so it states incorrectly that he has a Twist ‘n Turn Waist. A correction-sticker was produced to cover this, saying Bendable legs. Poseable. Later versions were printed with this written on the actual box.

1980 #1336 Sports Star Ken
1980 #1336 Sports Star Ken (Canadian version)
1980 #1336 Sports Star Ken
1980 #1336 Sports Star Ken
1980 #1336 Sports Star Ken
1980 #1336 Sports Star Ken
1980 #1336 Sports Star Ken
1980 #1336 Sports Star Ken accessories
1980 #1336 Sports Star Ken in Canadian packaging
1980 #1336 Sports Star Ken in Canadian packaging
1980 #1336 Sports Star Ken Canadian packaging
Reverse of Canadian packaging
1980 #1336 Sports Star Ken with correction sticker
1980 #1336 Sports Star Ken in Canadian packaging  (with correction sticker)
1980 #1336 Sports Star Ken in Canadian packaging
1980 #1336 Sports Star Ken in Canadian packaging (Later version)
1980 #1336 Sports Star Ken original packaging
Side of Canadian packaging
1980 #1336 Sports Star Ken
Identification: © 1968 Mattel Inc. U.S. & For. Pat’d. Other Pat’s. Pending Philippines
1980 #1336 Sports Star Ken in European packaging
1980 #1336 Sports Star Ken in European packaging
1980 #1336 Sports Star Ken in European packaging
Side of European packaging

ROLLER SKATING KEN #1881

Roller Skating Ken can be told apart by his extremely yellow hair and his wide stance. In Canada he was also known as Ken en patins à roulettes, and in France as Ken sur Patins à Roulettes. There was possibly a Mattel Mexico version called Roller Ken as companion to their Roller Barbie.

1980 #1881 Roller Skating Ken
1980 #1881 Roller Skating Ken
1980 #1881 Roller Skating Ken
1980 #1881 Roller Skating Ken
1980 #1881 Roller Skating Ken
1980 #1881 Roller Skating Ken
1980 #1881 Roller Skating Ken
1980 #1881 Roller Skating Ken accessories

The Roller Skating Ken packaging is unusual as it has a window in the top flap (below right). This innovation was obviously not a big hit, as no future packaging would feature it.

1980 #1881 Roller Skating Ken
Identification: 1088-0500 5 © Mattel Inc. 1968 Hong Kong
1980 #1881 Roller Skating Ken in original packaging (detail)
1980 #1881 Roller Skating Ken in original packaging (detail)
1980 #1881 Roller Skating Ken in original packaging
1980 #1881 Roller Skating Ken in original packaging
1980 #1881 Roller Skating Ken original packaging
Reverse of packaging
1980 #1881 Roller Skating Ken in Canadian packaging
1980 #1881 Roller Skating Ken in Canadian packaging
1980 #1881 Roller Skating Ken reverse of Canadian packaging
Reverse of Canadian packaging
1980 #1881 Roller Skating Ken in European packaging
1980 #1881 Roller Skating Ken in European packaging
1980 #1881 Roller Skating Ken in European packaging
Reverse of European packaging
1980 #639 Roller Skating Barbie & Ken in French box set packaging
1980 #639 Roller Skating Barbie & Ken in French box set packaging
1980 #639 Roller Skating Barbie & Ken French box set packaging
Reverse of French box set packaging

SCOTT

Skipper’s boyfriend Scott is the same size, with the same body-mold, as Mattel’s Jimmy Osmond doll, but Scott was made in the Philippines. The stamp on his back even has the Jimmy code number, with Philippines rather clumsily added, so Scott could well be the result of Mattel recycling unsold Jimmy dolls. He certainly didn’t last long, and no other versions or extra outfits were produced. His name was presumably inspired by TV teen-idol Scott Baio.

1980 #1019 Scott
1980 #1019 Scott
1980 #1019 Scott
1980 #1019 Scott
1980 #1019 Scott
1980 #1019 Scott
1980 #1019 Scott accessories
1980 #1019 Scott accessories
1980 #1019 Scott
1980 #1019 Scott
1980 #1019 Scott identification
Identification: 2200-2109 © Mattel Inc 1968 Philippines
1980 #1019 Scott in original packaging
1980 #1019 Scott in original packaging
1980 #1019 Scott original packaging
Reverse of packaging
1980 #1019 Scott in European packaging
1980 #1019 Scott in European packaging
1980 #1019 Scott European packaging
Reverse of European packaging
1980 #1019 Scott European packaging
Side of European packaging

BOOKLETS & CATALOGUES

From 1980 World of Fashion booklet
From 1980 World of Fashion booklet
1980 Canadian Barbie booklet
From 1980 Canadian World of Fashion booklet
From 1980 Mattel Movin' Ahead catalogue
From 1980 Mattel Movin’ Ahead catalogue
From 1980 Mattel Movin' Ahead catalogue
From 1980 Mattel Movin’ Ahead catalogue
From 1980 Mattel Movin' Ahead catalogue
From 1980 Mattel Movin’ Ahead catalogue
From 1980 Sears Wish Book
From 1980 Sears Wish Book
From 1980 Spiegel Christmas catalogue
From 1980 Spiegel Christmas catalogue
From 1980 Montgomery Ward Christmas catalogue
From 1980 Montgomery Ward Christmas catalogue
From 1980 Aldens Christmas catalogue
From 1980 Aldens Christmas catalogue
From 1980 JCPenny Christmas catalogue
From 1980 JCPenny Christmas catalogue
From 1980 Canadian Sears Christmas Wish Book
From 1980 Canadian Sears Christmas Wish Book
From 1980 German Mattel booklet
From 1980 German Mattel booklet
From German Mattel 80 catalogue
From German Mattel 80 catalogue
From 1980 Italian Barbie booklet
From 1980 Italian Barbie booklet
From 1980 Italian Barbie booklet
From 1980 Italian Barbie booklet

The French Mattel dealer catalogue below left shows that Sports Star Ken (called Ken Champion in France) was sold in a limited edition.

From French Mattel Jouets 80 catalogue
From French Mattel Jouets 80 catalogue
From 1980 French Barbie booklet
From 1980 French Barbie booklet
1980 French Barbie booklet
1980 French Barbie booklet
From 1981 French Jouets S.A.J. catalogue
From 1981 French Jouets S.A.J. catalogue

ARTICULATION

All Star Ken (below, top left) is similar to Sport & Shave Ken, in that they both have flexible bodies, jointed wrists, and arms that bend at the elbow. Their bodies can be distinguished from one another by the hands. Sport & Shave Ken has differently-shaped hands (top right). All other dolls with this more articulated body-mold have arms which move only at the shoulder (bottom left). Apart from SuperStar Ken, they all have a molded underpants design.
All Superstar era articulated dolls have more moveable heads and waists.  Kens sold from 1984 onward (including rare, later versions of earlier Kens – like Dream Date Ken for example) have sideways-only turning heads, and a less flexible waist (bottom right).

1982 #3553 All Star Ken
1982 #3553 All Star Ken
1980 #1294 Sport & Shave Ken
1980 #1294 Sport & Shave Ken
1983 #3600 Horse Lovin' Ken
1983 #3600 Horse Lovin’ Ken
1985 #9019 Day To Night Ken
1985 #9019 Day To Night Ken