Dinah-mite was produced by Mego in 1972.  Standing 19 ½ centimetres (8 inches) tall, she is fully poseable, jointed at the neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, waist, hips, knees and ankles.  She is made from a hard plastic with a soft vinyl head and was issued as both a white and black doll.  The black doll has a short black 'bubblecut' hairstyle while the white doll has long straight blonde hair.  The Dinah-mite packaging also shows a white doll with long red hair, but I have never seen this doll and do not know if it was produced.  To my knowledge only the blonde doll made it to Australia.  The blonde doll has blue forward facing eyes, while the black doll has brown.  Both dolls have bright pink lips and rose cheek blush.  Her box reads: 'Just look what Dinah-mite can do, she sits or stands just like you.  Pose her on one leg or two, 100 ways, it's up to you!'  Dinah-mite is the female equivalent to Mego's Action Jackson and several of the accessories issued for her were similar to or complimented Action Jackson's accessories.

Identification:       Dinah-mite is marked © MEGO CORP. 1972 on the back of the head, just under the hairline, in indented text.  The dolls are also marked across the back with; © MEGO CORP., MCMLXXII, PAT. PENDING, MADE IN HONG KONG. in raised text.  She was dressed in a purple nylon jumpsuit with white elastic belt and white boots.  Her stock number is 1400. Accessories:       Dinah-mite had a range of outfits, from action gear and sportswear to casual outfits and eveningwear.  She even had a bridal gown.  One piece of each outfit carries a paper tag reading © MEGO ®, 1972, MADE IN HONG KONG.

Dinah-mite drives a red Volkswagen Combi Van (Action Jackson's was blue), with seats that fold down to a bed, a detachable orange roof with sliding sun roof, a sliding side door and 'swing out' back window.  Included with the van are a sleeping bag, two folding camp stools, a table, a barbeque and a fold out annex.  The van stock number is 1465.       Dinah-Mite lives in an open plan Beach House built on stilts - stock number 1462.  (Action Jackson had a similar Jungle House.)  The house is made from red plastic with vinyl floor and roof.  Access is gained via a rope ladder and the house is furnished with a black plastic couch, yellow table, two yellow high backed chairs and a vinyl hammock.  There is a cupboard that slides back to reveal a secret radio and a storage locker that pivots to expose hidden storage compartments.  A red inflatable pool, airbed and beach ball were included.

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Restoration:       Dinah-mites body is held together with rubber bands and depending on how the dolls have been handled and stored these bands can break leaving the doll in several pieces.  Care should be taken handling and especially washing the doll.  (Try not to get water inside the doll.)  Some of the fabrics used for Dinah-mites outfits do not age well.  Care needs to be taken if washing them.  The snap fasteners are prone to causing rust marks. Reference:       I am unaware of any publication or reference that includes Dinah-mite.

Dinah-mite's Camper Van, two blonde Dinah-mites and black Dinah-mite.

Action Jackson  (known as Johnnie Jackson in the UK) was produced by Mego in 1971.  Standing 19 ½ centimetres (8 inches) tall, he is fully poseable, jointed at the neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, waist, hips, knees and ankles.  He is made from a hard plastic with a soft vinyl head and was issued as both a white and black doll (stock numbers 1100 and 1133 respectively).  He has painted dark brown or black hair, and was issued with or without a painted beard.  The stock number for the dolls with beards is 1132.  This doll may also have been issued as a blonde doll although I have never seen this doll.

He was dressed in a light blue or dark blue nylon jumpsuit, white elastic belt, dog tags and white boots.  To my knowledge only the white doll made it to Australia.  His box reads, 'Action Jackson is my name, bold adventure is my game.  Think of what you want to be and call on me.'  He was marketed with the slogans 'Do and Dare! He's everywhere! On land and sea and in the air!' and '8" tall the biggest little man in the world of adventure.' Action Jackson is the male counterpart to Mego's Dinah-mite and several of the accessories issued for him were similar to Dinah-mite's accessories.    Identification:        Action Jackson is marked © MEGO CORP. REG.U.S. PAT. OFF. PAT. PENDING HONG KONG MCMLXXI across the back of the shoulders in raised text.  There are no markings on the head. Accessories:        Several outfits were manufactured for Action Jackson.  In 1971 the outfits were issued in cardboard boxes and grouped into three categories: Military Outfits (1101 Aussie Marine, 1102 Air Force, 1103 Navy, 1104 Frogman, 1105 Ski Patrol, 1106 Army), Bold Adventure Outfits (1107 Rescue Squad, 1108 Western, 1109 Scramble Cycle, 1110 Jungle Safari, 1111 Secret Agent, 1112 Snowmobile outfit) and Sports Outfits (1113 Fishing, 1114 Hockey, 1115 Baseball, 1116 Karate, 1117 Football, 1118 Surf and Scuba).  The later outfits of 1974 were issued on blister cards.  One piece of each outfit carries a woven tag reading Action JacksonTM © MEGO CORP. MCMLXXI HONG KONG and a woven AJ logo on the right breast.        Action Jackson lived in a Jungle House made of brown plastic, with vinyl roof and floor.  Access was via a rope ladder or secret trap door in the floor. There is a cupboard that slides back to reveal a secret radio, a storage locker that pivots to expose hidden storage compartments and a rooftop viewing area.  Included were a search light, cage, plastic gorilla, spear and shield.        A range of vehicles were available for Action Jackson including #1119 battery operated, remote control Wild Mustang, #1120 battery operated, remote control Rescue Copter, #1121 battery operated, remote control Scramble Cycle, #1122 battery operated, remote control Snowmobile, #1123 battery operated, remote control Jumping Jeep, #1124 battery operated Strap on Helicopter, #1125 Parachute Plunge, #1126 battery operated Water Scooter, #1127 Fire Pack.  Also, a blue Volkswagen Combi Van, with accessories such as table, stools, sleeping bag etc. and an amphibian car were available.  Restoration:        Action Jackson's body is held together with rubber bands and depending on how the dolls have been handled and stored these bands can break leaving the doll in several pieces.  Care should be taken handling and especially washing the doll.  (Try not to get water inside the doll.)  Some of the fabrics used for Action Jackson's outfits do not age well.  Care needs to be taken if washing them.  Melt marks may occur if soft plastic accessories are in contact with hard plastic accessories for extended periods of time.

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