Cabbage Patch Kids Turn 25!
Anniversary Bash Planned in North Georgia and New York Toys 'R' Us
Sep 9, 2008
If you were the parent in the 1980s, chances are you stood in line for hours just to buy a Cabbage Patch Kid for your child. Some greedy parents even engaged in physical scuffles with other parents just to make sure their child had a Cabbage Patch doll under the Christmas tree.
It doesn’t seem like it’s been a quarter of a century since those Cabbage Patch-crazed days, but it has. To honor the 25th anniversary of the Cabbage Patch Kids, a special party is being planned for September 20th at the Babyland General Hospital headquarters in Cleveland, Georgia. Babyland’s anniversary will also be recognized in New York City’s Time Square at the Big Apple Toys 'R' Us store.
History of the Cabbage Patch Doll
Teenager Xavier Robert, who inherited his mother’s love for sculpting and quilting, created his first doll in 1976. At the young age of 21, the young entrepreneur adopted out his first Cabbage Patch Kid for $40 in 1978. Made of cloth, the hand-stitched, soft-sculptured dolls were featured at a North Georgia craft show in the late 1970s and soon caught the attention of the toy manufacturer, Coleco, in 1982. Their trademark features, including large round vinyl heads, saucer-shaped eyes, and cloth-like bodies, continue to capture the hearts of children and doll collectors worldwide.
The dolls continued to change hands with Hasbro taking over in 1989, followed by Mattel in the mid-1990s to 2003. With each new toy company, small changes were made, such as the talking dolls.
BabylandGeneral Hospital Then and Now
Xavier Robert was not only creative in designing them, but went a step further in creating Babyland, a fairy-tale hospital. He converted an old turn-of-the century medical clinic into a place of business, as well as an imaginary nursery, birthing, and adoption center. Dressed as hospital personnel, the staff adds to the fun of the adoption process. There’s even a special section for preemies, as well as older kids.
Today Babyland General Hospital still draws tourists to its site at 73 West Underwood Street in Cleveland, Georgia. What's more, in 2004, Babyland was selected by the Travel Channel as one of the top ten toylands in America. And collectors continue to collect as many Cabbage Patch Kids as they can find, some even claiming to have more than 5,000 in their stash
How Cabbage Patch Dolls are Unique
Besides having a unique look about them, Cabbage Patch Kids also are special in that the buyer receives an adoption certificate, much like that of a real adopted baby. In addition, half the thrill of adopting a kid is selecting the one just for you.
Significance of the Cabbage Patch Doll Craze
In 1999, the popularity of the Cabbage Patch Kids led to a U.S commemorative postage stamp, honoring the 1980s. Aside from the hysteria of parents of the 1980s standing in line for hours before dark to secure a doll for their child, the Cabbage Patch craze has a deeper significance. It proved how a young artisan could work hard to create a worldwide product that continues to captivate kids and doll collectors of all ages, as well as highlight the act of adoption.
 |
