Blog Assingment #31/My Choice Feature

My Topic Choice: Barbie Dolls

The Barbie doll was invented in 1959 by Ruth Handler. His daughter was called Barbara. Barbie was introduced to the world  at the American Toy Fair in New York. The doll was supposed to be a teenage fashion doll. There has been some public debate over Barbie's figure when it realized that if Barbie was a real person her measurement would be an impossible 36-18-38. The male doll, Ken, was named after Ruth's son. Barbie first had bendable legs in 1965.

This story takes place in the 1930's. This story starts: A young girl meets a boy and they fall in love. The girl graduates from High School and she wants to go to college. The girl's parents dont want her to go to college, becasue it is not a common tradition. She goes to college anyway adn marries the boy too. Ruth and Elliot raise two children, Barbie and Ken.

Mid 1940's, Ruth and Elliot owned a company that made wooden picture frames and Elliot began to use the scrapes of wood from picture frames to make doll furniture. It was teh beginning of their toy history. In 1945, Ruth and Elliot joined with a close friend to form a company. This company would be named Matted, MATT and EL. Mattel continued to grow from a very profitable buisness into a corporate giant.

Ruth then hired Charlotte Johnson, a fashion designer, to create Barbies wardrobe. 1958, BArbie would be long limbed, shapely and beautiful, and was only 11 1/2 tall. Paper fashion dolls of the times would give way to a 3-D beauty. Ruth and Elliot would name their new fashion doll after their own daughter,Barbie. Barbie dolls' soon to be boyfriend Ken, would be named after their son Ken.

March of 1959, Barbie doll made her way to the New York Toy Show and recieved a cool reception from the toy buyers. She would be viewed as risky to buyers since she was not the typical stlye selling baby doll of the times.Upon seeing Barbie on store shelves, the public decided differently. By 1960, the mood owuld change and the orders started pouring into Mattel. It took several years for Mattel to catc up with the demand for Barbie. Within 10 years, the public purchased $500m worth of Barbie products

Barbie had under gone a lot of changes over the years and has managed to keep up with current trends in hairsytles, makeup, and clothing. She is a reflection of the history of fashion since her introduction to the toy market. Barbie has a universal appeal and collectors of all ages enjoy time spent and memories made with their dolls.Barbie; 1959-present. Ken; 1961-present.MIDGE 1963-66, Barbie’s friend;ALLAN 1964-65, Ken’s friend;
SKIPPER 1964-present, Barbie’s sister;SKOOTER 1965-66, Skipper’s friend;RICKY 1965, Skipper’s friend