Original Ken
He was named after the son of Ruth and Elliot Handler, inventors of the Barbie doll. In 1961 he stood twelve inches high and sported a flocked crewcut in brunette or blonde. Because his hair flock came off in water, Mattel re-released him the following year with molded, painted hair. His last name is Karson. His first name is Ken. Any more questions? Consult Keeping Ken, an outstanding shrine to everyone's favorite boy toy. The site also includes a few Ken prototypes that proved less than successful, namely:
Mechanized Android Killer Ken
Mechanized Android Killer Ken may resemble Beach Party Ken at first glance, but don't let the sunglasses fool you. Does Beach Party Ken have retractable buzz saws in his forearms? Flame throwers embedded in his pectorals? Poison dart guns for eyes? From the creators of Battle Bots, a fearsome platoon of destructive robots, MAK Ken was designed to inflict some serious hurt. The line was discontinued in 1987 after a presidential veto.
Hooligan Ken
A painstakingly realistic replica of an inebriated Arsenal fan, Hooligan Ken is nattily clad in the football club's traditional red and white, holding a can of Boddington's Bitter in one hand and a tire iron in the other. Pull the string on his pale, tattooed back and the doll chants in a heavy accent, "Drink, drink, drink, drink, wherever you may be. We are the drunk and disorderly!" Hooligan Ken also featured bloody knuckles and an injury suffered in a brawl with Tottenham Terry, a competing product that was the result of a marketing agreement between the Spurs and Fisher-Price.
Prehistoric Ken
In the mid-'70s, toy makers tried to capitalize on the burgeoning popularity of dinosaurs and cavemen by offering this Cro-Magnon-inspired playpal. Outfitted in a sleeveless animal-pelt unitard, Prehistoric Ken sported trademark blonde hair and All-American good looks despite his noticeably pronounced brow. Unfortunately, the figure never found a mass audience, and was routinely outsold by Land of the Lost action figures like Timewarp Buddies and Fun Fashion Sleestack. The line was discontinued in 1976.
Stop-Motion Ken
Upon its release, Stop-Motion Ken was shaping up to be another blockbuster action figure. The idea, hatched by the manufacturers of Play-Doh, was to create a reshapable doll that fans of stop-motion animation would love. It was a hit at industry trade shows and on the morning TV-talkshow circuit. Unfortunately, when they were shipped to stores, the Play-Doh figures often melted, leaving only a large sweaty pool of brown clay and tiny leather top-siders.
Gameshow Host Ken
Looking like a cross between Gene Rayburn and Pat Sajak, Gameshow Host Ken came complete with a microphone, blue index cards, and a smarmy but not entirely unappealing demeanor. Another entry into the "talking" doll arena, a tug of Gameshow Ken's nylon pull-cord led to dozens of lifelike quips, including "Tell us a little about yourself," and "Judges?" and "Would you like to buy a vowel?" The doll can actually still be found from time to time -- when last seen, he was hosting the online movie trivia game, Cinema Bytes and hosting celebrity roasts.
Day-to-Night Chief Executive Ken
At the height of the Lewinsky controversy, toy makers planned to release this anatomically correct yet politically incorrect Ken doll. However, the plan was nixed at the last minute, leading to widespread speculation of government intervention. The Day-to-Night Chief Executive Ken was going to come with a small black book containing names like Paula Jones, Kathleen Willey, and Gennifer Flowers. Plus, the doll reportedly featured multiple outfits, an Armani suit for day (with matching Zegna tie), and a flowing black bathrobe for night. Rumors that the figure came with a miniature cigar were vehemently denied by its makers, who said, "We'd never make a doll that encouraged kids to smoke."