Meet the Littlechaps, Remco's Mid-Century Modern Doll Family from 1963
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Meet the Littlechaps, Remco's Mid-Century Modern Doll Family from 1963
Get to know this fashionable family. Turned out in the height of 1960s fashions, the Littlechaps simply can’t wait to meet you.
Lanesville is the imaginary town that was home to the Littlechaps, Remco’s short-lived perfect family of dolls that was produced for only one year in 1963.
The company created a back story for the dolls as well as an impressive array of outfits and accessories. Sadly, they didn’t capture the public imagination and the line was swiftly dropped. Various reasons have been put forward for this failure, despite the obvious quality of the clothing and the thought that had been put into the family.
It’s possible that the sizes chosen for the dolls were a mistake, at a whopping 15 inches tall for the adults. This cut down the possibility of swapping outfits with dolls from other manufacturers and might have limited the Littlechaps appeal. Another hypothesis is that the line was centered too firmly on the adult dolls, whereas potential young doll-shoppers might have preferred to identify with dolls closer to their own age, such as Tammy or the teen fashion models.
Anyway, enough speculation - let’s meet the family, as described by their makers. The Littlechaps are Dr John Littlechap, Lisa his wife, and their two daughters 17-year old Judy and 10-year old Libby. “Never before has a family of dolls been created that is so true to life”, according to Remco. These dolls were aspirational with more than a nod in the direction of Camelot and the Kennedy clan.
Here's a handy timeline, so you can go straight to you favorite family member!
0:00 Meet the Littlechap Family of Dolls
0:31 1963, launch of the Littlechaps
0:49 Littlechap Family overview
3:15 Remco's Littlechap catalog
3:54 Littlechap Family Portraits by Ernesto Padró-Campos
5:58 Boxed outfits for the Littlechaps
6:14 Dr John Littlechap's outfits
8:01 Lisa Littlechap's outfits
10:49 Judy Littlechap's outfits
14:08 Libby Littlechap's outfits
15:31 The Littlechap Roomsets: Master Bedroom, Family Room, Dr John's Office
16:56 On tour with the Littlechaps
19:42 Littlechap dolls size guide and comparison with Barbie etc
20:44 Terence Oldham: Ken as Mrs Kravitz
21:44 Closing credits
Пікірлер: 32
This would have been a good time for Mattel to make dolls of Barbie's parents to compete.
@BoldDoll
Жыл бұрын
Good point! It’s interesting to speculate what Mattel would have come up with. A more stylish version of Tammy’s parents perhaps? Or maybe dolls based on Rob and Laura Petrie from The Dick Van Dyke Show? Thanks for your comments!
Wow, impressive line! I'm a little sad that the Littlechaps didn't succeed. They put so much effort into the line! Ah, we'll. It's not easy being ginormous! I always thought the dad looked like Robert Young from Father Knows Best! Nice video!
@BoldDoll
Жыл бұрын
I totally agree! What were Remco thinking? It's like they just picked sizes at random for these dolls. Spot on about Robert Young, I hadn't made that connection before. Thanks for getting in touch, I really appreciate it!
J adore cette petite famille avec leurs vêtements et le mobilier en carton dans des petites valise avec leurs poignets
@BoldDoll
Жыл бұрын
Merci Franck, je suis content que ça te plaise. Les Littlechaps sont très amusants !
Great video! I like that it includes a touch of humor !
@BoldDoll
Жыл бұрын
Thanks very much, I’m glad you enjoyed it! Hope you’re having a great trip!
Great overview of this vintage doll line. I'd only seen them in an old catalog photo but this video covers pretty much anything I wanted to know about them. Interesting that the Littlechaps were bigger than most fashion dolls. I was honestly kind of into them until I saw how big they were. I don't collect many large dolls myself so I can see how that was a deal breaker, but it's a shame they weren't more successful. If I were a 60s kid I could see myself getting the teenager and a couple of her outfits or one of the playsets to use for Barbie.
@BoldDoll
28 күн бұрын
Hi there, thanks for writing in, I really appreciate it! I'm delighted that you enjoyed the Littlechaps video and found it useful. I'm sure it was the size that did them in, but mainly because they weren't compatible with Barbie and Ken, the market leaders then, as now. But the Littlechaps really don't seem that enormous in real life - especially if you're not putting them next to the standard 12-inch fashion dolls. It doesn't seem like quite the same jump in scale as between Barbie and the 16-inch tall dolls, for example. So I wouldn't let the size put you off too much if you're interested in exploring this line further. That, and you can pick them up for great prices at the moment!
