Troll Dolls Story

Public Domain Image from Pixabay

@LadyDuck (471294)

Switzerland

January 17, 2016 9:24am CST

Replying to my discussion about silly invention who made millions, Ann LeFlore @poehere mentioned the Troll Dolls. The story behind those dolls is interesting enough to be shared. Troll dolls were created by Thomas Dam in 1959. Dam was a Danish fisherman and woodcutter. He was not rich and could not afford a Christmas gift for his little girl (Lila) so he carved a doll from his imagination. The other children of the small Danish village saw the doll and liked it. Dam decided to start a production of dolls using plastic. In 1960 they became popular in some European countries and were introduced in the United States in 1963. In 2013 his company has been acquired by DreamWorks Animation. Do you remember the Troll Dolls?

49 people like this

51 responses

@moffittjc (121546)

• Gainesville, Florida

17 Jan 16

I am an aquatic director and supervise approximately 100 lifeguards. One year several years ago, I came across a troll doll dressed as a lifeguard. I ordered 100 of them and gave each of my staff one for Christmas. They thought they were the best things ever!

5 people like this

@LadyDuck (471294)

• Switzerland

17 Jan 16

They really were very popular at the beginning of seventies.

3 people like this

@TiarasOceanView (70022)

• United States

17 Jan 16

I had no idea that these dolls originated in Denmark. I loved these dolls when I was a child in all their colors shapes and sizes.

4 people like this

@LadyDuck (471294)

• Switzerland

17 Jan 16

The trolls are from northern European countries, I thought they originated in Norway, but I was wrong.

3 people like this

@TiarasOceanView (70022)

• United States

17 Jan 16

3 people like this

@salonga (27775)

• Philippines

18 Jan 16

Yes I do remember troll dolls. They became popular few years back but now I rarely see one in the market. I never liked these ugly dolls.

3 people like this

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@salonga (27775)

• Philippines

18 Jan 16

@LadyDuck I would rather have beautiful dolls than ugly dolls.

3 people like this

@LadyDuck (471294)

• Switzerland

18 Jan 16

I remember that they were popular many years ago, I never liked them.

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@SIMPLYD (90722)

• Philippines

18 Jan 16

If i am a child , i don't like a doll that looks like that at all .

3 people like this

@LadyDuck (471294)

• Switzerland

18 Jan 16

In some Northern European countries the trolls are part of their folklore. I suppose that this is the reason why the Danish kids liked them.

3 people like this

@gr8nana6 (6614)

• Conyers, Georgia

17 Jan 16

I do remember them I always thought they looked creepy

4 people like this

@LadyDuck (471294)

• Switzerland

17 Jan 16

I agree, they looked like those northern trolls from Norway.

3 people like this

@DianneN (247186)

• United States

17 Jan 16

I remember them, but never liked them. I do remember the trolls all over Norway. So many!

3 people like this

@LadyDuck (471294)

• Switzerland

17 Jan 16

I never liked them too. I remember the trolls in the valleys of German Switzerland.

3 people like this

@LadyDuck (471294)

• Switzerland

17 Jan 16

@DianneN I cannot believe it, a troll doll in Turkey.

3 people like this

@DianneN (247186)

• United States

17 Jan 16

@LadyDuck I don't remember seeing any in Denmark or Switzerland, but would you believe we saw one in Turkey???? My husband pointed it out. I just laughed.

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

17 Jan 16

I have never heard of them before, which is surprising if they became so popular.

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

17 Jan 16

@LadyDuck To be honest I am not much of an authority on dolls.

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@LadyDuck (471294)

• Switzerland

17 Jan 16

I remember I saw the dolls, but I did not like and never bought one. My younger cousin had several.

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (471294)

• Switzerland

17 Jan 16

@Asylum I am not either, I have never liked so much any kind of dolls.

1 person likes this

@1hopefulman (45120)

• Canada

17 Jan 16

I don't remember but I usually do not buy dolls but may have seen them somewhere.

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (471294)

• Switzerland

17 Jan 16

I remember that I saw that dolls but I never bought one.

2 people like this

@1hopefulman (45120)

• Canada

18 Jan 16

@LadyDuck So what was the attraction of these dolls?

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (471294)

• Switzerland

18 Jan 16

@1hopefulman I cannot understand, sometimes ugly objects attract people without a reason.

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@allknowing (135966)

• India

19 Jan 16

This is the first time I ever heard of these dolls. Anyway as kids we never got to play with dolls.

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@allknowing (135966)

• India

20 Jan 16

@LadyDuck Have you kept any of those?

