Mego Sonny&Cher Toys
Encyclopedia
The Sonny & Cher Dolls were a 12 ¼ inch celebrity
dolls, in the likeness of Pop rock
duo Sonny & Cher
.
The line was released by Mego Corporation
in 1976. The release of these fashion dolls coincided with the popularity of The Sonny & Cher Show
, prime time variety TV show.
doll. The first dolls were Sonny and Cher, with Bob Mackie
designing an extensive wardrobe for Cher
. Mego held a 1,000 guest dinner dance at the Waldorf-Astoria
to launch the dolls.
After the great success of sales of dolls in 1976 (the Cher doll was the No. 1 selling doll in 1976), in 1977 a full set only for Cher was released, which included a new wardrobe with new dress, a new doll and a set of interchangeable clothes. The range was closed in 1978 after the release of other toys for the series.
.
Mego produced three versions of the Cher doll. The first, packaged in an orange box, had extra long hair and wore a salmon-colored gown with a flared bottom. The second doll, Growing Hair Cher, came in a purple box and featured a "Key" that kids could use to change the length of Cher's hair. This doll wore a black and silver dress and black open-toed shoes. Growing Hair Cher's dress can be found with a number of subtle style variations, and she was packaged in two different types of boxes.
The third Cher was more cheaply made, with a hollow plastic body without jointed hands. She was sold wearing a one piece swimsuit (yellow, blue or red). This doll, available in 1978, was packaged in a narrower orange box featuring what is commonly referred to as the cher "Gypsy" picture.
The Sonny doll came with a twelve-piece wardrobe, including a sparkling silver lame jumpsuit. Cher came with false eyelashes and in thirty-two different costumes designed by Bob Mackie
.
Mackie's elaborate Barbie
designs are now very popular with doll collectors. Mego released outfits in five different formats: Purple Box Designer Collection, Green Box Designer Collection, Boutique Collection (1977), Blue Carded fashions and Wards Exclusive Outfit Gift Sets.
Cher doll outfits were designed either from Bob Mackie originals or by Bob Mackie himself. They recreated some of Cher's iconic outfits from her TV variety shows like: the Laverne fit, the Indian Squaw fit (from Half Breed), the Foxy Lady fit and many others. Most of the clothes were sold separately or were contained in the two cabinets, along with shoes and pink hangers.
in 1977.
Many toys were available in the catalog of 1977. Two wardrobes, the first Cher's Dressing Room was a closet/backstage dressing room/carrying case for outfits. Like the "Dressing Room", the Cher Travel Trunk was a holding spot for the many outfits of the doll.
Mego in 1977 released also Cher's Infilatable Tent Set and the Sonny & Cher's Roadster. The red Roadster
is convertible, while the box shows a picture of Sonny and Cher driving. To re-create the stage for their show was released Cher Theatre in the Round. This was a revolving stage with four scenes: the main stage, Sonny's Pizzeria, and Cher's dressing room, this also came with piano, microphone stand and dressing table. The Cher's Makeup Center was released in competition with The Barbie Makeup Center and came with curlers and face paint. The last items of the catalog are Cher's Sing Along Phono a portable record player and the Cher's Fashion Jewelry.
.
Celebrity
A celebrity, also referred to as a celeb in popular culture, is a person who has a prominent profile and commands a great degree of public fascination and influence in day-to-day media...
dolls, in the likeness of Pop rock
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
duo Sonny & Cher
Sonny & Cher
Sonny & Cher were an American pop music duo, actors, singers and entertainers made up of husband-and-wife team Sonny and Cher Bono in the 1960s and 1970s. The couple started their career in the mid-1960s as R&B backing singers for record producer Phil Spector....
.
The line was released by Mego Corporation
Mego Corporation
The Mego Corporation was a toy company that dominated the action figure toy market during most of the 1970s. The Mego Corporation was founded in the early 1950s by David Abrams and was mostly known prior to 1971 as a producer of dime store toys.-Golden age:...
in 1976. The release of these fashion dolls coincided with the popularity of The Sonny & Cher Show
The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour is an American variety show based on the married couple of American pop-singer Cher and her husband, Sonny Bono. The show ran on CBS in the United States, when it premiered in August 1971...
, prime time variety TV show.
History
In May 1976, Mego launched a highly successful 12 ¼ inch celebrity doll line, to directly compete with Mattel's BarbieBarbie
Barbie is a fashion doll manufactured by the American toy-company Mattel, Inc. and launched in March 1959. American businesswoman Ruth Handler is credited with the creation of the doll using a German doll called Bild Lilli as her inspiration....
doll. The first dolls were Sonny and Cher, with Bob Mackie
Bob Mackie
Robert Gordon Mackie is an American fashion designer, best known for his costuming for entertainment icons such as Judy Garland, Cher, Diana Ross, Liza Minnelli, Tina Turner, and Mitzi Gaynor...
designing an extensive wardrobe for Cher
Cher
Cher is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes and a Cannes Film Festival Award among others for her work in...
