Holly Hobbie (fictional character)

Holly Hobbie is a fictional character and children's toy created by American painter and illustrator Denise Holly Hobbie.[1]

Origin

In the late 1960s, at the encouragement of her brother-in-law,[2] Hobbie sold distinctive artwork of a cat-loving, rag dress-wearing little girl in a giant bonnet to American Greetings in Cleveland, Ohio. The artwork, based on Hobbie's own children and with rustic New England style of a bygone era,[2] became popular, and her originally nameless[3] character (identified earlier as "blue girl") became known as Holly Hobbie. As a contract artist, Hobbie worked with the Humorous Planning department at American Greetings under art director Rex Connors, who was responsible for launching "blue girl" as the most identifiable of the Hobbie characters.

Doll and other product licensing

Also working in Humorous Planning at that time (1973–74) was Bob Childers, a veteran humorous concept artist and designer. Childers insisted that there should be a doll of the character. Since no one seemed to listen, Childers went home and, on his own time, hand-stitched the first prototype and presented it to Connors, who took the cloth doll to Tom Wilson, Creative Vice President. American Greetings approached Knickerbocker Toy Company concerning the Holly Hobbie license. In 1974, Knickerbocker Toys licensed the Holly Hobbie character for a line of rag dolls, launched in 1975.[1] These were a popular toy for young American girls for several years. Additional products were licensed and produced, including fabrics, furniture,[2] ceramics, games, and stationery.[1] Holly Hobbie products were later marketed by American Greetings in association with Carlton Cards.

In 1976, Coleco produced a toy oven similar to Kenner's Easy-Bake Oven

Updated versions

Beginning in 1989[2] and into the 1990s, Holly Hobbie dolls were produced by Tomy.[1] Knickerbocker Toys also began producing dolls, but these were vinyl doll heads with soft bodies, unlike the original cloth dolls (rag dolls).[2]

In 2006, a redesigned Holly Hobbie was introduced with the launch of Holly Hobbie & Friends, a series of specials that were broadcast on Nickelodeon's Nick Jr. block and the separate Noggin channel. They were also released on DVD.[4] The traditional line still exists, with the back story that the "original" Holly is the great-great-grandmother of the "new" Holly.

Works

External links

• of the TV series