Now You Can ‘Own’ a Star of ‘Dynasty’ Soap Opera

If you think “Falcon Crest” is a new toothpaste for birds or that “Dallas” is merely a city in Texas, this product is definitely not for you. But for prime time TV soap opera buffs, the unveiling of two new “Dynasty” dolls should be big news.

World Doll/Eugene Doll & Novelty Co. of Brooklyn, N.Y., which in the past has introduced expensive Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley dolls, is cashing in on the “Dynasty” craze with porcelain dolls representing two of the show’s leading characters--Alexis Carrington Colby and Krystle Carrington.

The Alexis doll, portrayed in the TV program by actress Joan Collins, is 16 inches tall and is dressed in a black and silver evening gown designed by Nolan Miller, who also designs the costumes on “Dynasty.” The doll wears a real black mink stole with monogrammed lining designed by noted New York furrier Ben Kahn and wears a necklace and earrings made of real diamonds.

The doll for Krystle, portrayed on TV by actress Linda Evans, is also 16 inches tall, wears a hand-beaded Miller original gown, a Kahn monogrammed white mink stole and diamond bracelet, ring and earrings.

Only 10 of each doll will be made, the company says, and will sell for $10,000 apiece--a price few besides J. R. Ewing of “Dallas” could afford.

But the company will also market less-expensively costumed models made of porcelain for $700 and of vinyl for $125. And to commemorate the birth of Blake and Krystle Carrington’s baby--an event that gladdened the hearts of “Dynasty’s” 70 million viewers--the firm is offering a baby Krystina doll, complete with a birth announcement, for $40.

Big Roll-Out for Robot

In the licensing game, a character usually has to catch on with the public before companies risk paying royalties for the right to use the character’s image on their product.

But United Media, a unit of E. W. Scripps Co., has licensed the characters in its newest comic strip “Robotman & Friends,” to dozens of companies--and the strip has yet to debut.

The company, licensee of Peanuts and Garfield comic strips, has signed up 200 newspapers to run Robotman, has syndicated a series of animated Robotman TV specials and has licensed more than 30 companies to produce Robotman products ranging from a Parker Bros. board game and a Kenner Products stuffed toy to an endless list of Robotman watches, dolls, toys, school supplies, towels, books, videocassettes and childrens’ wear.

Who is Robotman and why do all these companies think they’re on to a good thing?

He’s a cute little red, yellow and pink robot with a propeller on top of his head and a big heart on his chest. His friends are “Stellar,” his girlfriend; “Oops!,” who is constantly bumbling into trouble, and “Lint,” who is made of stardust.

Their goal in life, according to a company spokesman, is “to make children happy and to make them comfortable with the idea of robots, which will play an ever-increasing role in the childrens’ lives as they grow up.”