. Mego held a 1,000 guest dinner dance at the Waldorf-Astoria
Waldorf-Astoria Hotel
The Waldorf-Astoria is a luxury hotel in New York. It has been housed in two historic landmark buildings in New York City. The first, designed by architect Henry J. Hardenbergh, was on the Fifth Avenue site of the Empire State Building. The present building at 301 Park Avenue in Manhattan is a...
to launch the dolls.
After the great success of sales of dolls in 1976 (the Cher doll was the No. 1 selling doll in 1976), in 1977 a full set only for Cher was released, which included a new wardrobe with new dress, a new doll and a set of interchangeable clothes. The range was closed in 1978 after the release of other toys for the series.
The Dolls
Before issuing, a preview of Sonny & Cher dolls was shown in the catalogue of the 1976. Both are very different, Sonny's face is serious, and the arms of Cher were bent at right angles. The final of the Sonny doll version was given a smile and the arms of Cher were put straight. Both dolls was after unveiled at The Mike Douglas ShowThe Mike Douglas Show
The Mike Douglas Show is an American daytime television talk show hosted by Mike Douglas that aired in syndication from 1961 to 1982, distributed by Westinghouse Broadcasting and for much of its run, originated from studios of two of the company's TV stations.The program featured light banter with...
.
Mego produced three versions of the Cher doll. The first, packaged in an orange box, had extra long hair and wore a salmon-colored gown with a flared bottom. The second doll, Growing Hair Cher, came in a purple box and featured a "Key" that kids could use to change the length of Cher's hair. This doll wore a black and silver dress and black open-toed shoes. Growing Hair Cher's dress can be found with a number of subtle style variations, and she was packaged in two different types of boxes.
The third Cher was more cheaply made, with a hollow plastic body without jointed hands. She was sold wearing a one piece swimsuit (yellow, blue or red). This doll, available in 1978, was packaged in a narrower orange box featuring what is commonly referred to as the cher "Gypsy" picture.
The Sonny doll came with a twelve-piece wardrobe, including a sparkling silver lame jumpsuit. Cher came with false eyelashes and in thirty-two different costumes designed by Bob Mackie
Bob Mackie
Robert Gordon Mackie is an American fashion designer, best known for his costuming for entertainment icons such as Judy Garland, Cher, Diana Ross, Liza Minnelli, Tina Turner, and Mitzi Gaynor...
.
Mackie's elaborate Barbie
Barbie
Barbie is a fashion doll manufactured by the American toy-company Mattel, Inc. and launched in March 1959. American businesswoman Ruth Handler is credited with the creation of the doll using a German doll called Bild Lilli as her inspiration....
designs are now very popular with doll collectors. Mego released outfits in five different formats: Purple Box Designer Collection, Green Box Designer Collection, Boutique Collection (1977), Blue Carded fashions and Wards Exclusive Outfit Gift Sets.
Doll's Outfits
In 1977, the catalog Mego was provided with many items about Cher, especially on clothesCher doll outfits were designed either from Bob Mackie originals or by Bob Mackie himself. They recreated some of Cher's iconic outfits from her TV variety shows like: the Laverne fit, the Indian Squaw fit (from Half Breed), the Foxy Lady fit and many others. Most of the clothes were sold separately or were contained in the two cabinets, along with shoes and pink hangers.
Other Toys
Besides the dolls, Mego produced some toys for the line of Sonny & Cher. Those were big in the late 1970s, the time of The Cher Show and The Sonny & Cher ShowThe Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour is an American variety show based on the married couple of American pop-singer Cher and her husband, Sonny Bono. The show ran on CBS in the United States, when it premiered in August 1971...
in 1977.
Many toys were available in the catalog of 1977. Two wardrobes, the first Cher's Dressing Room was a closet/backstage dressing room/carrying case for outfits. Like the "Dressing Room", the Cher Travel Trunk was a holding spot for the many outfits of the doll.
Mego in 1977 released also Cher's Infilatable Tent Set and the Sonny & Cher's Roadster. The red Roadster
Roadster
A roadster is a two-seat open car with emphasis on sporty handling and without a fixed roof or side weather protection. Strictly speaking a roadster with wind-up windows is a convertible but as true roadsters are no longer made the distinction is now irrelevant...
is convertible, while the box shows a picture of Sonny and Cher driving. To re-create the stage for their show was released Cher Theatre in the Round. This was a revolving stage with four scenes: the main stage, Sonny's Pizzeria, and Cher's dressing room, this also came with piano, microphone stand and dressing table. The Cher's Makeup Center was released in competition with The Barbie Makeup Center and came with curlers and face paint. The last items of the catalog are Cher's Sing Along Phono a portable record player and the Cher's Fashion Jewelry.
Collectables
The only defect of the dolls is their hair, which over time will ruin, and the eyelashes, which over time can lose. Today, the dolls and boxed outfits in mint condition sell for anywhere from $30 to $400 each. The dolls are now collectables and can be found on EbayEBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
.