Barbie’s 1962 Dream House® — is back. I just found out. And I just ordered mine, via Amazon. Hey: It ALSO includes the Barbie! Note: Links in this story are Amazon affiliate links, meaning, if ya click and buy I earn a small commission (currently all going toward weebit’s law school fund — Mom so proud!)
I visited my longtime friend Pat Henry, publisher of Fashion Doll Quarterly, this past weekend, and she told me about this product revival — and, she also had one in hand for us to play with.
As longtime readers may know, Barbie was quite a figure in my life. I loved the dolls and played with Barbie, Skipper, Midge — and all their houses an cars — avidly ’til I was like… 13. Oh. Ken, too. But frankly: Ken was always … an afterthought.
- I’ve written lots of stories about Barbie.
Topping on the cake: I was born same year as Barbie — I am 17 days older — and we have marked every major birthday together since.
The 1962 Dream House is a cardboard marvel genius product. It is completely self-contained and portable…. It includes “Slim-line” midcentury modern furniture, also cardboard-engineered, that you put together … And you get a Barbie. But not just any Barbies: She’s also a 1960s design, including a 1960s dress.
On Mattel’s Barbie blog, Barbie® Signature Principal Designer Bill Greening provided some history on the House and on the project:
Barbie® debuted in 1959, but she didn’t move into her first Dream House until three years later, in 1962….
They were only able to find one sample in their archives with the furniture still unassembled, but that was enough. They scanned the “sheets” with the furniture and sent them out for development….
[The doll that comes with the house is] a vintage blonde ponytail Barbie, wearing a floral PAK sheath dress collectors know as ‘On the Go’ from that original Dream House era…. That makes the reproduction of the Dream House even more special, since the doll was sold separately back in the 1960s.
I am pretty darned excited to get my own 1962 Dream House.
- You can get yours, too, on Amazon here.
More Barbie love:
- Pat Henry on Barbie Turning 50 — and answers my question: Has Barbie Used Her Power for Good or Evil?
- Reader Sumac Sue shares: Judi and Joni: Rulers of their Barbie Universe.
- Maryann Roy designs midcentury modern miniature furniture for Barbie and her clan.
Mary says
You need to go on
Shopgoodwill.com
Many vintage Barbie items for cheap. Always check the shipping price first.
Erma Huntley Rhodes says
This is awesome
joan schultz says
I have the original one! Going in a garage sale this summer!
Mary Hutka says
How awesome is this! My birthday is March 6,1959. I am only 3 days older. My Barbie had a black ponytail. I had Midge, Skipper, and Scooter too. My mother made clothes for Barbie. We also bought clothes too. I had the Barbie car, although its location now is unknown. What great memories! Hey RR fans, is there anyone with the exact birthday as Barbie? Or am I the closest with 3 days? March 9, 1959??
Pam Kueber says
Okay, I’ll play:
I’m Feb. 19, 1959
Diana says
This is very cool. I was a Barbie junkie as a kid. Had this same doll only as a brunette. Spent all my allowance money on Barbie clothes! Lol! Never had the dream house though. I guess nows my chance!????
Lucy Francis says
This is the greatest thing I’ve seen in ages. I will be ordering.
MARTHA says
I bought an original one, a few years back, from Ebay for my sister to replace the one she lost during a move in our childhood. If my own extensive Barbie collection from my childhood hadn’t been stolen, I would not only order one of these, but play with it as well.
Tom says
VERY cool! I was at her 50th birthday party at her house in Malibu
https://boingboing.net/2009/03/10/laist-visits-barbies.html
Bette Jean says
Here’s the tour on YouTube.
https://youtu.be/XsCdGd21NpA
pamela s roever says
I was born in 1957 . I still have my Barbie . She isn’t the first Barbie but she is close. She is a little worse for wear as we really played with our toys. I had this Dream House!. I still have a few pillows and records that came with it. I have it in my cart to order!! Thanks for the heads up! Pam
Carolyn says
My sister and I received a Barbie for Xmas and all I remember is wondering what the heck is THIS?! Luckily, we also got 2 Tonka trucks so, in our world, those were Barbie’s first vehicles. Later we got Ken & friend (w/yellow flocked “hair”), Midge, Skipper (jerky brother broke her bendable leg!), books of Barbie’s adventures as a teen (a la Donna Parker who my older sister was a fan of and to which I graduated), and I can’t recall the “knock-off” doll (Marcie?) And clothes! MIL made Barbie clothes and they were hard to tell from store-bought.
I seriously never understood the angst and controversy over Barbie. Once a girl was done with baby dolls, she was looking for ways to try on adulthood. I look at her as more of a glass ceiling breaker than real-life ones! Did I want to BE Barbie? No, but I sure wished I knew her.
te says
I think Madge was the knockoff.
te says
El-cheapo Barbie was Maddie Mod.
GlenEllyn says
Hi Carolyn,
I enjoyed your comment very much, especially the “try on adulthood” point. Brings back a lot of memories.
I didn’t get a Barbie until I was nearing the end of the age for playing with dolls – I think I was 10 or 11. Better late than never. My Barbie was an ash blonde with short curly hair. My favorite outfit was her “stewardess” uniform. Because I got her so late I never had any extras like a dream house or a car. But that was okay because by then, I was more interested in changing her outfits.