Sesame Street rag dolls and playsets

Knickerbocker made a line of Sesame Street rag dolls and playsets from 1975 to 1978.

Rag dolls, 1975

The first set of rag dolls in 1975 included:

• Ernie in three sizes, from 9in to 25in
• Bert in three sizes, from 9in to 25in
• Betty Lou in two sizes, 9in and 15in

Bert, 10in rag doll
Style 2601

Ernie, 14in rag doll
Style 2602

Betty Lou

Back of the box, 1975

Side of the box

Bert, 27in

Ernie rag doll box, 1976, illustration by Joe Mathieu

Bert rag doll box, 1976

Side of box, 1976, illustration by Joe Mathieu

Ernie 23in, Bert 26in, 1978

Back of the box, illustration by Jack Davis

Ernie and Bert's Buggy, 1975

Knickerbocker also produced a soft car toy in 1975 with 6 inch rag dolls of Ernie, Bert and Betty Lou, with rubber tires. By 1976, this toy was sold as "Ernie and Bert's Buggy", without Betty Lou.

The art that decorates the car is by Joe Mathieu, and depicts a car made of Sesame characters' possessions, held together with rope and wooden boards. The parts include Oscar's trash can, a bag of Big Bird's Bird Seed, a barrel marked Cookies, a barrel filled with water and Ernie's Rubber Duckie. There are also an assortment of Twiddlebugs hanging onto the car.

Motorbike Play Set, 1976

The line of toys was extended in 1976 to a Sesame Street Motorbike Play Set, which included mini rag dolls of Ernie and Oscar the Grouch; Oscar's trash can fit in the motorbike's sidecar. The set also came with a plastic flat representing the Count's Gas Station and a toy streetlight.

international release

Cross-Country Camping Play Set, 1976

In 1976, Knickerbocker also produced a deluxe Cross-Country Camping Play Set, which included mini rag dolls of Ernie, Bert, Big Bird, Cookie Monster and Oscar the Grouch. The set included a red camper that said "Sesame Street Cross-Country" on the hood, with a working tail gate and doors. There was also a 5-inch cardboard tent, a sleeping bag, a backpack, a rowboat with oars, plus the motorbike and trash can sidecar from the Motorbike Play Set.

People in the Neighborhood vehicles, 1976

In 1976, Knickerbocker expanded the rag doll line to include seven "People in the Neighborhood" vehicles, each with a miniature rag doll.

Bert's Police Car

Count's Taxi

Big Bird's Mail Truck

Ernie's Ice Cream Truck

Bert's Fire Truck

Cookie Monster's Bakery Truck

Oscar's Trash Truck

Talking rag dolls, 1976

Knickerbocker made a set of three talking rag dolls in 1976, featuring Ernie, Bert and the Count. Each had four sayings, operated by a pull string in the doll's back. This line was expanded in 1978 with a second set of talking plush toys.

Doll and Play Sets, 1978

In 1978, Knickerbocker introduced a set of rag doll playsets. Each set included a small rag doll, and a set of plastic accessories. The set featured Big Bird on a playground swing, Cookie Monster on an airplane, and Ernie dressed as a cowboy riding a horse.