 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Now Playing:
"Beautiful"
by Gordon Lightfoot |
|
|
Checkerboard Dawn
by Checkerboard Toys, Creatoyvity, Toy-O-Rama |
|
|
|
2000's |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Return to
"Who's That Doll?"
Home Page |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Click here to see the fashions! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In 2000, Sharon John, owner of Checkerboard Toys, obtained the license to reproduce the Dawn dolls she loved as a girl. Dawn-lovers around the world rejoiced over the release of the new 30th Anniversary Dawn dolls. The dolls were packaged in recreations of their original, second-issue boxes wearing exact replicas of their original stock fashions. They did not look exactly like their vintage predecessors, however. Dawn was close, Dale and Angie even closer, but Glori looked nothing like her serene, beautiful former self, despite the addition of the elusive top-knot ponytail hairstyle. You can judge for yourself below: |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
30th Anniversary Checkerboard Dale (left)
Vintage Topper Dale (right) |
|
|
|
30th Anniversary Checkerboard Angie (left)
Vintage Topper Angie (right) |
|
30th Anniversary Checkerboard Dawn (left)
Vintage Topper Dawn (right) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
30th Anniversary Checkerboard Glori (left)
Vintage Topper Glori (right) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The reproduction second-issue boxes were then set into a larger, "book-folder" display box. All the packaging is marked with the Checkerboard name.
In addition to the four Anniversary dolls, Checkerboard produced three reproduction fashion sets, sold separately, which were influenced by vintage Dawn fashions. You can see them here. "Gold Au Go-Go" is a gold version of the vintage "Silver Au Go-Go", "Chain 'Er Up Again" is a wild, animal-print rendition of the much tamer Topper fashion, and "In the Spotlight" takes its styling from the simply A-line gowns such as "Shocker Frocker" and "Silver Starlight".
Besides the Anniversary dolls, Checkerboard released an updated, 21st Century version of Dawn, giving her a new look and new friends. You can think of her as Dawn's daughter with the same name. I tend to. |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Checkerboard
Shannon
(or Maura) |
|
|
|
|
Checkerboard
Macy |
|
|
|
Checkerboard
Denise |
|
|
|
|
Checkerboard
Dawn |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
These new "Playline" dolls were meant to be sold to and played with by little girls...the new generation of Dawn enthusiasts, and most likely young girls whose mothers played with and loved the original Topper Dawn dolls. The boxes were a bright turquoise blue in color, in contrast to the sea of pink and purple in the Barbie aisle.
Checkerboard made several versions of the new Dawn doll and her friends. Each version attempting to appeal to the imaginations of a generation of girls who are much more worldly now than their mothers were at that age. |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
The "Go 'n Glow" dolls came with bracelets and a ring for the little girl, as well as a little pot of lip gloss, and a zipper pouch to carry her treasures in.
Certain elements of the doll's outfit (boots, belt buckle and even some of the fabric print) were treated with a special safe chemical that allowed them to absorb strong daylight, then glow in the dark. |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The "Tee-Time" dolls, shown above to the right, were dressed in the coolest jeans I've ever seen for a doll this small. Her tee-shirt is emblazoned with a logo exclusive to her. Coordinating matching shirts and a scarf complete the wardrobe, and an iron-on logo matching the doll's was included so moms could apply them to their daughter's blank shirt.
My daughter received these dolls for Christmas in 2004---"Santa" found some left-overs---and I put Maura's logo on an extra large tee-shirt, which she wore as a nightshirt for a long time. She still wears it as a regular Tee-shirt today.
An interesting note, here: The redhead doll, normally Shannon, is called "Maura" in this set. No reason or explanation was given for the name change, and it's the only place Maura shows up. In all respects she is the Shannon doll, however. I figured she must be Shannon's shy twin sister. |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The "Karma Cool" dolls, Dawn, Macy and Denise (again, no Shannon) have extra long hair with bright streaks of color through them and a velcro'd string of matching beads. Three additional strands of beads were included with the dolls for the little girl to twine into a bracelet.
