American Greetings began with one immigrant selling postcards in his new hometown of Cleveland, OH. Through the years that Cleveland-based business grew into the multi-billion dollar global headquarters of one the leading card companies in the world. Located today in the Cleveland suburb of Westlake, OH, American Greetings occupies over 13 acres of land in the Crocker Park development and still helps us stay connected to those we care about.
In 1967 Holly Hobbie’s famous “blue girl” was featured on a few cards for American Greetings. The response to those cards was so favorable that American Greetings wanted to do more with Holly Hobbie’s designs. An American Greetings artist and designer named Bob Childers had the vision of seeing the Holly Hobbie character in doll form. Childers hand sewed a prototype Holly Hobbie doll. Then Creative Vice President Tom Wilson–the creator of Ziggy–took the prototype to Knickerbocker Toys. By 1975 a line of Holly Hobbie rag dolls was on store shelves!
Due to Holly Hobbie’s popularity during the 1970s, American Greetings had Wilson develop Those Characters from Cleveland (TCFC) to handle the licensing of American Greetings’ home-grown brands. One of the first brands to come out of the newly formed TCFC was Strawberry Shortcake, wouldn’t you know! Quite a few talented artists combined to collectively contribute to Strawberry’s berry sweet world! Ohio artist Barbi Sargent designed a little girl in a floppy bonnet and striped tights in the early 1970s who would evolve into Strawberry Shortcake. Muriel Fahrion, another Cleveland area artist and American Greetings employee, developed the ideas further and takes credit for developing 32 Strawberry Shortcake character starting with Custard, Strawberry Shortcake’s cat along with Blueberry Muffin and Huckleberry Pie! Fahrion’s sister, Susan Trentel, made the first Strawberry Shortcake rag doll. Muriel Fahrion herself went on to develop many other popular characters during her time at American Greetings including several Care Bears, Herself the Elf, and The Get Along Gang with her sister designing the corresponding plush/dolls for American Greetings and their licensees.
Throughout the years Holly Hobbie dolls have been manufactured by many companies starting with the classic rag dolls from the mid 1970s to vinyl dolls through the early 1980s by Knickerbocker. Gorham china dolls were produced in the early-mid 1980s some of which were even musical. Later redesigned rag dolls from both Tomy and Knickerbocker and later still porcelain dolls by both Ashton Drake (sculpted by Dianna Effner) and Marie Osmond Dolls. Strawberry Shortcake dolls have been around since 1980 originally starting as a (prototype) rag doll and quickly into the vinyl doll market with a 5.5″ scented line of dolls as well as produced rag dolls both by Kenner Toys in Cincinnati, OH. Through the years, many different companies were able to bring their vision of Strawberry Shortcake to fruition including: THQ, Bandai Toys, Playmates Toys, Hasbro, Madame Alexander, Marie Osmond Dolls, Danbury Mint, and The Bridge Direct. American Greetings has made sure that Holly Hobbie, Strawberry Shortcake, and The Care Bears are truly evergreen brands.
–Christina Stewart, May 2024
Author’s Notes:
*I was asked to write a brief history of American Greetings for the UFDC Region 12 Conference in May of 2024 where I presented on “Those Characters From Cleveland”. The article was included in the journal for the event.
**I also designed 2 dolls for the event that were loosely based on SSC/Care Bears and Orange Blossom/Holly Hobbie! The vinyl, jointed dolls were 12″ Siblies made by Ruby Red Fashion Friends in an extremely limited edition of 56 Emily (SSC/CB) and 25 Valencia (OB/HH).
Strawberry Shortcake Convention 