“He winks. He’s real cool. Fully jointed, too!”
In 1968, Remco released Li’l Winking Herby Hippy, a male doll that reflected the groovy counterculture of the 1960s.
The 16-inch jointed doll was manufactured from a mix of polyethylene (body and legs) and vinyl (head and arms). Herby was unique for his shaggy hair, freckles, and toothy grin. His features gave him an easygoing, friendly personality that fit right into the era’s “flower power” movement.
Dressed in a blue shirt, orange pants, and a black belt with a gold buckle, he also sported accessories such as a fabric tie and a beaded necklace, evoking the carefree hippy style of the period.
The doll included an interactive element; when his stomach was squeezed, his right eye winked. Both his eyes could open and close, adding a touch of personality and animation.
ABOUT REMCO
Remco was founded in 1949 in New York by cousins Isaac Heller and Saul Robbins. The company name was a portmanteau of “remote control.” The company produced remote control toys, such as the Dune Buggy Wheelies vehicle along with other innovative objects of play such as the Tiny Tim Pocket Toy Radio, Coney Island Penny Machine, Frogman (1961), Showboat, Lost in Space Helmet, Instant TV, and Pan Am Dual Control Jet Cockpit. The company filed for bankruptcy in 1971 and was later purchased by Azrak-Hamway International (AHI). In 1997, Jakks Pacific acquired the Remco brand from AHI.
Watch a collection of Remco television commercials on the Toy Tales YouTube channel.
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