This is the very first Judy Garland doll. She was released by the Ideal Novelty and Toy Company in 1939. She is an all-composition doll, and she came in three sizes - 13-inch, 15.5-inch and 18-inch.

The doll was designed by Bernard Lipfert, and the costume was designed by Mary Bauer. She had large, brown "sleepy" eyes. Each doll was marked "Ideal Doll/Made in USA" on the base of the head, and "USA" and a number embossed on the back.

These dolls are not all that uncommon today. But, they are all in the hands of collectors, and just try talking someone out of one! I have yet to find one for sale, so I still don't have one. The picture to the left was sent to me by a collector.

This is the 1940 Judy Garland Teen Doll manufactured by Ideal. These are very hard to find. I searched for one for many years, and finally found this one at an antique show. She was in pretty bad condition, but I only had to pay $250 for her, which is a good buy, from what I've heard. I had her restored by a local doll professional doll restorer, and she looks quite good. She is dressed in the original Strike Up the Band finale costume.

The first Judy Garland Teen Doll was dressed in Judy's finale costume from Strike Up the Band (the one pictured here). The doll was later also sold with other costumes from Strike Up the Band, as well as costumes from Little Nellie Kelly (1940) and Babes on Broadway (1941). The doll must have been in production into 1942, since Babes on Broadway was released in December, 1941. This doll was designed by Bernard Lipfert. She was an all-composition doll, and she was made in 15- and 21-inch sizes (the one pictured here is the 21-inch). The doll has an auburn human-hair wig, brown glassene "sleepy" eyes, long hair upper eyelashes, painted lower eyelashes, and an open mouth with six teeth and a felt tongue. She is marked "Ideal Doll/Made in USA" on the back of her head, and a backwards "21" and "IDEAL" on her back.

Although the 1939 Judy Garland doll sold very well, the 1940 Judy Garland Teen Doll did not fare as well. Little girls were not interested in teenage dolls in the early 1940s, and the Deanna Durbin doll, which was released earlier, apparently saturated what market there was. And doll collectors did not represent a significant market segment in those days. Ideal promoted the teen doll in many catalogs and magazines, and even gave away pictures of Judy (left) with the doll. World War II put a stop to production in 1942.

Judy Garland Database ©1995-2007 Jim Johnson - see copyright statement