Keeping Ken Allan/Alan

This is a complete listing of every Allan®/Alan™ made from 1963 until the present. I will include Name, Model # (M#), Box Date (BD) and Hair Color (HC). I am adding Clothing (C) and Accessory (A) descriptions as well.
Highlighted boxes are the Allan®/Alan™ dolls I keep.


Allan-1963	Alan-1991	Alan-2002

In 1963 with the introduction of Midge® Hadley (Barbie® doll's friend), Allan® Sherwood was being designed. Allan® was conceived for three important reasons. First and foremost to target the "shared clothes" ideal with Ken®, second for the double dating possibilities and lastly as a "buddy" to Ken®. Mattel introduced Allan® in the1964 along with Skipper®, Barbie's® sister. Allan® was advertised as Ken's® buddy and as Midge's® boyfriend. He was quickly discontinued in 1965 the year the second version was released, but was available for sale in limited quantities until 1966. Ken® was also available for sale through 1966, but found a extended absence until being released with an entirely different look and body mold in 1969. This was the only time frame Ken® has not been produced on a yearly basis. With Ken's® new redesign, Allan® was going to have to conform to a redesign himself...or be dropped. Unfortunately, Mattel™ decided on the latter. They were already designing a new buddy for Ken. This new buddy Brad®, would follow a diversity trend that was well ahead of it's time and follow realizations already established in the female line.

Allan® Trivia

Not only is Allan® Ken® doll's first male friend, he is the only male friend to date to be given a last name (Sherwood).

Alan™ (and Midge®) are the only married characters in the Barbie® doll line.

Allan® was named after Barbara Handler's husband Allan Segal, whom she married when she was only 19.

In Brazil's version, Festa de Casamento Alan marries Vicky. Vicky is the Brazilian version of Midge®.

ABOVE: Alan doll's wedding to Midge.

Midge® fared a little better. She was discontinued in 1964, but was available for sale through 1967. She made a come back in 1988 and continues to be a character produced to present. In 1991 Allan®, with the spelling of his name changed to Alan™, was available again for a one time stint. The event was a marriage to his long time girlfriend Midge® ( also available in a six doll Gift Set or individually). Midge® and Alan™ are pictured as Mom and Dad in the booklets the year after the wedding dolls were released, with twins (a boy and a girl). Mattel used the Wedding Day Midge® and Alan™ dolls for the promotional pictures (pictured below). Unfortunately, none of the dolls made it into production. "Bride" Midge® continued to be part of the Barbie® doll friend line, mostly in the swim line of dolls.

LEFT: Midge® and Alan™ pictured as Mom and Dad in the booklets the year after the wedding dolls were released, with twins (a boy and a girl). Unfortunately, none of the dolls made it into production. Photo by Kat

In December 2002, Alan makes his third appearance in a new family doll line from Mattel called Happy Family™. The "Happy Family™" name may seem familiar. The Happy Family™ was a similar doll line from Mattel in the mid-70's, part of the Sunshine Family™ doll line (more info on the Sunshine Family™ here ). Mattel's next family doll line, The Heart Family™ (1985-1990) grew to EPIC proportions in just five years. The Happy Family™ line of dolls places three existing Barbie® doll friends (Midge®, Alan® and Ryan™) in their own line, making the longevity of each existing friend added to the Happy Family™ line stretching from 40+ years to not quite a year.

Like the Heart Family™ line, the new Happy Family™ line has a tie to Barbie® doll. She serves as Baby Doctor Barbie®, and it will be interesting to see if she is mentioned again if more Happy Family™ items are produced. A Happy Family™ Midge® and Baby gift set is also available. The female baby, by the way, is not named (that task is left to the owner). In a 2003 version when the baby grows older, we find she is named "Nikki®". Both Happy Family™ gift sets are available as African American as well, marking the first time Alan® or Midge® have been available as African Americans. Happy Family™ Grandparent dolls were shown at the 2003 Toy Fair, with the first set (available in Fall of 2003). See the Happy Family Grandpa page for more information.

