The Secret History of Cabbage Patch Kids

The Secret History of Cabbage Patch Kids | American Obsessions

Рет қаралды 1,350,732

9 жыл бұрын

Cabbage Patch Kids were one of the most popular toys of the 80s. Over the course of the decade, the dolls reportedly generated about $2 billion in sales.
The dolls were originally invented by a Kentucky artist named Martha Nelson Thomas. Martha first started making them in the early 70s, and would "adopt" them out to family and friends.
The dolls eventually caught the eye of Xavier Roberts, a Georgia man who ran a gift shop. After Martha denied him permission to sell her dolls, he stole the design and began making his own versions.
Xavier's dolls, which each had his signature printed on the ass, became wildly successful over the next few years. Their popularity reached its peak in 1983, when shortages of the dolls over the Christmas period led to mini-riots in toy stores across the country. Through all this, Martha didn't make a single penny from her creation.
In this video, we travel to Kentucky to meet with friends and family of Martha, and hear how the Cabbage Patch craze affected her life. We also traveled to Maryland, to meet Pat and Joe Prosey, who believe they have the largest private collection of Cabbage Patch Kids on the planet.
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Пікірлер: 2 600

@joonjoon2 9 жыл бұрын

You can really see what kind of woman martha was when you see the penguin doll and sheets she made for her kids. What a sweet lady

@elxchamuco 9 жыл бұрын

george clooney those were amazing true talent

@grungelovr5798 9 жыл бұрын

george clooney Oh yes so true so true. Tell us more about it.

@RatTaxi 6 жыл бұрын

george clooney wasn't that fantastic?

@jorchindattorch8340 6 жыл бұрын

She was precious. The world lost an awesome person when she died. RIP Martha

@celestetibbetts3964 6 жыл бұрын

george clooney omg. worse than the joker my dear..

@Talibanguerilla 8 жыл бұрын

Hello! My name Is Katie, Im actually on my sons account. Anyway im 31 years old and just happened to stumble on to this video and I am 100 % positive I have a doll baby from Martha. I live in Illinois but my Grandmother was from Owensboro Kentucky and When I Was a baby my Granny gave me a doll that I later named bimbo. Bimbo went everywhere with me as a child. I also owned Cabbage patch dolls, but only because they looked so similar to my beloved bimbo. I always assumed bimbo was a cabbage patch doll but always wondered why it wasn't signed on its bottom... Now I know why!!! This is so sad to know that this woman was ripped off by xavier. My reason for posting this comment is only to let the family know that I loved my doll bimbo and still treasure this doll today. I'm glad to know the real story behind my doll. Thank you Martha for making my childhood special! 💕

@Kpoper4life 6 жыл бұрын

Great story, I just can't believe you called your doll Bimbo, though it's understandable.

@KateCarew 6 жыл бұрын

Omg My Grammy and I used to go to the Berea Kentucky art fairs every summer (living in northwest Ohio) and I remember she gave me one of these and I was a damn ingrate!! It was probably 1984(?!) and I was sooooo not having this "fake" cabbage patch doll polluting my collection of purebreds I banished it to the bottom of my stuffed animal pile!! I was only six so what did I know? I knew the velveteen rabbit so I didn't throw her out but I certainly did not appreciate her either...lost her a decade later when my room flooded. All at once I feel guilt and sorrow and damn do I miss my Grammy!! Martha, Grandma, I AM SORRY!!! 😭

@KateCarew 6 жыл бұрын

Hey, bimbo is a great name :) it just means little boy in Italian! Girl would be bimba and they are the ultimate terms of endearment ❤️💕❤️

@drunkenfish6274 6 жыл бұрын

Jacob Sago that doll is worth thousands.

@davidturbo8566 6 жыл бұрын

Rahmstation not really ,they’re really not worth that much but will definitely go up in value...

@ellekay8657 6 жыл бұрын

This is a very sad story but Look how people spoke about her, look how much family and friends loved her. That is true wealth.

@hoijink.9252 6 жыл бұрын

Elle Kay yess :") im sure she was a very lovely person

@dt4654 3 жыл бұрын

@Trantor The Troll that works if your family is rich,not so much if they aren't.

@_beary_and_friends 5 жыл бұрын

When her husband started crying, my heart broke. He's right though, a million dollars can't buy you an amazing life with your spouse. Wouldn't trade my husband for anything.

@UKnowMeIMURDaddy 3 жыл бұрын

Greed is good

@kelliintexas3575 Жыл бұрын

She ultimately won, Hands downs! NO COMPARISON!!

@CharleneOrtizTraining 7 ай бұрын

Me too. We've been together 24 years and married for 22. We've been through so many life challenges and life's blessings and I wouldn't give it up for anything.

@AnnaM-mr9pg 8 жыл бұрын

I used to work at babyland (cabbage patch kids original store) and I can definitely vouch that Xavier has copied everything this woman stood for, he knows it too. All the workers knew it. I found it heartbreaking, so if anyone ever asked, I always told them the truth.

@RPSteve 7 жыл бұрын

Anna Manning Well there's no way I'll ever work at the Baby land General Hospital! And I think Xavier Roberts is a huge arse!

@parismarksvlogs8016 7 жыл бұрын

Anna Manning omg omg I wanted to go there for a year i can't believe you was a noruse there

@everythingispain8433 6 жыл бұрын

Well, fancy finding you on KZfaq, best friend

@everythingispain8433 6 жыл бұрын

LMAO PLEASE FONT JUDGE MY OLD CREEPY PASTA VIDEOS FROM FRESHMAN YEAR I JUST STILL USE THE ACCOUNT

@amirablue.b186 6 жыл бұрын

Wow that's so cool I've always wanted to see that place too

@nerdatheart94 8 жыл бұрын

Poor Martha. She sounds like a wonderful woman. She truly understood what a child wanted in a doll, and knew how precious it would be to the child. She had a kind heart, and this asshat comes in and steals it.

