Billy doll

Billy is a doll introduced in 1997. Billy was created by artist John McKitterick and marketed in the United States by London-based Totem International as "the first out and proud gay doll" although that distinction actually belongs to Gay Bob, introduced in 1977. [cite news
last =
first =
coauthors =
title =It's the Gay Bob doll, out of his own closet
work =
pages =
language =
publisher =Associated Press
date =1978-08-01
url =
accessdate = 2007-12-18] McKitterick created the doll based on sketches he drew while living in London. After a successful limited-edition run of 1,200 dolls created to benefit an AIDS charity, McKitterick decided to mass market his creation.cite news
last =Melendez
first =Mel
coauthors =
title =Show Me Your Billy
work =Prism
pages =
language =
publisher =
date =Fall 1997
url =http://www.journalism.sfsu.edu/www/pubs/prism/oct97/P1.Billy.html
accessdate = 2007-12-18]

Billy is convert|13|in|mm tall. It was introduced in a number of versions based on stereotypical gay characters, including Sailor Billy, Cowboy Billy, Master Billy and San Francisco Billy. Other dolls in the Billy line include Carlos, Billy's Puerto Rican boyfriend, and Tyson, their African American friend. Billy is anatomically correct.

The Billy doll was the subject of a 1998 exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art in New York City. Several dozen fashion designers created custom outfits for the doll in support of a benefit auction for AIDS charity LIFEBeat. [cite press release
title =Tommy Hilfiger and Jean Paul Gaultier design collector label for Jones Soda
publisher =Urban Juice & Soda Company Ltd
date =1998-05-26
url =http://www.jonessoda.com/stockstuff/news/19980526.html
accessdate = ] Also in 1998, Billy and Carlos served as the basis for the film "Billy 2000", which featured segments based on the Master Billy, Cowboy Billy and San Francisco Billy figures. [cite web
last = Tramontagna
first = Giacomo
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Billy 2000: Billy Goes to Hollywood
work =
publisher = The Guide
date = July 1998
url = http://guidemag.com/magcontent/invokemagcontent.cfm?ID=064C63CE-125A-11D4-A7AB00A0C9D84F02
format =
doi =
accessdate = ]

Billy and Carlos donned drag in 1999, with Billy dressed in a gingham checkered pantsuit as "Dolly" and Carlos as "Carmen" in a polka dot outfit reminiscent of those worn by Carmen Miranda. [cite news
last =
first =
coauthors =
title = Billy and Carlos: It's ladies' night
work = Unzipped magazine
pages =6
language =
publisher =SLI
date =1999-06-22
url =
accessdate = ] In 2001, a Billy doll wearing a brown uniform with a patch reading "BPS" (for Billy's Parcel Service) was introduced. United Parcel Service sent Totem cease and desist letters advising that the uniform violated UPS's trademark. Totem agreed to stop selling the brown-uniformed Billy style. [cite news
last =LeMay
first =Patricia M
coauthors =
title =UPS keeps brown-uniformed 'Billy Doll' off shelves.
work =
pages =
language =
publisher =Associated Press
date =2002-01-25
url =
accessdate = 2007-12-18]

References

ee also

*Earring Magic Ken