Printed in newspapers across the country on Christmas day 2002, Wal-Mart Inc. officially asked all stores to remove all Mattel Happy Family™ items from store shelves. Items removed were Caucasian/African American Midge® doll and Baby doll, Caucasian/African American Alan® doll and Toddler Ryan™ doll, a Happy Family™ Nursery Play Set and Happy Family™ Midge®/Baby doll fashions. (Later, Caucasian/African American Alan® doll and Toddler Ryan™ doll, a Happy Family™ Nursery Play Set and Happy Family™ Midge®/Baby doll fashions were all added back to shelves). Surprisingly, Baby Doctor Barbie® Caucasian/African American were not initially pulled even though this doll is a tie-in to the Happy Family™ line. The pregnant version of Midge®, which pops out a curled-up baby when her belly, attached by a magnet, is opened--has been pulled from Wal-Mart shelves across the country following complaints from customers, a company spokesperson said Tuesday 12-24-02. She's Barbie doll's oldest friend, happily married and visibly pregnant--which, some parents complain, makes her unfit for children. (For more information visit Feature Story Archive 01.05.03).

Later, Happy Family™ Midge made her second appearance at Wal-Mart in a "non-pregnant" Wal-Mart exclusive version. Wal-Mart must have realized that in it's brief showing, the Happy Family™ line has literally flew off store shelves, particularly because of the nurturing play aspect that go along with the pregnant Happy Family™ Midge® doll.

For 2004, the Happy Family line continues centered around Nikki doll's 1st birthday, as well as a gift set "Hometown Fair". The complete line is called "Happy Family Neighborhood" and includes Midge (who is expecting again), another set with Nikki, Alan with Ryan, separate Grandparent dolls and a set of three neighborhood kids for Nikki doll's party. The line expands from its infancy with more play sets and family/grandparent fashions sets.

Happy Family Fashions

(Fashions listed are ones that include fashions for Alan and Ryan)