@missdemon92 8 жыл бұрын

she probably should've done that before he did... instead of sitting there and being "heartbroken".. new world order man.

@coreym162 6 жыл бұрын

@Fa Jae - I sort of agree. She was already selling them. So, she should have at least won the company from that Xavier bastard and turned the company around to the way she saw fit. Then reached a larger audience of children in need of her vision around the world. Now, Cabbage Patch Kids are tarnished. However, I do understand her not wanting to mass produce them. She could have turned them into specialty items or given the mass production rights to someone she trusted or both. Sitting on it helps nobody.

@Survivor58 6 жыл бұрын

Corey M Her husband (seems like they really loved each other) said she wasn’t about the money but she did because she enjoyed it. Greedy people are those who only care about the almighty dollar.

@tgirl1762 6 жыл бұрын

Survivor 58 If she didn't care about the money why go to court at all then?

@Survivor58 6 жыл бұрын

Latoya Burton Good question. Sometimes it’s the principle. Those who feel this way want to let those who have wronged them know that they need to pay by acknowledging they did wrong. Not everyone is a lover of money.

@elizabethcrossley6853 6 жыл бұрын

If it wasnt her idea he would have stolen another idea. He was an opportunist. Im glad she got recognition in the end

@denaturner8871 4 жыл бұрын

Elizabeth Crossley it wasn't her idea... all but the adoption part, that was hers.

@urielarriaga3075 Ай бұрын

Sin duda Martha era una mujer muy maternal y tierna tengo una pequeña colección de cabbage ahora las valoro mas

@MonicaSpauldingfreelance 5 жыл бұрын

I can't even finish watching this. The stories Xavier told about his, "discover, idea" of the dolls, has me livid! Him, a sculptor?! 😡

@denaturner8871 4 жыл бұрын

Monica Spaulding-Mott the stories these people are telling about her inventing them is making me mad too!

@qjelly6087 8 жыл бұрын

Lol on his Wikipedia page it says he's an "American artist, businessman, and thief"

@MarianMetanoia 8 жыл бұрын

That's fantastic.

@iknowmewhoareyou2615 8 жыл бұрын

+luis mejia does it really? gonna check it out now!

@missdemon92 8 жыл бұрын

but why they keep calling him an artists... he didnt make those

@PikachuProductionsPIKA 8 жыл бұрын

+missdemon92 well he's an artist because he made the newer ones so he's artist

@missdemon92 8 жыл бұрын

Pikachu Productions oh

@para-mentischannelbypiggsy4240 9 жыл бұрын

Difference with Martha's doll is they where made with love.

@lillyfbennett6423 6 жыл бұрын

That made each one unique, the 'C P's were ugly because they were clones, not creations. A child could look for one that had the personality that suited them, then they would love it too.

@jennj308 6 жыл бұрын

When I was little, I took a lot of comfort in my cabbage patch kids. Thank you, Martha Nelson, for giving me my first friends. I wish you had gotten your due.

@lorenamontibeller3519 6 жыл бұрын

Netflix should tells the real story!

@ElRosco187 4 жыл бұрын

Shit would be awesome.

@observer1033 8 жыл бұрын

The dolls being placed on the front pew at her funeral is so touching and fitting.

@kelliintexas3575 6 жыл бұрын

mandy That part made me cry 😕

@Cece46654 2 жыл бұрын

That was beautiful.

@accountname2476 9 жыл бұрын

This actually made me pretty sad :(

@DamonCassada345 9 жыл бұрын

A million cabbage patch kids are crying around the world.

@miketv2331 9 жыл бұрын

Cindy Swadling Does it make you sad when DJs use samples from other artists? Pantyhose dolls were a meme in the 1970s...nobody "owned" the idea, & everybody was free to profit from it. DJs, on the other hand, directly steal original creations from artists, & then profit from them under the pretense of having created something new.

@miketv2331 9 жыл бұрын

readyrepairs Sorry... did I disturb your moment of sadness over fucking panty hose dolls?

@himynameischarky7185 9 жыл бұрын

Cindy Swadling me too but it didn't destroy my love 4 cpks

@ladygirlblah 9 жыл бұрын

Miriam Moore from this point on, i am team garbage pail kids...screw that dude....even though my fav doll that i have had for 20 years is a cabbage patch kid...

@rachelmcdaniel8999 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Martha Nelson Thomas for your dolls that have brought so much joy to so many people. I'm sorry you never received the true credit you deserved. Even though the "Cabbage Patch Kids" were stolen from you, they were clearly your dolls and were a much loved part of my childhood in the 80's.

@kelliintexas3575 6 жыл бұрын

Well she may not have made the Cabbage patch brand but generations of children were made happy due to her creativity & love she sent out into the world! Those doll babies were the inspiration behind millions of childrens happiness, dreams, mental escapes for childrens in hospitals, foster care, abusive homes, broken families and children wiith out friends. That I think was worth more then anything. She eventually was compensated, but I tend to think when she got to heaven there was a big golden star next to her name!!!

@ragantate3995 Жыл бұрын

Gold star next to her name? Heaven isn’t a kindergarten grade chart.

@AnnRiba 8 жыл бұрын

Someone should make a movie based on this

@eileenrodriguez1297 8 жыл бұрын

+Ann Riba totally

@Mrbrbusby 8 жыл бұрын

They already did. Run Totem through KZfaq. Starring Natja Brunckhorst. Same concept: Anthropomorphism.

@AnnRiba 8 жыл бұрын

Mrbrbusby .busby Thanks

@IntoBlackHouse 8 жыл бұрын

+Ann Riba If you want to see a movie about something similar, watch Big Eyes

@Agforever12 8 жыл бұрын

+IntoBlackHouse that's what I was going to say!! We watched that movie in art class, and my friends said I looked like, Janie.

