Picture this: it’s 1974, disco is in full swing, bell-bottoms are the height of fashion, and somewhere in New York, Walco, Incorporated has a brilliant idea—what if we took a styrofoam body, added a vinyl head, chenille wire arms, and sprinkled in some beads? Voilà! The Li’l Missy Beaded Doll Kit was born, retailing for the very reasonable price of $1.49 each. I mean, who wouldn’t want to make a doll that, with enough creativity, could look like she’s headed to Studio 54?
These kits were the crafting craze of the time, captivating girls and women aged 8 and up, possibly because they offered a way to create your own tiny disco queen or colonial maiden, depending on the kit you chose. Between 1974 and 1976, Walco cranked out about 65 different designs, each with its own unique number, starting from #13301 and ending at #13364. Now, if you’re thinking, “That’s only 64 designs,” congratulations—you’ve just discovered the mystery of the missing doll! Yes, some of those designs have been lost to the sands of time, making them the crafting world’s version of Bigfoot.
In 1976, Walco decided to switch things up and rebranded itself as Holiday Industries. It’s the same doll company you knew and loved, just with a snazzy new logo. Under this new name, they released around 130 more dolls. They even started a doll club, offering special catalogs and limited edition dolls. I’m thinking it would be totally groovy to kick off a new collector club. What do you say—ready to get your beading groove on?
Fast forward to 1979, and things aren’t looking so groovy at Holiday Industries. Financial trouble starts creeping in, and by 1982, the company files for bankruptcy. But the Li’l Missy story doesn’t end there! Sulyn Industries of Florida swooped in, buying the design rights and releasing a final eight dolls between 1982 and 1984. And then… radio silence. The Li’l Missy Beaded Dolls faded into the background, like the final note of a disco ballad.
So, here I am, decades later, with a dream to bring Li’l Missy back to life. I tried tracking down the original creators of these iconic dolls, but the founders of Holiday Industries have since passed on, and their law firm couldn’t locate any records. As for Sulyn, they kindly responded, but unfortunately, they no longer have any records either. It’s understandable—after all, it’s been nearly 45 years since the last doll was released. Still, it’s a little disappointing to think that all those old designs are lost, like your favorite mixtape.
But then something magical happened: I started collecting the old doll kits and chatting with some wonderful women who share my passion through the LilMissyBeadedDolls.com website. This delightful experience reminded me why I loved these dolls in the first place. So, I decided to do what any doll-obsessed dreamer would do—I’m launching the Lil Missy Doll company!
Stay tuned for updates as I progress… and a big thank you to the ladies of LilMissyBeadedDolls.com for the photos and inspiration! After all, the disco may have ended, but Li’l Missy is ready for her comeback tour.
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