Cabbage Patch Kids - Timeline

Timeline

• 1978 - The first "Little People Originals" were delivered by Xavier Roberts, who incorporated Original Appalachian Artworks, Inc.
• 1981 - There was coverage of the dolls' popularity in Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal, and Atlanta Weekly.
• 1982 - Original Appalachian Artworks, Inc. signed a long term licensing agreement with the licensing and creative development company Schlaifer Nance & Company to create a new brand for their Little People, soft sculpture property. Schlaifer signed Coleco Industries to produce the dolls in August 1982.
• 1983 - Cabbage Patch Kids were introduced with great fanfare at the International Toy Fair in NYC. By October, riots were occurring in stores around the country. The dolls made the cover of Newsweek before Christmas and stories of their success were heralded around the world.
• 1984 - Sales for Cabbage Patch Kids branded products, from toys to children's apparel, came close to the record setting $2,000,000 mark. The CPK record produced by the Chapin Brothers for Parker Brothers' music went Gold and Platinum.
• 1985 - Cabbage Patch Kids low-sugar breakfast cereal and real children's diapers were introduced. The Cabbage Patch Kids Christmas Special was number one in its time slot on ABC.
• 1986 - The first talking Cabbage Patch Kids.
• 1988: Original Appalachian Artworks buys the licensing rights for Cabbage Patch Kids from Schlaifer Nance & Company. Cabbage Patch doll licensee, Coleco Industries, filed for bankruptcy, but dolls continued to be made, the contract going to Hasbro Industries and later to Mattel.
• 1992 - Cabbage Patch Kids were named the official mascot of the 1992 US Olympic team and members of the team were given their own dolls to take to the games.
• 1996 - The Cabbage Patch Snacktime Kids were released.
• 1999 - Popular vote selected the dolls as one of the 15 commemorative US postage stamps representing the 1980s.
• 2005 - There was a parody of the Cabbage Patch Kids on Robot Chicken as Lettuce Head Kids.
• 2008 - All US Presidential and Vice Presidential Candidates had their own Cabbage Patch Kids. Barack Obama was depicted with a blue suit. John McCain was depicted in a suit with grey hair. Joseph Biden was also depicted in a suit with his hair slicked up. Sarah Palin was depicted in a trademark suit and skirt with high heeled pumps. Also, Palin's signature hair and eyeglasses were featured.