@qoaa 9 жыл бұрын

My mom has an original doll baby from Martha. My mom absolutely HATED cabbage patch dolls, totally ripped off stolen idea and was shittier quality as cabbage patch was made by foreigners in Chinese sweat shops. Not by true high quality made in US by a creator who loved it and put every ounce of love in every stitch

@atomixfang 9 жыл бұрын

qoaa hahaha implying things made in the us have "true quality".

@shereehamrick6966 9 жыл бұрын

qoaa ummm.....at least some of the Cabbage Patch dolls were manufactured in Amsterdam, NY USA. Several of my relatives worked on them.

@ritzlarka 9 жыл бұрын

qoaa During the 80's the dolls were not, to my knowledge, made in China. The political issues of the time wouldn't have really allowed for that. The big push to move work overseas, I believed, gained momentum in the early/mid 90's.

@TheBlueCerulean 9 жыл бұрын

atomixfang I assume you're from some shitty third-world country.

@atomixfang 9 жыл бұрын

Tywin Lannister Try again. I guess that is the only thing your american brain can think of.

@katty.s 3 жыл бұрын

“Martha and I had a wonderful life together. It wasn’t elborate but it was wonderful. I’m not gonna trade in that life for a few dollars.” What a great way to sum up that up.

@crazychick 6 жыл бұрын

I can still remember my original Martha doll as a child.... This was a beautiful story of a beautiful woman!

@mokulenable 8 жыл бұрын

I'm not an emotional person normally but I lost it when he started to cry talking about his wife passing.

@mariahlongest7465 7 жыл бұрын

Mokulen Chan me too. The love and admiration he had for her was beyond crystal clearly apparent in that clip. It also showed when they displayed that adorable picture of home holding one of her dolls she made. He had that little doll in his big hands, held out in front of him and he was looking at that doll with this face that totally gave away how much he absolutely ADORED his wife! That picture was beyond adorable and cute! Also, the picture with the two of them holding their doll doppelgängers that she made for them, complete with matching outfits and a scruffy yarn beard, balding head and a pair of his glasses on his doll was absolutely precious!! This man truly loved his wife beyond what words could describe. My heart broke for him when he started to tear up and say how important she was to him and how much he missed her. Definitely a prime example of soulmates and being lucky enough to find your other half! What he did for her wedding was very kind and sweet - he knew how much her dolls, art and results of her creativity meant to her and to all of her loved ones. That was a very unique and special way they could all celebrate her life and passing together. They're all so lucky to have such important and personal items to remember her by and be able to keel a very sentimental piece of her close to them at all times. Must be comforting when they need her to have those things close by!!

@beautyandtheoffbeats 6 жыл бұрын

I started tearing when I saw the dolls at her funeral.

@Survivor58 6 жыл бұрын

Mokulen I know right. I thought I’ve always wanted a love like that. Even though I won’t have one I hope others may. That happens when people are deep down kind and put each other first.

@livingreallife3277 6 жыл бұрын

I felt the same way.

@missyshrimp222 7 жыл бұрын

Such a sad tale. May Martha Rest In Peace.

@crystaleunoia3974 6 жыл бұрын

MissyShrimp 2 I can't help but feel guilty considering that I have a cabbage patch kid sitting on my shelf T^T

@richellereynolds881 5 жыл бұрын

I know you're going to hate me for this and yeah he should have gave her a shitload of money... but let me ask you this if he would have, would this be such a sad story? Hundreds of millions of kids got to share in the fantasy and the joy of having a Cabbage Patch Kid. The world got to share it. If he hadn't taken her idea to the top no one including you and me would have ever heard of Cabbage Patch Kids but since this woman didn't get paid it's a sad sad story. Don't get mad. Please help me understand I must have a blind spot but maybe all you guys have a blind spot too

@karlabenitez7998 5 жыл бұрын

R. i. p Martha rest in peace & sleep in heavenly peace

@whitspearsw7820 4 жыл бұрын

@@karlabenitez7998 how did she

@denaturner8871 4 жыл бұрын

Such a false narrative

@nuthinmuffins5073 6 жыл бұрын

I wish I'd known about this before now, because I never liked Cabbage Patch dolls, and now my perspective on them has been changed entirely. Now, every time I see one, I will remember this story and, in just a doll, see: this beautiful woman's artistic expression of love and warmth, the way one greedy man took advantage of her unique creation, her commitment to the integrity of her creation, the sincerity of those who loved her and admired her soft sculptures, how wonderful it must've been to be a child and receive one of her dolls... There's a whole story I will now recall whenever the dolls are referenced. I'm choosing to see this as an example of the karma ultimately received whenever someone like him chooses such a course of action. He may have made millions and got credit for the dolls, but history will give credit where it is due, and, whereas he's had to live with the guilt of having built a fortune on a lie and theft of someone else's talent, she undoubtedly lived a happier life because it was free of an underlying deceit and full of simple joys. There are some things money can't buy, and those things are the source of real happiness. I'm glad someone went to the effort of sharing this story, and I'm glad I happened to watch it.

@GeorgiaGeorgette 2 жыл бұрын

Beautifully put. Heartfelt best wishes to you.

@brownsexylady40 6 жыл бұрын

I remember having the cabbage patch doll in the 80's and now I wish I had an original DOLL BABY, by Ms. Martha, she had a great talent. Rest in Peace Martha Nelson Thomas

@ashmoonz 9 жыл бұрын

What a beautiful and sweet woman Martha seemed to be! I was born in 1989 and grew up with cabbage patch dolls. I always took such pride is having them until now, finding out that the dolls I had were rip-offs of Marthas creations. I'm glad I now know who deserves the true credit for these incredible dolls.

