Chatty Cathy is a talking doll that Ruth and Elliot Handler created, and Mattel manufactured from 1959 to 1965. Her ability to speak to kids made her the second most popular doll of the ‘60s, falling only behind Barbie.

The doll looked like a Caucasian little girl with blonde hair and blue eyes. After that, Mattel introduced an African-American doll, and two more Caucasians – one with brown hair and one with auburn hair.

Voice actress June Foray (who voiced Rocky of Rocky & Bullwinkle) voiced Chatty Cathy. She spoke when the string in her upper back was pulled, which was attached to a phonograph record inside the doll’s abdomen that was driven by a metal coil. She said 11 phrases like “I love you” and “Please take me with you,” then her vocabulary expanded in ’63 when seven more phrases were added.

Once Chatty Cathy became a success, Mattel created a line with Chatty Baby in ’62, then Tiny Chatty Baby, Tiny Chatty Brother, and Charmin’ Chatty in ’63, and Singin’ Chatty in ’65. Mattel redesigned and reissued Chatty Cathy in 1970 with a different appearance and The Brady Bunch actress Maureen McCormick providing the voice.

From ’98 to 2001, Mattel released special reproductions of the doll that resembled the 1960 version. They came with her vintage outfits, a story book, wrist tag, and shoe horn. Additionally, these special release dolls featured the original 11 phrases spoken by Foray, and came with numbered certificates.