In 1968, Barbie found her voice! New technology allowed her to talk with a pink flower pull-string behind her neck - although Talking Barbie actually spoke through a voice box in her chest. She suggested fun things to do to inspire hours of play. Most of these dolls are mute today because of deteriorated rubber bands inside but they can be repaired to talk again.
1968 Talking Barbie doll in Wedding Wonder from my collection
Barbie said things like, "Let's go shopping," "I have a date tonight," "What's playing at the cinema?" and more. She chats about fashion, prom, shopping, parties and dates. Collectors score when they find a vintage talker than can still speak. In the earlier models, Barbie mentioned Stacie ("Stacie and I are having a tea") but later she spoke to her bestie P.J.
Talking Barbie was produced in a few versions from 1968 - 1972. All of the Talking Barbies have bendable legs; the "bend and snap" rubber legs click and hold a pose. They were intentionally crafted with flexible knees to match the lively Mod fashion aesthetic of the era. The Talking Barbie line has the same head mold as the Twist ‘n Turn Barbie. Early Barbies had divided fingers from 1959 - 1968. After 1968, Barbie's fingers were not completely separated.
I was five years old when I got my first Barbie and it was the 1968 Talking Barbie with the 3 pink bows in her hair. I was mesmerized by her beauty. My first love! Well, there was Benjamin when I was 2 or 3 years old but that's another story for another time, haha.
My first crush Benjamin!
The first Talking Barbie in 1968 is side-glancing with a side-parted, twisted pony with three pink ribbons and is available in blonde, light brown and dark brunette. She wears a two-piece pink swimsuit.
1968 Talking Barbie
The 1969 Talking Barbie added a redhead. Her hairstyle changed to a side-parted bun at the nape of her neck with a pin curl at each ear and her forehead. She wears a coral two-piece swimsuit with a white cover-up that has a matching coral collar.
1969 Talking Barbie; the Titian Redheads are more rare
In 1970, Talking Barbie wore a white two-piece swimsuit and a gold mesh knee-length cover-up. She's my favorite of all my Talking Barbies. And the only Barbie I haven't unboxed!
1970 Talking Barbie from my collection
In 1971, Talking Barbie started appearing as a center-eyed doll. Same hair style and colors as the previous nape curls, though with more of a light coral lip shade.
1971 Talking Barbie from the collection of Ron Abansado
Talking Barbie and friends print ad
Barbie's Talking Friends
1968 Talking Barbie #1115 has two Talking friends who were introduced in 1968:
Talking Stacey #1125 / She is Barbie’s British chum and speaks with a British accent. She had phrases like, "I think miniskirts are smashing," "Being a model is terribly exciting," and "Let's have Barbie over for tea."
Talking Christie #1126 / She is historically important because she is the first African-American friend of Barbie. She uses the Midge head mold. This is the best video I've seen on the history of Christie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eWMmXzIb1A.
1968 Talking Stacey; Barbie's British mate
1968 Talking Christie
In 1969, Talking Barbie, Talking Christie and Talking Stacey are identical to the 1968 editions but have a new color box. Also in 1969, additional Talking dolls debuted:
1969 New Good Lookin' Talking Ken #1111 / He is the first new Ken doll, Barbie's boyfriend, issued since 1967 since Mattel didn't offer a Ken doll in 1968. I agree, Ken is expendable, lol! He said things like, "Let's go to the big game tonight," "Let's go listen to Barbie's records," and "Why don't we all go to the movies?" I think it's kinda funny that he's labeled "New Good Lookin' Ken." Is Mattel insinuating he wasn't hot before?! Well, that wouldn't be untrue, haha!
1969 New Good Lookin' Talking Ken
1969 New ‘N Groovy Talking P.J. #1113 / She is Barbie's best friend. She uses the Midge face sculpt, has brown eyes, rooted eyelashes, and pale blond hair pulled into two sections tied with colorful beads and worn with bangs. Oftentimes the cute beads are missing because children pulled them off. The beads are one of my favorite traits of P.J.s!
1969 New 'n Groovy Talking P.J.; Barbie's best friend (at the time)
From my collection
1969 Talking Julia #1128 / She is a personality doll depicting Diahann Carroll, star of the NBC show Julia which aired from 1968 - 1971. I have this doll and just love her! (See pic below) She's wearing a groovy gold and silver jumpsuit. I have a blog post about her.
1969 Talking Julia from my collection
Talking Brad #1114 debuted in 1970 and is Ken's bestie and Christie's boyfriend. He's the first black male doll in the Barbie line. He said things like, "Christie is the greatest," "Baseball is my favorite sport," and "I dig the mod look."
1970 New Talking Brad
1969 Talking Truly Scrumptious Barbie #1107 / She is another early personality doll, like Julia based on Diahann Carroll's TV character. Truly Scrumptious uses the Francie head mold and has a British accent. She's based on the Chitty, Chitty, Bang-Bang movie character played by British actress, singer Sally Howes. She's a rare Barbie, but you don't hear much about her. Later that year, she came out in a bend leg, non-talking version. Truly I've never been a fan of this doll; too old-fashioned for the Mod Era, IMO.
1969 Talking Truly Scrumptious based on a Chitty Chitty Bang Bang character
In 1968, a Spanish-speaking Talking Barbie debuted and had Spanish phrases. Later Talking Barbies around the world could speak French, Dutch, British, German or Japanese.
The last of the Talking dolls were produced in 1972; Talking Busy Barbie #1195, Talking Busy Steffie #1186 and Talking Busy Ken #1196. I have to say, these were my least favorite of the Talking dolls.
1972 Talking Busy Barbie
1972 Talking Busy Steffie
Click here to shop for your Talking Barbie on eBay!
1968 Talking Barbie - Values: $475 - $550 NRFB; $275 - $350 mint/no box
Values from "Vintage Barbie Dolls" by Hillary Shilkitus James (2011)
1968 - 1969 Wedding Wonder #1849 - Values: $400 NRFB
Values from Barbie Doll Fashion by Sarah Sink Eames (2001)
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Back of Talking Barbie box
Talking Barbie was the first Barbie with UNdivided fingers, referred to as 'Mexico' arms, from the first factory where she was produced. Francie & her friends had had undivided fingers before then. Some Talking Barbies come with the old-style 'Japan' hands (same as ponytails and TnT's) - most of these are either Japanese-speaking or British English-speaking. Sometimes dolls with these arms turn up in the US speaking either American-English or Spanish.
The first release of Talking Barbie, in 1968, came as either blonde, light brown or dark brown. These dolls were also released on international markets speaking the native tongue - I have a few British-speaking dolls (not the same voice or phrases as Stace) and also a Japanese-speaking. I've also seen German, Dutch & French talkers, and imagine there will be other European dolls. Spanish-speaking Barbie was first released in 1968 - I have an NRFB one who came in the slim, clear boxes of the first wave.
In 1969, we start seeing 'transitional' talkers - they have the black lashes, tomato lips and hair colours of the 1970 nape curls. They came as either blonde, redhead, light brown or dark brown. Then, in 1970, the side-glance talking Barbie with her hair tied at nape of her neck was released in the same shades.
In 1971, Talking Barbie started appearing as a centre-eyed doll. Same hair style and colours as the previous nape curls, though with more of a light coral lip shade.