@sumrsolo 6 жыл бұрын

ashmoonz I was born in 1988 but otherwise same here and I just bought my 2 year old a cabbage patch kid wet and drink travel set for her 3rd birthday party coming up like crazy soon and I feel really bad now...I can't cancel it or take it back now. But I have that feeling of being lied to so I wish I never bought it. At least I know and I can let my daughter know this story which I'm sure that's all Martha wanted for us and herself. For her to be remembered for her true work as at least part of it and for us to have the truth. I believe she really felt bad for us all being lied to by such scum and being over charged.

@MelB868 6 жыл бұрын

The original dolls were creepy and who cares this man made them better

@watchinvidzwatchinvidz7691 6 жыл бұрын

Melanie Barksdale You totally missed the point... Martha didn't want them mass produced

@divinewords4350 6 жыл бұрын

I used to love Cabbage Patch dolls. I had 13 of them. I am an adult toy collector and after watching this, I will never buy one again.

@jessicapace4235 6 жыл бұрын

I was born in 1978, and as a young child became so excited over these dolls. I had many, as did several friends. I can’t believe I never knew the history.

@NatalieNightwolf 9 жыл бұрын

Wow what a jerk for stealing Martha's idea. Horrible person but they won in the end, like he says, they had a good life. The man who stole her idea has money, but is probably a miserable, lonely, liar.

@karlaarana6999 6 жыл бұрын

very true, im glad martha wasn't concerned for money

@JaymeSplendid 6 жыл бұрын

Natalie Nightwolf welcome to AMERICAN capitalism 101...smh....

@jorchindattorch8340 6 жыл бұрын

Natalie Nightwolf That's what I'm thinking. If he has it in him to enjoy that dirty money guilt-free after all the steaming lies he put out there, I can only pity him for his emptiness and lack of humanity.

@badideabearcub2747 6 жыл бұрын

Incubus Grey But at least they bought the rights to make her in the US. Although for years the company had an official story that the face of the doll was inspired by the wife of the founder of Mattel, which wasn't the truth because she had the same identical face that the original German version had.

@watchinvidzwatchinvidz7691 6 жыл бұрын

Karma bites hard.

@hannahwills7253 4 жыл бұрын

wow, I wasn't expecting to be crying by the end of this. It's horrible what Xavier did but Martha sounds like she was a great person and had a great life despite what he did

@Fatbby 2 жыл бұрын

As someone who has been wanting to purchase a cabbage patch soft sculpt and research so much about the dolls and NEVER SEE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THIS. I can’t believe it. And I am heartbroken. Martha Nelson Thomas thank you for your creation in this world! You are not acknowledged enough.

@SimplyGameplayNews 9 жыл бұрын

R.I.P Martha

@mrcoolpants3956 7 жыл бұрын

SimplyGameplayNews WHY DID YOU SAY THAT NAME

@teresainfante2116 6 жыл бұрын

mrcoolpants39 why can't he

@mrcoolpants3956 6 жыл бұрын

Ziree A.K.A BACONPANCAKES its from batman v. Superman

@picklebananassplit9323 6 жыл бұрын

🙏🙌may she walk through the golden gate's 👼

@marcosreyes3873 7 жыл бұрын

There should be a movie made. To give her a voice, and let the truth come out to all the cabbage patch kids owners and the kids from the 80's who had one to know the real story behind the doll.

@maryannemmery2101 6 жыл бұрын

Marcos Reyes yes , like the McDonalds movie, where it talks about how THAT went down.

@MARSHAJAN1983 6 жыл бұрын

That's a great idea...there should be a movie made about Martha.

@maryannemmery2101 6 жыл бұрын

There IS a movie made about the McDonalds, it came out last year, it is shown on Netflix at the moment and it shows what actually happened and how etc. it's called "The Founder". I still agree and believe there should be a new movie about Martha! For example, I didn't know the story until I accidentally ended up here through a recommendation and the story is reverting and it's unfair the world doesn't know the real story/truth

@shanesmith906 5 жыл бұрын

Marcos Reyes I agree 100%

@gliesecooper8526 5 жыл бұрын

Agree!

@she_sings_delightful_things 5 жыл бұрын

WOOOOW!!!! I love how she turned her children's drawings into toys!! 😍 That is insane cool, what a talented, sweet lady!!!!

@KraftyKreator 6 жыл бұрын

I feel for her widower, he still misses her. They truly had a lovely connection we all wish we will have-- well the vast majority. Thanks Vice.

@Hera8334 8 жыл бұрын

What a horrible man. She seemed like such a lovely sweet women who made affordable dolls for kids that weren't as well off. But that man only made them for profit and greed. May her soul rest in peace.

@EkAks 6 жыл бұрын

Hera Kereopa I remember that my dad paid almost $33 with my birthday money I got.

@annah371371 7 жыл бұрын

sounds like she passed peacefully and her life was celebrated. .. i bet it won't be the same for Xavier Roberts.

@hellcatz25 5 жыл бұрын

300 like

@mondsafari 6 жыл бұрын

I adore this woman. She brought so much love and joy to her community and lived a fulfilled life with her partner right by her side. I'd take that over millions of dollars everyday

@denaredford6701 6 жыл бұрын

She was a artist who loved creating sweet dolls . Bless her heart .

@handmiadenofgod 9 жыл бұрын

Awe, Martha :( He may have stolen her idea and desecrated her art, but I'm sure he'll never take away the joy she brought to her community with her creations. He's rolling in millions, but Martha was far richer in spirit. Long live craftswomen!

@jengeesh 2 жыл бұрын

M of

@aaronvaughn9273 Жыл бұрын

Yes she was my great great aunt

@unashay 7 жыл бұрын

we need more Marthas in this world!.... Bless her heart! .