Voice acting is a special treat 😍 "Rrrrrrroll those arrrrrrrrrs!" (c)
@BoldDoll
Жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed the received pronunciation! Years of listening to the BBC, not to mention Brief Encounter kzread.info/dash/bejne/eneomrVmcczVZbA.html Thank you for watching!!
Thorough, style always in the forefront of your presentation, and fun! Thank you!!
@BoldDoll
Жыл бұрын
You are so welcome! I'm really glad you enjoyed it - thanks very much for letting me know!
Fun video love see the rooms I have several dolls one with blue eyes so fun see the blonde doll! Love your video!
@BoldDoll
Жыл бұрын
Thank you 🤗 The Littlechaps are some of my favorites. I’m so glad that you’re enjoying my channel - please tell your friends! The more views I get the more it encourages me to make new videos!!
I was just telling someone about Judy and the Littlechaps when I found your delightful video. I believe I still have Judy (I've moved a few times) along with her collegiate tweedy outfit, but I'm sorry my mom didn't get me the whole family now. Lisa's outfits are lovely!
@BoldDoll
Ай бұрын
Hi Elizabeth! Thanks very much for your comments, I appreciate it. Glad you enjoyed the video - the Littlechaps are such fun, and their outfits are so beautifully made. Remco missed a trick by making them unconventional sizes - I’m sure they would have been more popular if they’d matched Barbie and Ken in proportion.
Absolutely gorgeous! Love the Littlechaps! Your videos are always the best! ❤❤❤
@BoldDoll
Жыл бұрын
Lukas! It's always great to hear from you. Thank you so much - your encouragement means a lot!
Oh this is just priceless! What a superb way to show off your magnificent collection instead of the usual boring you tube monotony. I’ve giggled all the way through, Latrina such an asset 😂 I’ve bought the family in the U.K. but it’ll most likely take me years to find their full wardrobe and not a chance of the rooms so think I’ll have to craft them (with the right height as well) the clothing quality is just such a joy to see
@BoldDoll
Жыл бұрын
You made my day! Thank you so much for writing in - I'm delighted that you enjoyed this video (and the humour!). Latrina is definitely an asset - although you wouldn't want to mess with her!! The Littlechaps are some of my particular favourites, and relatively easy to collect in the sense that there's a finite number of outfits, dolls, etc. and then you're done. Unlike Barbie! Agreed, the rooms can be harder to find in decent condition, and I imagine shipping to the UK would be prohibitively expensive. If you liked the tone of this video, you might also enjoy the Vintage Barbie Restoration Spoof kzread.info/dash/bejne/fap93LprZtDJqJc.html easily the most hated video on my channel 😀 - not everybody gets it! Thanks again for your comments, I really appreciate it.
@rootlestootles1462
Жыл бұрын
@@BoldDoll I’ve just bought a Littlechap family. I’m beginning to realise the high maintenance work involved no Sindy wash n go coiffure here! it’s taken me all afternoon to get that beep beehive emulating her original after a much needed wash and condition. I ran you you tube through the tv to watch again and giggle whilst wasting the hours whilst the other half at work 😂 if only I were like Lisa, I bet she had a pinny to wear whilst the maid cleaned the home 😂 I will watch your Barbie video
@BoldDoll
Жыл бұрын
lol - Lisa is definitely a high maintenance kinda gal. Without the beehive she can look a bit witchy! My Mrs Littlechap's hair has been shellacked up to beyond belief - gale-force winds would have little impact on her hairdo now. I bet the Littlechaps employed Barbie as the maid - to teach her a lesson!
Lisa has such lovely clothes; it’s a shame they don’t fit anyone else (ladies I mean 😂) I can’t go for her beehive though.
@BoldDoll
11 ай бұрын
You're absolutely right - the Littlechap outfits were beautifully made. I'm sure the dolls would have been more successful if Hasbro had chosen a more conventional scale for them. PS. GI Joe also makes a good fit model for some of Lisa's ensembles. I'm just saying. 😀 He doesn't like the beehive, either.
I haven’t seen a half slip in decades 😂
@BoldDoll
Жыл бұрын
Get the foundation garments right and the rest of the outfit will take care of itself!
Don't put Ken in drag.
@BoldDoll
Жыл бұрын
lol - it’s not the first time! kzread.info/dash/bejne/aoCkxdpmf6qwctY.html