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@LadyDuck (471294)

• Switzerland

20 Jan 16

@allknowing Yes, they are in the attic in my Mother apartment in Italy.

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (471294)

• Switzerland

19 Jan 16

I had dolls when I was a young girl, some were very nice.

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@simone10 (54187)

• Louisville, Kentucky

24 Jan 16

I do remember them and one of my siblings had one. To me, they were so ugly they were cute. I love the impish look on their faces.

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (471294)

• Switzerland

24 Jan 16

Their were ugly, but they were not scary or weird, they had a cute little face.

1 person likes this

@simone10 (54187)

• Louisville, Kentucky

25 Jan 16

@LadyDuck Yes they did. My brother and sisters had one when they were young.

1 person likes this

@amadeo (111938)

• United States

17 Jan 16

Yes,I remember them very well.I started a collection on these for my girls. I liked them.They are fun

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (471294)

• Switzerland

17 Jan 16

They are funny, I remember my younger cousin had several.

1 person likes this

@amnabas (14042)

• Karachi, Pakistan

17 Jan 16

On I never saw them but it's interesting to know it's history.

3 people like this

@LadyDuck (471294)

• Switzerland

17 Jan 16

May be you are too young, or they never came to your country.

1 person likes this

@bluesa (15022)

• Johannesburg, South Africa

17 Jan 16

I do remember these dolls @LadyDuck , and to think it started from not being able to afford a Christmas gift.

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (471294)

• Switzerland

17 Jan 16

This is the story and I believe it's true, because those trolls are typical of northern European countries.

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (471294)

• Switzerland

17 Jan 16

@bluesa I found it is a sweet story. I was glad to know that he made money with something he created to please his little girl.

1 person likes this

@bluesa (15022)

• Johannesburg, South Africa

17 Jan 16

@LadyDuck , I also believe the story to be true, I think it is great that it started from a Dad trying to make sure his daughter got a Christmas gift. :-)

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@JESSY3236 (19912)

• United States

18 Jan 16

I love the Troll dolls. I still have some.

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (471294)

• Switzerland

18 Jan 16

I believe you are still very young, they were popular when you were a little girl.

@LadyDuck (471294)

• Switzerland

19 Jan 16

@JESSY3236 I did not mean that you are "too young", I meant that you are young enough to have enjoyed those dolls when you were a kid. I was already a teenager when they were popular.

1 person likes this

@JESSY3236 (19912)

• United States

19 Jan 16

@LadyDuck I am 35 years old. Not too young.

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@Fishmomma (11377)

• United States

16 Jan 17

This little guy should make a comeback with the Trolls Movie. Personally, I know its not exactly the most attractive doll, but I actually liked it when it came out. I thought it was different and not everyone would buy it for their child/children or for gifts.

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (471294)

• Switzerland

16 Jan 17

I remember them, I already went to school when they first came out, I do not believe I ever had one.

@shaggin (72110)

• United States

19 Jan 18

The trolls from the 60s were hideous. The trolls my from childhood (80s/90s) I loved and had probably 15 different ones. My mom hated their straggly hair and always wanted to cut it. Now they have come out with a really cute troll movie and new toys a year or two ago but my kids are to old for me to buy them any.

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (471294)

• Switzerland

19 Jan 18

I never had one, as in the 60s I was a teenager and in the 80s already married from 10 years.

1 person likes this

@allen0187 (58582)

• Philippines

14 Nov 16

I remember these troll dolls. My sister had a couple of these and she would spent hours combing the hairs of her dolls. They say that if you rub the tummy of the troll dolls, you'd get good luck.

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (471294)

• Switzerland

15 Nov 16

I did not know about the tummy and the good luck.

@Bluedoll (16773)

• Canada

25 Feb 16

Looks like my hair in the morning sometimes.

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (471294)

• Switzerland

25 Feb 16

I also have bad hair days.

1 person likes this

@Jessicalynnt (50523)

• Centralia, Missouri

19 Jan 16

they came back in the 80s for awhile, I had em too

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (471294)

• Switzerland

19 Jan 16

Yes, they came back in the 80s, as everything, there were imitations that made a come back in later years.

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@Jessicalynnt (50523)

• Centralia, Missouri

19 Jan 16

@LadyDuck well mine werent a knock off brand, BUT, I dont know if they were the original brand either

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@PainsOnSlate (21852)

• Canada

24 Jan 16

I do remember them and still see them around. I didn't know the history so thanks for the share.

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (471294)

• Switzerland

25 Jan 16

They disappeared for several years, but I have seen them back on the shelves.

1 person likes this