Recently I got lot of vintage Kellogg’s premium dolls on Craigslist. A premium doll is a type of advertising doll that doesn’t actually have anything to do with the product, but is offered to tempt you to buy the product so you can get the premium.
The Grown Up Doll was offered by Kellogg’s in 1958, advertised on the cereal boxes. For $2, plus 2 box tops from Rice Krispies or Raisin Bran, you got this 10 1/2″ doll with four outfits. She has a vinyl head with rooted hair and sleep eyes, and a hard plastic body with a walking mechanism.
She has high heel feet and is the same size as Little Miss Revlon, Jill and other glamour dolls of the same time period, but she doesn’t have the well developed bust line that most of those dolls do.
The Grown Up Doll came in the formal gown of flocked nylon over taffeta (shown at top) with a halter top that ties with pink ribbon, and a bouquet of flowers and ribbon at the waistline. The matching hat is just a football shaped piece, with braid trim around the edge, and an elastic chin strap.
She has three extra outfits that came with her. This taffeta afternoon dress with big hearts printed on it has matching panties. A pink cotton knit sweater has a black, white and red flannel skirt, matching beret, and white taffeta panty. This white taffeta top with black velvet bow goes with a pair of red and black striped corduroy pants. The black and silver braid is sewn to the waistline, but not in a way that would wrap around her waist, so I’m not quite sure if it’s just supposed to be tied in a bow or what.
For an extra $1 and another box top, you could get four more outfits – really a bargain! The party dress of floral nylon in candy pink. It has a pink taffeta panty. This blue pajama set is made of taffeta. It came with a cotton waffle embossed robe.
The Beach Togs outfit includes a red and white knit swimsuit (which won’t stay up, should have had a strap around her neck or something) and a white terrycloth jacket. A cute sundress is embossed to resemble seersucker. It has a matching panty too.
The lot came with three pairs of high heeled shoes – two pairs of white heels that can go with the evening gown or the afternoon dress, and a pair of red ones to go with the flannel skirt ensemble or the pants outfit. Also a pair of nylon stockings. I’m not sure if these came with the doll and original outfits, or with the extra outfit set.
I had this when I was a child and we moved to Germany some of stuff got lost and she happened to be in the box. I was so upset! Thanks for sharing the memories
I still have two of these dolls from Rice Krispies. My sister passed away, so that’s why I now have two. We loved our Rice Krispie dolls!
The nylons came with her. Also, there was a long tie on the swimsuit.
Thanks for that info!
Growing up I had three older sisters who had these Rice Krispies dolls (that is what we called them). – I didn’t! Oh, how I was fascinated by those dolls and their outfits. Once when I was really angry at one of my sisters, I did a very bad thing and made one of her doll’s outfits disappear. It is way past time for me to make up for this naughty deed and I thought I would surprise my sister with another Rice Krispies doll. Except I can’t find one anywhere. Any hints? Thanks so much for your post. Ah, the memories!
Forgot to say that we never knew what to do with that silver cord around the pant’s waist either. Also the swimsuit NEVER stayed up!
I have scoured the internet for years looking for this doll. I am 70 years old and I got this doll when I was 5. It was stolen about a year later and I was devastated. I can’t believe I now have a name for her and how I got her. The search begins.
Hi Diane,
I’m selling a lot of dolls and I believe one of them is this Kellog doll. I’ve been all over the web trying to ID her and just happened to find info on the Kellog advertising dolls. I have the very crisp taffeta dress with matching panties. The doll has short brunette hair that seems to be in-tact, without any missing or cut hairs. She’s very clean and without any damage or odor. Her arms are a bit loose, and I’ll restring them with a new rubber band.
Her legs are a bit loose at the hips, so she doesn’t “walk”. I know how to restring all these little, vintage plastic dolls but I don’t know how to tighten up her legs & don’t want to damage her. If you’re interested in her, please e-mail me and I’ll send you pics. I’m in McLean, VA 22101. Where are you? Sue