@timewastermohanty 6 жыл бұрын

unashay actually we don't need more like her. We need people who could choke slam a person trying to steal their idea. Martha was too nice for this world.

@usedbyjesus 6 жыл бұрын

timewastermohanty omg lol wow..someone who is business smart lol

@FiiDeLLaCaShFLoW 6 жыл бұрын

I agree! But humans suck and will only take advantage of people like her...this world is only about survival of the fittest...

@ArielCotton 6 жыл бұрын

unashay We do they get ran over like she did and forgotten by all. she was lucky to have someone actually care to get her story out.

@ariglb 6 жыл бұрын

timewastermohanty Or someone that understands how and why to use copyright.

@samanthablank6726 4 жыл бұрын

Martha and her husband seem like such amazing genuine people! ❤️❤️ happy to hear others say such amazing thing about her! Cabbage patch dolls were my entire childhood and it honestly breaks my heart knowing I played with them and the owner wasn’t given the credit for them. My boyfriend is a artist and I know how hard someone works on their craft!

@brigland3726 6 жыл бұрын

Who doesn't love this man when he tears up at the end talking about his wife.... Tears in MY eyes too. God bless these sweet people. Karmas a Bitch and Xavier Roberts is paying a hefty price I'm sure!! I had one of these Cabbage Trash dolls as a child. Wow... Had no idea.

@GlitterNglitzDollz 7 жыл бұрын

is it bad that i cried when the husband talked about all the dolls being in the front pews at her funeral ? because i think thats so cute and also so sad :(

@shannonwalkling95 5 жыл бұрын

I started tearing up when he was saying how he missed Martha :(

@GeorgiaGeorgette 7 жыл бұрын

I just want to share an idea I've had for anyone wanting to get rid of their Cabbage Patch Kids after seeing this video. Anyone not wishing to profit from ill-gotten gains could donate their doll to a charity shop or even better they could be sold in order to raise money for cancer charities in memory of Martha. That would be a fitting tribute to her.

@amirablue.b186 6 жыл бұрын

NotMostGirls that would be a wonderful idea to save children's lives to because there are a lot of children fighting cancer hope someone takes you on this and find a way to start it

@Survivor58 6 жыл бұрын

NotMostGirls Excellent idea.

@GeorgiaGeorgette 6 жыл бұрын

Amira Blue.b, thank you, I appreciate that. I think it could potentially be beneficial and a way for something positive to come from something negative.

@GeorgiaGeorgette 6 жыл бұрын

Survivor 58, thank you, that's nice of you to say.

@GeorgiaGeorgette 6 жыл бұрын

Lanky Kong, I agree with you.

@amieakalove 6 жыл бұрын

Far as I see it is that Martha made my childhood happy.. it may have had that dudes name on it but all of us little girls would have never been so happy to have that kind of doll in our arms if it wasn't for Martha. So she got to let us experience the joy she got out of the dolls without having to spend millions to do so or deal with the headache of all the celebrity that people think is what's important in life. So I say thank you to Martha for letting the little girl me be so happy to fall asleep with my little baby doll which I for now on call my doll bc I know the proper name and who really brought them into the world. P.s. Martha was very lucky to have you as her husband. I can see you love her. God bless you. I'm sorry she was taken from you so soon and I wish for nothing but the best.

@picklerick9036 6 жыл бұрын

Bless his heart....his love for her is so pure, and beautiful.......Martha your dream lives on sweetheart...so modest

@TaraDobbs 6 жыл бұрын

After watching this video I realized I had an original Martha doll. My grandmother commissioned it when I was born in 1980. It had brunette hair, baby soft pink dress with ruffles and a bonnet to match with cotton pink booties. I have since lost the doll in my move from Tennessee to Washington state cause my father disowned me; giving away all my belongs. Wish I had a photo of the doll so I could find it again. I would recognize it in a hurry if it ever came on ebay.

@charissseburchett8353 4 жыл бұрын

Sorry that happened 😔

@dawnaldridge2993 4 жыл бұрын

Look up MN Thomas dolls on ebay. The heads are on there.

@user-qu5ju9ph2y 4 жыл бұрын

Reddit is the place to go for this

@denaturner8871 4 жыл бұрын

Were you told that it actually came from this lady? Or was it a doll that looked like these but couldn't be confirmed that it was from her line?

@WowJustWow37 4 жыл бұрын

Tara Dobbs my mom had one made for us by an older black lady from the south and got us cabbage patch dolls the next year. We always loved the hand made ones more!

@engelwyre 8 жыл бұрын

Martha Nelson Thomas touched lives, Xavier Roberts touched wallets.

@thetoastpleaser 4 жыл бұрын

Bless Martha. I never knew this story and I'm so glad to see it. Those dolls in the pew at the end nearly made me cry.

@itsjay1313 3 жыл бұрын

I had one of Martha’s dolls when I was a child and never knew the difference! I wish I knew then what I know now!!!

@Tennantphile 7 жыл бұрын

I had a cabbage patch kid. Still do. Time to cross our Xavier's name and write Martha

@selkhiali6461 7 жыл бұрын

you better burn it

@sumrsolo 6 жыл бұрын

This has to be the best comment in my opinion regarding this video. True that. I cried for these people. My childhood was a lie. We went with the wrong dolls and knew them as from the wrong person.

@LissiKinz 6 жыл бұрын

Except the CPK was mass produced. I wouldn’t insult her by placing her name on that.

@PhntmStudios 9 жыл бұрын

its fucked up that the world will never let you prosper on your own ideas and craft without them stolen. RIP Ms. martha.

@EatShiteAholes 8 жыл бұрын

+LXRYLXRYTV FUCK money. She didn't care about that shit. She was happy doing what she was doing. What else is there??????

@iknowmewhoareyou2615 8 жыл бұрын

+vomittie I was thinking the same thing. I now see the need for patents. patents, patents!

@RobinFlysHigh 4 жыл бұрын

Martha's husband reminds in looks a lot of my dad who passed away in 2014. Let's hope he is still around, and may Martha rest in peace

@GlennaShaw 6 жыл бұрын

My grandma from West Virginia made dolls like these back in the early 60s.

@denaturner8871 4 жыл бұрын

GlennaShaw many did... even before then too... I'm out here in the comments typing furiously trying to educate people about this!

@ahhhndy 7 жыл бұрын

This pisses me off, and I've always felt that Cabbage Patch Kids were way over priced.

@femaleenergy7715 6 жыл бұрын

andrea i agree!!!

@EkAks 6 жыл бұрын

Very true

@vivihutson5285 6 жыл бұрын

andrea they are

@jeffcressey2502 6 жыл бұрын

of course they were, but everything is companies will always charge what the market will bare.

@eps3154 6 жыл бұрын

I'm only halfway through. Please tell me her estate sued him into oblivion.

@Dani-dw9ux 8 жыл бұрын

If Martha was still alive I would have wanted to meet her. As many artist she never got recognized for her art and I respect the fact that when she settled the plead with the cabbagepatch man she didn't want money but justice

@monkeygirl19934 3 жыл бұрын

I grew up owning cabbage patch dolls. I think they are cute but I honestly think Martha's doll babies are cuter. You can tell she put a lot of love into making them😊

@lansdale26 4 жыл бұрын

May Martha rest in peace. This is just a beautiful thing that made me cry.

@baker3person 9 жыл бұрын

that is so sad. I hope martha recognized how greatly her work affected people

@rushi927 9 жыл бұрын

I am glad Vice was able to tell her story...

@emwhyay182 6 жыл бұрын

When her husband started crying 💔 What amazing people. RIP Martha!

@bundleofdaisies7523 6 жыл бұрын

14:22 goddamn... i'm chocking up. That's real love man... I really might cry

@teresasimpson5143 9 жыл бұрын

I actually worked at Toys R Us at that time. We had to keep the dolls in the security room and people didnt get a choice as to which one they got. This is such a sad story; I will never look at a Cabbage Patch Doll the same way again.

@RatTaxi 6 жыл бұрын

Teresa Simpson I never knew it was so bad that u got whatever they gave you! Pretty crazy.

@emanon- 7 жыл бұрын

Martha's dolls were way cuter tbh. Cabbage Patch kids scared me when I was a kid

@zebragirl1012 7 жыл бұрын

They both look terrifying

@lolololololololollolololol6858 7 жыл бұрын

Natalie Carley horrifieng

@andrea-fj6tt 7 жыл бұрын

Natalie Carley ... LANA!

@C00kii0 7 жыл бұрын

The CP dolls were effing creepy as all heck.

@jacintatarenta7531 7 жыл бұрын

Yeah, that's true. The baby dolls are easier to handle. Honestly, I'm still scared of the CP dolls today!

@janireguardado8507 6 жыл бұрын

She sounds like such a wholesome sweet angel I hope she’s resting peacefully 💖

@abipach6677 6 жыл бұрын

I can’t imagine my art being ripped off and marked as someone else’s. Sadly this is still going on in the art community. Artist whether they’re traditional or digital, are having their art STOLEN.

@sonofhibbs4425 5 жыл бұрын

Happens more than you know. There were a couple stories about how some Etsy artists had their ideas ripped off entirely by some corporation. Hardly anything was changed, but some wealthy company stole their ideas and ran with it. Made shit tons of money from an artist who never got compensated for it. All any of these companies have to do is take a look at the sea of artists and their creations on these online websites to choose their next money making idea. Hardly anything legally can be done about it. It should be illegal to steal artist’s ideas.

@fernforwood3989 4 жыл бұрын

Hard enough to be an artist.

@SykotikShadow 3 жыл бұрын

But NFTs are BS

@hawkeyeten2450 Жыл бұрын

Heck, movies are being ripped off as well. Disney ripped off nearly a whole scene or two in Soul from A Matter of Life and Death, a British film from 1946. Some Europeans on Twitter noticed the similarities and actually posted side by side stills to show how close they were. Sadly, this is still hardly known in America, apart from those of us who saw the Tweets.

@karaeverman1164 Жыл бұрын

As a real artist myself having so many ideas all the time, is really a blessing and those ideas commonly get taken and changed or made better. It’s kind of part of being an artist giving ideas to the world, or sharing your ideas.

@dorenemellene2201 8 жыл бұрын

May Martha Nelson Thomas Rest In Peace. I have a Cabbage Patch Kid that is marked with Xavier, and it's going to burn. I don't want to buy anything from a thief. I send my condolences to her husband who obviously loved her very, very much. Thanks for sharing this video.

@GeorgiaGeorgette 7 жыл бұрын

If you didn't actually burn the doll and still have it, why don't you donate it to a charity shop or sell it online and give the proceeds to a cancer charity? That would be a fitting tribute to the original and rightful creator.

@dorenemellene2201 7 жыл бұрын

NotMostGirls - I haven't burned the doll. Actually, I've been so busy with everyday life. I just forgot about it. Thanks for such a great idea, I will give it for charity.

@jonbar76 7 жыл бұрын

+Dorene Mellene. don't been it its just a doll made by a bad person 😑😑😑

@GeorgiaGeorgette 7 жыл бұрын

Dorene Mellene, oh I'm so pleased :-)

@GeorgiaGeorgette 7 жыл бұрын

howto42 How will that help anyone?

@Boobalopbop 8 жыл бұрын

I almost wish I hadn't seen this. I adore cabbage patch kids. I used to collect them as a child. I'd get a new one every birthday and Christmas. I remember Xavier Roberts signature on their butts. I hate that I supported such an asshole.

