A recent memory jog that I own Mattel’s Kissing Christie (KC) led to her location today. Stored on a lower shelf with a dozen or so other never-removed-from-box dolls, KC was freed for the first time in 31 years (based on her 1978 box date). Purchased NRFB (never removed from box), the doll has been part of my adult collection for approximately 15 years.      

After today’s location of this cocoa brown complexioned doll that uses the Steffie face mold, I removed her from her box, examined her kissing mechanism, smoothed out her peach, lip-print dress, observed her peach ankle-strap shoes, and admired the colorful graphics on the sides and back of her box. I also took a few pictures of KC, in and out of her box.

The box graphics illustrate all the things KC “can do.” She can wear special liquid lipstick, pucker her lips when the button on her back is pressed, and make kiss prints on note cards supplied by Mattel. I visualized little girls enjoying hours of KC play. The note cards supplied by Mattel, other pieces of paper, and parent-approved and possibly non-parent-approved surfaces were most assuredly used as lip-print targets by the 1970’s little ones who owned her.

At the conclusion of this visual and after KC’s quick photo shoot, she was placed back in her box where she now rests on a more readily visible and accessible shelf with other vintage doll friends. Kissing Christie’s freedom, though short lived, was greatly enjoyed.