"Totally Golden Dawn" is just that...totally golden. From her extra-bright gold hair (which has gold filaments in it) to her shiny gold boots, this girl lights up the daytime. Her counterpart, "Seriously Silver Macy", glows with cool, silvery, moonlike beauty. Her platinum blonde hair has silver filaments in it, and her dress and accessories are all done in silver lame, completed with shiny silver boots. |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
These two dolls, more than any of the others, look most like the vintage dolls they've replaced. "TG Dawn" looks like a Topper Dawn doll, and "SS Macy" looks like Angie. |
|
|
|
The Checkerboard Toy company also produced two playsets for the dolls:
the Groovy Bedroom Set and the Groovy Dressing Room set. |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
There were two special Holiday Dawns made by Checkerboard, and at least two versions of the "Bridal Belle Dawn". I have seen a red-haired version of (I believe) the Bridal Belle Dawn, but haven't been able to get one. "All Wrapped Up' was released in 2001, the first of the two Holiday Dawns. "Holiday Trimmings" was released a year later in 2002. Both version of the Briday Belle Dawn were also released in 2002. |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dawn actually looks more like the vintage Jessica here. |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
And in this one, she looks more like the vintage Modeling Agency Denise. |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
A couple of close-ups of the blonde and brunette Bridal Belle Dawn.
Breath-taking, isn't she? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Checkerboard produced many fashions for their "Playline" dolls, which you can see here. |
|
|
|
Other dolls, playsets and fashions were planned, but never produced. Prototypes were released, but have been snatched up by collectors. I've saved a few photos of some of the lines that were planned: |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rainbow Rave Dawn. Unknown if other dolls in the series were planned. |
|
|
Gypsy Hip Dawn, Denise and Macy. Unknown if Shannon/Maura was planned. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
"Pretty In Pink Giftset", which offered a doll with two fashions. Unknown if other dolls were to be included in this giftset.
The fabric from the skirt of the "Pretty In Pink" gown has been seen in dollar store children's dress-up costumes, and in other colors (I know, because I bought the costumes for their fabric).
"Pretty In Pink" was to have been sold separately, but was never produced, along with another fashion, to be named "Pajamarama". |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Mall Madness", which contained several fashions sold separately. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Pajamarama" |
|
|
"Pretty In Pink" |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Sorry these are so small. They're all I had. At least you can see that more furniture was planned for Checkerboard Dawn. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
I have a poor-quality photo I saved from a dealer's catalog, showing a Patio Set, which says, "Check back this fall for Dawn's Groovy Playhouse." So again, bigger things were in store for Dawn than Checkerboard was able to pull off. It's a shame. I would love to have been able to get those things! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sofa |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Divine Dinette |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In addition, there were at least three other fashions planned for Checkerboard Dawn. However, I do not have permission to show them here, as they have the website's watermark emblazoned across the picture. The fashions were to be "Black Diamonds" - an evening gown in black satin and tulle for the skirt with what appears to be a black velvet bodice latticed in silver lame with a silver-lined black velvet wrap; "Dazzling Diamonds" - a long-sleeved mini with a high collar in a diamond-print silver brocade, belted at the waist with silver mesh hose and a silver purse; "It's Furbulous" - a brown fur coat trimmed in leopard print with matching hat and purse and gold lame fabric boots. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By 2003, Checkerboard was in financial trouble and re-organized to become Creatoyvity, then not long after either reorganzed again or sold off its assets to Toy-O-Rama. A handful of fashions were sold by Creatoyvity, but only through their website. Re-releases of the dolls and fashions were sold by Toy-O-Rama under the "Fab Fun Fashion" name in black boxes, but these, too, soon disappeared. |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Toward the end of 2004, Toy-O-Rama began packaging and selling off dolls, mostly Shannons, in the "Fab Fun Fashion" boxes with outfits not seen before. Most of these were found on smaller, Mattel Kelly-sized Paula dolls. Shannon even made an appearance in Toy-O-Rama's short-lived line of "Fairytale Princess" dolls. |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Toy-O-Rama Fairytale Princess with Shannon in the box |
|
|
Two "oddity" Shannons, one marked as "Dawn". |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Fairytale Princess dolls were the last 6-1/2" miniature fashion dolls to be seen from Toy-O-Rama. The package back shows three dolls, but they don't seem to match what's in the box, exactly. At least, not on the ones I was able to find. Like the Pirate Code, I supposed it was meant to be more like "guidelines" than "rules". |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
The back of the box shows a long-haired blonde in pink and green. I've never seen this doll, nor the brunette in blue.
At right is the redhead in yellow and purple, but she doesn't match the one on the back of the box.
Below are the other two in my collection. The redhead below-left matches the redhead on the box, but is wearing the pink and green fashion. The blonde doesn't match anything but is wearing the blue dress.
As I said, "more like guidelines"... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|