Box Date Name/Model #

2003 Happy Family Neighborhood Fashions #C3883

2003 Happy Family Neighborhood Fashions #C3884

Picture	Allan M#: 1000 BD: 1963 HC: Painted Auburn. C: Blue swim trunks. Multicolor stripe (horizontal) beach jacket with white terry cloth bonded collar . Blue cork sandals. Wrist tag. A: Black wire stand. Fashion booklet. NOTE: Beach jacket variation with vertical stripes.
Picture	Allan (Bendable Leg) M#: 1010 BD: 1964 HC: Painted Auburn (Cello secured over head with rubber band). C: Blue swim trunks. Red beach jacket with multicolor stripe fabric strip down left side and initial "A" on lower left side. Blue cork sandals. Wrist tag. A: Black or gold wire stand. Fashion booklet.
Picture	Festa de Casamento Alan M#: BD: HC: C: NOTE: Made by Estrela Toys (Brazil) under license from Mattel.
Picture	Wedding Day Alan M#: 9607 BD: 1990 HC: Painted Auburn. C: White pinstripe flannel pants. White tuxedo jacket with tails and peaked lapels with pink flower. Pink shirt with white turned up collar with attached silver metallic ascot. Pink with white dot ribbon suspenders. Gray vest. A: Pink with white dot bow tie. White socks. White loafers OR lace-up oxfords. Chipboard punch outs. NOTE: Picture on box back shows a pink vest. Box also available in open up lattice work (to make wedding set). This Alan was also available in a Wedding Party Midge Gift Set.
Picture	Happy Family Dad & Son Alan & Ryan M#: 56710 BD: 2002 HC: A=Rooted Two Tone Brown/Lightest Brown. R=Rooted Auburn. C: A=Khaki color jam-length cargo pocket shorts. White tank top s/l. Blue/navy/white check shirt ¾ sleeves. Yellow camera on navy ribbon (placed around neck). White thick sole lace-up tennis shoes. R= 1-piece white tank top with khaki color jam-length shorts. Blue/navy/white check shirt l/s. White lace-up tennis shoes. A: Navy/blue/white/yellow stroller. Navy flying disc. Yellow tip-it cup. Medium green box of cookies. Medium yellow box of cookies. Aqua box of cereal. Stand-up chip board Happy Family "framed" characters picture. Chipboard green/yellow swirl sucker. Chipboard rose/pink swirl sucker.
Picture	Happy Family Dad & Son Alan & Ryan (Second Edition) M#: Same as original edition. BD: Same as original edition. HC: A=Rooted Two Tone Brown/Lightest Brown. R=Rooted Auburn. C: A=Same as original edition. R= Same as original edition. A: Same as original edition. NOTE: Interior box liner includes a Happy Family™ Midge® and Baby chipboard cut-out. No other changes were made to box text, graphics or the dolls and content.
Picture	Happy Family Dad & Son Alan & Ryan AA M#: 56711 BD: 2002 HC: A=Rooted Brunette. R=Rooted Brunette. C: A=Khaki color jam-length cargo pocket shorts. White tank top s/l. Blue/navy/white check shirt ¾ sleeves. Yellow camera on navy ribbon (placed around neck). White thick sole lace-up tennis shoes. R= 1-piece white tank top with khaki color jam-length shorts. Blue/navy/white check shirt l/s. White lace-up tennis shoes. A: Navy/blue/white/yellow stroller. Navy flying disc. Yellow tip-it cup. Medium green box of cookies. Medium yellow box of cookies. Aqua box of cereal. Stand-up chip board Happy Family "framed" characters picture. Chipboard green/yellow swirl sucker. Chipboard rose/pink swirl sucker.
Picture	Happy Family Neighborhood Happy 1st Birthday Alan & Ryan M#: B5753 BD: 2003 HC: A=Rooted Brunette/Brown. R=Rooted Brunette. C: A=Khaki color pants. White tank top s/l. Pieced medium blue, white (across chest) and navy (sleeves) V-neck base ball t-shirt with appliqué (on left chest) l/s. Black thick sole lace-up shoes. R= Dark blue denim jeans. Tan/red/cream stripe with tan sleeve knit shirt s/s. Tan lace-up shoes. Chipboard party hat (on head). Yellow mini-truck (seated in) A: Basketball. Silver video camera. Turquoise lunch box with truck sticker. Chipboard box (present). Chipboard bag. Chipboard party hat (for Alan). Chipboard invitation. Two chipboard magazines. Sheet of stickers (for the Happy Family scrapbook [Scrapbook available with Midge dolls]).
Picture	Happy Family Neighborhood Happy 1st Birthday Alan & Ryan AA M#: B5754 BD: 2003 HC: A=Rooted Brunette (curly). R=Rooted Brunette (curly). C: A=Khaki color pants. White tank top s/l. Pieced medium blue, white (across chest) and navy (sleeves) V-neck base ball t-shirt with appliqué (on left chest) l/s. Black thick sole lace-up shoes. R= Dark blue denim jeans. Tan/red/cream stripe with tan sleeve knit shirt s/s. Tan lace-up shoes. Chipboard party hat (on head). Yellow mini-truck (seated in) A: Basketball. Silver video camera. Turquoise lunch box with truck sticker. Chipboard box (present). Chipboard bag. Chipboard party hat (for Alan). Chipboard invitation. Two chipboard magazines. Sheet of stickers (for the Happy Family scrapbook [Scrapbook available with Midge dolls]).
Picture	Happy Family Neighborhood Hometown Fair Gift Set (Alan, Midge, Ryan & Nikki) M#: C5916 BD: 2003 HC: A=Rooted Brown/Lt. Brown. R=Rooted Brown/Lt. Brown. C: A=Dark blue denim jeans. Heather tan knit t-shirt with navy collar s/l. White with navy/orange print woven shirt s/s. Light blue with white tennis shoes. Clear yellow sunglasses (on head). Gray/dark gray with red ribbon camera (attached to left hand). Plastic orange balloon with yellow handle (placed on left side). R=Dark olive cargo pocket pants with orange stitching. Orange with navy collar and navy ribbon sleeves knit t-shirt with truck appliqué. Yellow with orange/blue tennis shoes. A: Chipboard: Popcorn box, two soda cups with straws, sheet of punch-out rings, ring toss stand with bottles and prize board and clown/monkey face board. Plastic carousel base with attaching ring for giraffe, elephant and turtle. Yellow plastic bear.
	Happy Family Neighborhood Hometown Fair Gift Set AA (Alan, Midge, Ryan & Nikki) M#: BD: HC: A=Rooted Brown/Lt. Brown. R=Rooted Brown/Lt. Brown. C: Same as above. A: Same as above.
Picture	Campus Sweet Shop Gift Set (Midge and Allan) M#: BD: 2008 HC: Painted Auburn. C: (Allan ensemble) Reproduction of 1964 Campus Hero #0770. (Midge ensemble) Reproduction of Swingin' Easy #955. A: Tray. Two soda shop beverages. Two clear base stands with clips and rods. Certificate or Authenticity. NOTE: Barbie Collector Gold Label.

Allan, Alan, Barbie, Midge, Ken, Skipper, Ryan, Nikki and Brad are registered trademarks of Mattel, Inc. These pages are neither affiliated with, nor a representative of Mattel, Inc. Material provided on these pages do not in any way reflect the opinions of Mattel, Inc.