Trivia

The Chatty Cathy doll was a popular toy in the late 50s and into the 60s. The term Chatty Cathy has even entered our culture and is a name for a person who talks a lot.

Here is some trivia about the toy:

• The Mattel Toy Company released the first Chatty Cathy doll in 1959.
• She began her career in commercials in 1960.
• The ring on her upper back had a string that went to a metal coil that drove a phonograph record of her voice.
• Chatty Cathy spoke one of her eleven phrases, such as “I love you.”
• By 1963, she had 18 phrases.
• The voice is that of June Foray, who was a voice actress for radio, TV, film, toys, and video games. She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Her credits for cartoon characters include: Rocky the Flying Squirrel, Natasha Fatales, Nell Fenwick, Lucifer from Walt Disney’s Cinderella, Jokey Smurf, and Witch Hazel.
• Foray also was the voice of the not-so-sweet Talky Tina on the Twilight Zone episode “Living Doll.” The doll has murderous designs after ill treatment by a little girl’s step-father, who was played by Telly Savalas.  People might remember the line “I’m Talky Tina and I don’t like you.” The episode first aired in 1963.   

Here is a vintage commercial for Chatty Cathy from the early 60s: