Babyland general hospital is the birthplace of cabbage patch kids and is located in cleveland, georgia. Every authentic cabbage patch kids comes with a xavier roberts signature, typically on the dolls left butt cheek. Married advertising executives roger schlaifer and suzanne nance wrote the toys creation myth. Babyland is the place where cabbage patch kids are born. Sep 05, 2018 the cabbage patch kids story begins in 1978 when roberts, then a twentythreeyearold artist, won a blue ribbon for sculpture for his first little people dollsplush and soft, with yarnknit hair and handpainted facesat an art show in osceola county, florida. Known the world over as the birthplace of the handstitched original cabbage patch kids, babyland general hospital is a very real place. During the american folk art movement of the late 1970s, roberts observed techniques involving the making of dolls from various materials. Before he struck his claim to fame though, he had relatively humble beginnings.
Babyland general hospital, cleveland, georgia roadside america. Cabbage patch xavier roberts signed 1991 babyland hospital bh. Its in the hometown of the kids creator, xavier roberts, who first opened babyland hospital in an. This page is for all cabbage patch, babyland general hospital, and xavier roberts dolls, dollrelated collectibles, figurines, collectibles. The little people evolved by 1982 into cabbage patch kids, which quickly became a major toy fad. Jan 12, 2010 bob austin visited babyland general hospital in the mountains of north georgia during the height of the cabbage patch kids craze to see how the little dolls were made, that is, born. Babyland general hospital, home of the cabbage patch kids. The famous cabbage patch kids have been hiding this secret. A few years later, coleco acquired the rights to the dolls and the brand expanded. Since cabbage patch kids came into being at babyland general hospital in 1978, they were an instant hit with parents and children alike. One factor that contributed largely to their success was that each doll was oneofakind.
During the 1980s, xavier roberts unique cabbage patch kids erupted into immediate popularity. Xavier roberts, manufacturer of cabbage patch kids, is an american businessman. Xavier roberts hand printed the name tags which accompanied his babies and printed each birth certificate with his own fists as the footprints. Since 1978 authentic cabbage patch kids and little people created by xavier roberts, cuties, adoptimals, and other cabbage patch toys and gifts are available at. Babyland general hospital home of the little people by xavier. Cabbage patch, xavier roberts dolls, collectibles page 1 of 1. Xavier roberts born october 31, 1955, cleveland, georgia, manufacturer of cabbage patch kids, is an american businessman. Going into business as original appalachian artworks, inc. Cleveland native xavier roberts developed the concept for the dolls in 1977. Cabbage patch kids creator xavier roberts claims that he was inspired in his earlier years as an art student by the folkart movement. Vintage cabbage patch dolls pre1990 for sale in stock ebay. Cabbage patch kids, originally known as little people, became a. The dolls were displayed in a hospitallike setting and were up for.
Jan 27, 2019 xavier roberts born october 31, 1955, cleveland, georgia, the inventor and manufacturer of cabbage patch kids, is an american artist and businessman. The originals were all cloth and sold at local craft shows, then later at babyland general hospital in cleveland, ga. Cabbage patch kids were created by american art student xavier roberts in 1978. Cabbage patch kids are a line of soft sculptured dolls sold by xavier roberts and registered in the united states office in 1978 as the little people. Boys, girls, and collectors can enjoy these pre1990 cabbage patch kids. Artist and creator of the cabbage patch kids, xavier roberts, continues to work on the gardens and landscape surrounding the beautiful 70,000 square foot. In very rare instances, the signature may be on the right butt cheek or upside down. During the american folk art movement of the late 1970s, roberts observed several techniques involving the making of dolls from various materials. Babyland general hospital is cleveland, georgias best kept.
Artist and creator of the cabbage patch kids, xavier roberts, continues to work on the gardens and landscape surrounding the beautiful 70,000 square foot columned home on 650 acres in the mountains. For them, a visit to babyland general hospital isnt an option. The cabbage patch dolls also known widely as cabbage patch kids were created by xavier roberts. In 1976, roberts became fascinated with a german fabricsculpture technique from the 19th century known as needle molding. Click on an underlined heading or picture for a larger view of the picture, more pictures, and further information on an item. Babyland general hospital in cleveland, georgia remains a top tourist attraction and special event locale. The value of an individual doll depends on popularity, date of manufacture, and number of dolls currently available for sale. Some pilling to shirt and loose stitching to one stitch at back of skirt. For those of you who were alive and breathing with any form of cognitive thought in the 1980s remember the cabbage patch kids especially the craze of 1983.
Xavier roberts born october 31, 1955, cleveland, georgia, the manufacturer of cabbage patch kids, is an american artist and businessman. Dianas patch custom cabbage patch kids and clothing. These dolls, made by xavier roberts, began with the name little people and were sold with individualized birth certificates. I am an individual doll collector, doctor and artist specializing in cabbage patch kid repairs, restores, and reroots. Since then, the dolls have been in high demand, and so, along with new models of. He began to produce the dolls through his babyland general hospital in cleveland, georgia in 1979. They are then taken to a babyland general hospital where they are later adopted by small children. The little people pals became the cabbage patch kids. Xavier roberts born october 31, 1955 in cleveland, georgia is best known for cabbage patch kid dolls, once immensely popular soft sculpted dolls based upon a design originally created by martha nelson thomas. They experienced popularity in the 1980s, and original cabbage patch dolls made before 1990 are considered vintage. Babyland general hospital is cleveland, georgias best. The cabbage patch kids story begins in 1978 when roberts, then a twentythreeyearold artist, won a blue ribbon for sculpture for his first little people dollsplush and soft, with yarnknit hair and handpainted facesat an art show in osceola county, florida. It is extremely well written with lots of pictures about xavier roberts and the first editions of little people and cabbage patch kids.
Vintage cabbage patch dolls pre 1990 cabbage patch kids, known as cpks for short, are a line of softbodied dolls that are just waiting to be adopted. Babyland general hospital, known worldwide as the birthplace of the handstitched, original cabbage patch kids, is located in cleveland, seventyfive miles northeast of atlanta in the blue ridge mountains. Its in the hometown of the kids creator, xavier roberts, who first opened babyland hospital in an old medical clinic. Babyland general hospital and cabbage patch kids fayette woman. Collector information, identification my cabbage patch kids. Babyland general hospital new georgia encyclopedia. The place is babyland general hospital, and it is cleveland, georgias most popularand surrealattraction. Xavier roberts converted an old clinic into a facility from. Cabbage patch xavier roberts signed 1991 babyland hospital bh 78 soft sculpture 1991 in original outfit signed by xavier roberts above stamp at babyland general hospital.
The facility is presented as a birthing, nursery, and adoption center for the cabbage patch kids. How to know whether a cabbage patch kid is a first edition. Xavier roberts made his little people pals at a converted a turnofthecentury medical clinic he called babyland general hospital in cleveland, georgia. The coleco factory codes are ic, kt, ok, p, pmi, ss, ut, and ws. A young girl plays with her cabbage patch dolls, 5th november 1987. Oct 10, 20 xavier roberts made his little people pals at a converted a turnofthecentury medical clinic he called babyland general hospital in cleveland, georgia. Before roberts became involved in the toy industry, thomas. Babyland general hospital, known worldwide as the birthplace of the handstitched, original cabbage patch kids, is located in cleveland, seventyfive miles northeast of atlanta in the blue ridge mount. But now, theyre finally being held accountable for what they did.
I had just recently learned about this book printed in the mid 1980s. Xavier roberts converted an old clinic into a facility from which to sell his dolls, originally called little people. Look for that factory code, which is one, two, or three letters in length and sometimes accompanied by a number. Roberts converted an old clinic into a hospital from which to sell his dolls, originally called little people. It is presented as a birthing, nursery, and adoption center for premium cabbage patch kids. I am not affiliated with original appalachian artworks, jakks pacific, xavier roberts, babyland general hospital, playalong, coleco, mattel, hasbro or cabbage patch kids. Cabbage patch, xavier roberts dolls, collectibles page 1. Apr 24, 2015 the cabbage patch kids twisted history. He asked her to supply him with dolls to sell in georgia, where he lived and worked. Cabbage patch kids wikimili, the best wikipedia reader.
Xavier roberts facts, bio, family, life, updates 2020. It also tells rhe legend of the cabbage patch kids along with historical information about the beginning of babyland general hospital. All cabbage patch kids are born in babyland general. Xavier roberts was born in cleveland, georgia in october 1955. The dolls were displayed in a hospital like setting and were up for adoption. During the american folk art movement of the late 1970s, roberts observed several techniques involving the making of dolls from various materials, including the dolls of martha nelson thomas of louisville. Its the unusual creation of entrepreneur xavier roberts, who began designing, sewing, and selling these dolls in 1978. We went to the freaky animatronic hospital where cabbage patch. And perhaps that was what their creator, 21yearold xavier roberts, had planned all along truth be told, the cabbage patch kids actually had a rather shameful backstory that xavier and company executives have been attempting to keep secret all these years. Cabbage patch kids werent actually born in a field of vegetables, but out of the entrepreneurial mind of a 21yearold art student, xavier roberts, in helen, georgia.
In 1978, roberts and five friends incorporated original appalachian artworks, inc. Toy company cabbage patch kids, created by xavier roberts, celebrates forty years at babyland general hospital in cleveland, georgia. See more ideas about cabbage patch kids, cabbage patch and xavier roberts. Babyland general hospital is the birthplace of cabbage patch dolls located in cleveland, georgia. Benji, a 1978 helen blue little people standing baby, is. The roots of the cabbage patch kids stem from the art of needle sculpture combined with the art of quilting in the appalachian mountains. Xavier roberts admitted that his cabbage patch kids, some of which are pictured here, were inspired by martha nelson thomass doll babies. In addition to this signature, there is also a year printedif there is no year, the color of the signature indicates the year. Cabbage patch xavier roberts signed 1991 babyland hospital. Over the years, ive made a number of trips with my daughters to babyland general hospital in cleveland, georgia, to search through the cabbage patch and adopt one of xavier roberts cabbage patch kids.
In 1976, xavier roberts met martha nelson thomas at a craft fair. The facility is presented as a birthing, nursery, and adoption center for premium cabbage patch kids. Roberts then attended white county high school and then attended truett mcconnell junior college where he was an awardwinning art student. Pre 1990 cabbage patch kids, known as cpks for short, are a line of softbodied dolls that are just waiting to be adopted. Toy company cabbage patch kids, created by xavier roberts, celebrates forty years at babyland general hospital in cleveland, georgia the history of cabbage patch kids. Bob austin, pm magazine cabbage patch kids youtube. Xavier roberts was born in georgia, united states on monday, october 31, 1955 baby boomers generation. Xavier roberts is an american businessman, owner of the cabbage patch kids franchise. Xavier roberts cabbage patch kids soft sculpture cptn 98195.
Legend of the cabbage patch kids collectors edition. Babyland cabbage patch kids wiki fandom powered by wikia. Also, check for xavier roberts signature, which will be located on the bottom of each authentic cabbage patch doll. Though xavier roberts was the creator of the cabbage patch kids brand, many of the brands defining characteristics such as the dolls overly round faces and that they came with an adoption certificate were taken from martha nelson thomas, an american folk artist from kentucky. Babyland general hospital in cleveland, georgia remains a top tourist. Babyland general hospital is the birthplace of the cabbage patch kids located in cleveland, georgia. They are now called handstitched originals or softies by collectors. Cabbage patch dolls were created in the 1970s by xavier roberts.
Xavier roberts is a scorpio and was born in the year of the goat life. They were a huge success and have continued to remain popular throughout the years. The very 1st 1,000 handmade dolls were taken from a 1937 baby name book. Babyland general hospital and cabbage patch kids fayette. Babyland general hospital cabbage patch kids helen, ga. Back in 1977, a dude named xavier roberts stole artist martha nelson thomass designs.
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