All American Ken

M#:  9424  BD:   1990  HC:  Painted Blonde.  C:  Acid wash look aqua/light aqua and white baggy pants with reversed red and white overlay at waist.   Pale yellow with pink rolled sleeves and road sign appliqué shirt s/s.  A:   White tennis shoes with multi-color Reebok spats.  NOTE:  European version Weekend Ken came with Adidas spats.

Weekend Ken (E)

M#:   7738  BD:  1991  HC:  Painted Blonde.  C:  Acid wash look aqua/light aqua and white baggy pants with reversed pink and white overlay at waist.   Pale yellow with pink rolled sleeves and road sign appliqué shirt s/s.  A:   White tennis shoes with multi-color aqua/white Adidas spats.   NOTE:  Domestic version All American Ken came with Reebok spats.

Having fun the American way!

In the Summer of 1991,“Having fun the American way” was the inspiration for  All American Ken.  Using a 1988 Ken head mold, this version will appear in the foreign market next year with a different name.  Certainly a headache for Mattel, All American Ken will require securing different licensing agreements with two different athletic footwear companies domestically and abroad.  In the US version, Ken wears “acid wash” baggy pants with reversed red and white stripe overlay at waist.  His shirt is a pale yellow color with pink rolled sleeves and road sign appliqué.  His white tennis shoes come with multi-color Reebok™ branded spats, which give his standard tennis shoes a “high top” style effect.  Sold separately, the All American line accessories included a Fun Rider 4x4 (popular with Ken collectors) and a neat hamburger stand shaped like, you guessed it, a hamburger.  The theme was centered around what Barbie and friends might do that was "All American" in nature.  Most of the dolls included in the line had stars and stripes in their outfits, as well as the vehicle and play set.  Obviously "crusin' in her Fun Rider™ Car and hangin' out at the Hamburger Stand" with friends showed that Barbie was patriotic.

For the foreign edition, the "American" theme of the dolls was changed to what Barbie and friends might do on the weekend.  All American Ken is now named Weekend Ken for the European release.  Weekend Ken has a different model number and variations when compared to the domestic version.  Besides box differences, his pants have a pink and white stripe overlay at the waist of the pants and Adidas™ branded spats.  Camping for the weekend is on the mindset of the European dolls, which include Ken, Barbie and Marina (Kira; domestically). Christie and Teresa are left at home.  The camping theme includes the same vehicle, but is catalogued as a 4x4 and is hot pink.  The Hamburger Stand is replaced with a camping play set (but the hamburgers remained).  As hard as it tried to be different, the patriotic theme of the dolls still come through with the unchanged clothing.

The All American/Weekend line is one of the few lines that showcase the attempts that were made to really change the domestic versus foreign editions.

Below:  All American Ken doll box back shows the All American line accessories which include a Fun Rider 4x4 (popular with Ken collectors) and a neat hamburger stand shaped like, you guessed it, a hamburger. 

Now Serving...A Choice of Shoes!

BELOW:  Weekend Ken is about to prepare burgers on the grill of the Weekend Camping play set grill.  Weekend Ken is the foreign edition of All American Ken.  He has a variation at the waist of his jeans and he wore Adidas brand shoes, instead of Reebok brand.

Below:  Weekend Ken doll's box back shows the differences in play pieces.  The "American" theme is replaced with a camping theme.  The Weekend line includes the same vehicle, but is catalogued as a 4x4 and is hot pink.  The Hamburger Stand is replaced with a camping play set.