Vogue Jill, Jan and Jeff
|
-from the Victoria Broadhurst Collection-
|
"Jill" was a very popular teenage doll
produced by Vogue Dolls, Inc., from 1957 to 1965.
When one thinks of a teen doll, naturally thoughts go to the immensely
popular Barbie.
However, prior to Barbie's introduction in 1959, there were other
popular teenage dolls in the
market. Chief among the dolls were Jill, Cissette by Madame
Alexander and Little Miss
Revlon by Ideal. Also popular were Uneeda Suzette, Horsman Cindy,
Circle P dolls, and Jan,
another teen doll by Vogue. (Jan was marketed as Jill's friend,
and she shared Jill's
wardrobe. Jan's name was printed on the Vogue furniture with
Jill's; thus, she could be
thought of as a "sister" in the Vogue doll family.)
Prior to Jill's introduction in 1957, Vogue was successfully producing
the immensely popular
Ginny, an 8-inch "little girl" doll known for her outstanding
wardrobe and high quality
construction. Vogue decided to expand their doll line with a
10-1/2 inch teenage doll, and Jill
- "Ginny's big sister" - was the result.
Subsequently, the teen line was expanded to include
Jan and Jeff. (Jeff was marketed as Jill's friend and/or a brother
in the Vogue doll family.)
Vogue continued their tradition of offering high-quality doll
construction and outstanding
fashions for Jill. The fabrics used were durable and of the best
quality, and the designs were
fashionable. Attention was paid to detail; the accessories were
many and varied.
Jill was very popular in 1957 and 1958. However, with the
introduction of Barbie and the
innovative marketing campaign for the new doll, the popularity of Jill
and other teenage dolls
began to fade in 1959 and 1960. Jill was discontinued in 1961, but
was brought back in a
revised version in 1962 and 1963. Jill was not produced in 1964. The final year of Jill's
production was 1965, and she was clothed in six historical costumes in
the History Land
series.
 |
| Jill |
 |
| Jan & Jeff |
 |
| Detail: heart shaped earrings |
 |
| high heeled shoes |
 |
| marked on back |
1957, 1958, 1959, 196010-1/2" Hard Plastic
Bent Knee
Walker (head turns when legs "walked")
Metal loops on ears for earrings
Blonde, brunette or auburn hair in angel cut or ponytail (glued-on Saran wig)
Molded lash sleep eyes (blue or rare brown)
High heel foot
Marked JILL.....on her back....Vogue on base of neck
Bent Knee
Walker (head turns when legs "walked")
Metal loops on ears for earrings
Blonde, brunette or auburn hair in angel cut or ponytail (glued-on Saran wig)
Molded lash sleep eyes (blue or rare brown)
High heel foot
Marked JILL.....on her back....Vogue on base of neck
Jill doll from my own collection:
