Hobbies And Interests
The Golden Age
By the middle of the 20th century, paper dolls had reached their height in popularity. Indeed, paper dolls have not enjoyed the popularity in recent times as they did in the 1950s. The Great Depression made cheap dolls a popular toy, and although these dolls experienced a brief shortage of availability during the rationing of World War II, they quickly became popular with mothers and daughters again during the '50s. It was during this decade that the variations and styles of paper dolls greatly expanded.
Betsy McCall
Perhaps the most popular paper doll of her time, Betsy McCall was a popular figurine that was frequently included in McCall magazines. Each McCall came in different variations, with different poses and outfits that accompanied stories of her fictional travels around the country and the world. Her outfits also often reflected popular sewing patterns released by McCall at the time.
Comic Book Tie-Ins
Another popular use for paper dolls in the 1950s were comic book tie-ins. Paper dolls were often included in new comic issues to attract both female and male readers. These figurines were often characters from the series, and included many unusual and fantastical costumes that would not suit daily wear. Popular comics of the time included the Archie series, Dennis the Menace and Millie the Model.
Reflecting an Era
The most popular paper dolls of the era simply reflected the day-to-day fashions of the time. Paper doll family kits included different family members with different outfits in which to dress them. Female dolls often had ruffled dresses with a bow around the waist --- the quintessential image of the suburban house wife. Male dolls could be dressed in business attire or casual clothing for the weekend off.