@daboz8753 8 жыл бұрын

+Potwheelz She didn't want the idea cheapened, which it was... It was turned into a Christmas toy craze with people beating the shit out of one another to get one. She wanted to share the idea and the doll with as many people as possible but didn't want people to have to pay an arm and a leg for them...which Xavier Robber...I mean Roberts did.

@arianababyalives8721 8 жыл бұрын

i cant believe he copied the design

@hungbulldaddy 8 жыл бұрын

I thought I had something special in two brand new cabbage patch kids unopened in my garage but now I think they are worthless because of that douchebag fraud ! They are truly Garbage Patch Kids.

@livingdeaddollsjunky9543 8 жыл бұрын

+HUNG BULLDADDY more like garbage pall kids hehe i collected garbage pall kids cards so that the joke

@solihtary7869 7 жыл бұрын

+cindybin2001 dude cmon,stop being a fucking goody two shoes because they can say what they want.Yes,I know that some people don't like having other people curse,but it's their life,and they can do whatever they fucking want.Yeah yeah manners and all that shit,but who the fuck cares?!?!No one will ever stop cursing,and you don't have to live your whole life with manners and respect.You have to live freely sometimes.I mean,I respect that you want us to stop cursing,but please,people who do that are obnoxious because they spam that shit.And I had to get that off my chest.Phew.Im not hating or anything,but someone has to say the truth.

@katekong5720 6 жыл бұрын

why am I crying over dolls sitting in a church may she rest in complete peace she seems like she’s a kind soul

@QuackersJackers 6 жыл бұрын

My mother was just like her. She could make anything and never even knew she was an artist!! She just wanted to make people happy and enjoy herself just like Martha. I hope they meet each other and all the other lovely artists at a big craft table in the sky!

@reem930 7 жыл бұрын

Well shit. Now I feel like an ass for being obsessed with cabbage patch dolls as a kid. I had like upwards of 10. If only social media was a thing back then. He never woulda survived after it came out that he stole the idea from a sweet little lady. There woulda been like a freakin go fund me for her haha

@stephaniesanchez6151 6 жыл бұрын

reem930 eventually twitter would do its thing

@beautifulhotstonespa964 6 жыл бұрын

reem930 pp

@virtuitousvampire9371 6 жыл бұрын

I was always jealous of the kids that had them. Not that my parents were poor, but they just didn’t get what the fuss was about. I guess I’m glad I didn’t get a piece of capitalism that early in life.

@poop-bf4fs 7 жыл бұрын

Poor Martha. Also Rest In Peace Martha

@matrixiekitty2127 6 жыл бұрын

That’s just tragic! That interview of the cabbage patch man was infuriating! How dare he steal away Martha’s idea!

@kevin.710 5 ай бұрын

Although she passed I wanted to say I hope Martha knows I personally appreciate what she was trying to do. I love my cabbies like my own children but knowing the idea was stolen hurts my heart. Thank you for this beautiful thought, know that although it wasn’t what she wanted her idea is greatly appreciated and loved. ❤

@olduglyentwife5700 7 жыл бұрын

I got a handmade dollbaby for Christmas in 1984. A lady had made a few of them them and was selling them out of the trunk of her car in a parking lot. You could buy a kit with the head and the paperwork and sew them up yourself back then. She wore real baby clothes and a real baby diaper and I was so proud of her but the other kids made fun of her because her butt wasn't signed. My mom had told me about this story and I totally stuck up for her like she was a real child. It's funny now but I took it very seriously at the time. I never owned a branded CPK but I still have the record album and my kids listened to it and someday I expect my grandkids will too.

@indoororchidsandtropicals358 7 жыл бұрын

Wow, I now feel like kind of a jerk for having cp dolls as a kid. That said, playing with my cousin and our cabbage patch kids are some of my fondest childhood memories and while our dolls were a stolen idea, I feel gratitude to MARTHA because she contributed to all those memories I wouldn't otherwise have.

@shena1256 4 жыл бұрын

That pew with the dolls 😔😔 Her husband saying she loved giving gifts made from her hands is perfect example of what a great woman she was.

@tuesdaypatience 6 жыл бұрын

I would have loved to be able to tell Martha that a sweet lady who worked at the nursing home where my grandma worked for forty years created hand-made dolls that had that sweet unique feel of Martha’s babies. I still have mine...she has such an adorable personality. Those babies - sold at the nursing home craft sale to raise money to donate - would have made Martha smile.

@emmyjeanhasacamera 9 жыл бұрын

Martha's dolls are beautiful and so was she. Thanks for sharing her story, Vice.

@BushidoBrown76 9 жыл бұрын

But then this dude probably got all pissed when the Garbage Pail kids came. Irony. No more of that "Hey that's just how life life works"

@SnotRockets55 8 жыл бұрын

+jay hamilton AGREED

@pinkjt34 6 жыл бұрын

Thank you! I guess because cabbage patch kids were part of my life, this story is very important. So my thanks to her for creating them. And im sorry she got ripped off. Nobody deserves that

@1021ladyvamp 6 жыл бұрын

Thank you Martha for creating the doll that made me so happy. I know the mass market doll isn't here but if it wasn't for her I wouldn't have my doll so thank you.

@chriswieman 8 жыл бұрын

A sad and interesting story; kudos to Vice for telling it.

@aarmauforever7811 7 жыл бұрын

that man should have been arrested

@anneshields2010 6 жыл бұрын

Yeah that’s copyright I bet if someone did that to him he’d be quick enough to sue

@chinchillahats4907 6 жыл бұрын

Anne Shields he did. He put a $30 million lawsuit on the makers of Garbage Pail Kids trading cards. So the makers had to alter their appearance. This man is a criminal for sure.

