KEN & FRIENDS: MALE FASHION DOLLS & CLOTHING FROM 1961-1987
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.
The European/Canadian version kept the earlier packaging.
1975 #1088 Sun Set Malibu Ken (European/Canadian version)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).
The Gold Medal Ken Skier was 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.
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)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)Reverse of Canadian packaging1975 #7261 Gold Medal Ken Skier Canadian version wrist tagGold 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.
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 catalogueFrom 1975 JCPenney Christmas catalogueFrom 1975 Canadian Simpsons Christmas catalogueFrom 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 bookletFrom 1975 Italian Barbie bookletFrom 1975 Italian Barbie bookletFrom 1975 Italian Barbie bookletFrom 1975 Italian Barbie bookletFrom 1975 Italian Mattel Toy catalogueFrom 1975 Italian Mattel Toy catalogueFrom 1975 Belgian Barbie bookletFrom 1975 Belgian Barbie bookletFrom 1975 Belgian Barbie bookletFrom 1975 Belgian Barbie bookletFrom 1975 French Barbie bookletFrom 1975 French Barbie bookletFrom 1975 French Barbie bookletFrom 1975 Dutch Barbie bookletFrom 1975 Dutch Barbie bookletFrom 1975 Dutch Barbie bookletFrom 1975 Dutch Barbie bookletFrom 1975 Dutch Barbie bookletFrom 1975 German Barbie bookletFrom 1975 German Barbie bookletFrom 1975 German Barbie bookletFrom 1975 German Barbie bookletFrom 1975 German Barbie bookletFrom 1975 Swiss Franz Carl Weber catalogueFrom 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.