@hankelly552 6 жыл бұрын

What a beautiful couple, poor lady but she obviously lived a wonderful happy life. Inspirational!

@jessicacannady1931 6 жыл бұрын

i cried a little when he talked about her passing.

@justinluc2572 8 жыл бұрын

This had me HEATED

@westindian10 8 жыл бұрын

me too

@GeorgiaGeorgette 7 жыл бұрын

And me.

@amandamore3818 7 жыл бұрын

right!!!!

@mariahlongest7465 7 жыл бұрын

Justin Luc seriously!

@hoijink.9252 6 жыл бұрын

Ikrr

@2HootHoot 9 жыл бұрын

This reminds me of that time when the native americans lost their land because they didnt have proof they owned the land.

@majesticgirlgames 4 ай бұрын

This is so sad 😔 cabbage patch dolls were a huge part of my childhood. They were my children. Bless your soul, Martha ❤️❤️❤️

@trinitybertinelli552 5 жыл бұрын

What a nice sweet person Martha was!!! rest in peace Martha

@tantanjafin 8 жыл бұрын

This needs to spread worldwide. This controversy isn't even on Wikipedia

@sjrhollywood1347 5 жыл бұрын

Yes, it IS! From Wikipedia: Though Xavier Roberts is the creator of the Cabbage Patch Kids brand, many of the brand's defining characteristics, such as the dolls' overly round faces and that they came with an adoption certificate, can be traced back to Martha Nelson Thomas, an American folk artist from Kentucky. Before Roberts ever became involved in the toy industry, Thomas created and marketed her own line of dolls, called Doll Babies, which she sold at local arts and craft shows and markets. The two crossed paths at a state fair in 1976 and Roberts began purchasing her dolls to sell at a profit at his own store in Georgia. Thomas eventually confronted Roberts about his unethical business practices and ceased to sell additional dolls to him, prompting him to turn to a manufacturing company in Hong Kong to mass produce dolls similar in appearance to Thomas' at a cheaper cost to him. Thomas brought suit against Roberts and eventually settled with him out of court for an undisclosed amount in 1985. She and her husband, Tucker Thomas, told the press that she was more upset by the corruption of her dolls, for which she cared deeply, than the money she'd lost as the result of Roberts' actions. Thomas died in 2013, at the age of 62, with her most favorite dolls attending her funeral alongside her family members and friends.

@Rachctor 8 жыл бұрын

Rest in peace, Martha. So sad.

@madisonstephens5945 3 жыл бұрын

A pew for the dolls was such a beautiful idea

@tarangamble9265 5 жыл бұрын

I was born in 85' I still have my adoption papers. My Grammy bought me a cabbage patch doll when I was a baby. It's still so special to me. Now that she's not here I treasure it.

@VICE 9 жыл бұрын

The dolls were originally invented by a Kentucky artist named Martha Nelson Thomas, but the design was stolen and transformed into a multi-billion dollar franchise. Martha never saw a penny. Read: *The 'Haunted Dolls' of Ebay*: bit.ly/1PHZxMM More *American Obsessions*: bit.ly/American-Obsessions

@vernonsza 9 жыл бұрын

VICE Never saw a penny? The video said she settled out of court.

@tyfishmcwar5393 9 жыл бұрын

SunriseInTheMidwest I would agree with that statement especially when she said "My Children could go to collage."

@benisturning30 9 жыл бұрын

I do not feel sorry for her.

@flamedrag18 9 жыл бұрын

VICE I don't see a patent for baby dolls....so it's not really a stolen idea, they've been making baby dolls for centuries, possibly millennia....

@therealaim-9xmissile 9 жыл бұрын

VICE I just hate when people steal other people's ideas seriously that is just bs I don't like dolls but I just don't like why people do this stuff still I like learning from these videos very shocking.

@happybanana4421 6 жыл бұрын

amazing beautiful people who found the true meaning of a happy life. no one could rob them of that!

@user-qo4nu9ze8d 6 жыл бұрын

Martha surely was a lovely and humble person, her baby dolls were clearly a representation of this; having that sweet home made and indeed quirky style. Bless you martha you beautiful human.

@shelfprincess3433 3 жыл бұрын

It’s extremely sad of Martha’s passing but I just want everyone to know some things and differences. Xavier roberts is the creator of cabbage patch, he came up with concept of a magical patch up in the Georgia mountains and had wonderful marketing to it and had a fine tuned look to his product. Martha Nelson thomas while she did do the adoption idea before him wasn’t against branding herself did she make a mistake not doing it first yes, but there’s the doll baby kits that are like a create your own kit she partnered with a company with. And while it did ok and you can occasionally find them at a thrift store every once in a while it didn’t sell because it didn’t have the story or cuter look. So basically what I’m saying is she wasn’t as innocent as the vice documentary made her out to be and she did end up selling out and mass marketing her product.

@funtimetv897 7 жыл бұрын

The scientific term for that is plagiarism

@legioxciicorvus5917 4 жыл бұрын

Is that a literary term?

@jackymussared4528 4 жыл бұрын

😂

@clittle10301 9 жыл бұрын

This is sad! But, its also very inspiring! She kept creating and enjoying her creations regardless of who got the credit. She was an amazing person. I also enjoy making dolls and giving to others. I've had a hard go at life. But, I hope I can be more like her and continue doing good and serving the Lord for those around me.

@ants5845 6 жыл бұрын

Oh Martha, you made so many children and families and those little angels so very happy and blessed! May you rest in peace Martha

@HyperPiper 5 жыл бұрын

When he said the dolls were at the service I started tearing up. This story really breaks my heart. What a beautiful soul to be done so wrong. I’m glad that she is remembered so wonderfully by those she was close to and that the truth is out. May she Rest In Peace💗