Barbie Doll Invented

"New for '59, the BARBIE doll: A shapely teenage fashion Model! Retail price $3.00..."
 
 

You may ask yourself who invented the Barbie Doll and what is all this craze about?   Well this craze started back in 1959 and has been going strong ever since.   Prior to the invention of the Barbie Doll in 1959 Elliot and Ruth Handler started a company with Harold Matson which was "Mattel"- it was the joining of the two names.  The company was originally formed in 1945 to build and sell picture frames.  Elliot began a business on the side where he was making dollhouse furniture out of the picture frame pieces.  Elliot Handler recalled in 1967 "My bright young wife stated if I could make this furniture for the house, why not make some for sale?" And so the Handler furniture business started.  As business was booming Ruth noticed her daughter Barbara and her friends spending time playing with the grown up paper dolls versus playing with baby dolls.  The girls needed a doll they could play with and imagine what they could be when they grew up.  She soon realized that there was niche for this type of market.  She brought the idea to her husband who as part founder of Mattel.  He  quickly told her that it was an expensive idea. 
 

 

 

During a trip to Europe she purchased a doll called "Bild Lilli".  This doll was based on a German comic strip and was a gag gift for adults.  She brought the doll back to the U.S. and started working on redesigning the doll and worked with a designer who could design doll clothes.  The invention of the Barbie Doll was made by Ruth Handler and she named Barbie after her daughter Barbara.   On March 9th, 1959 the invention of the Barbie Doll was presented at the Toy Fair in New York City.  

 
 
Since the invention of the Barbie Doll many things have happened:
  • The invention of mass plastic and vinyl had to happen for Barbie to be produced
  • The company sold 500 million Barbie Dolls during the first eight years of the invention of the Barbie Doll
  • The Mattel Company became a publicly traded company in 1960
  • Within 5 years of the invention of the Barbie Doll the company made the Fortune 500 list
  • Because of Barbie's success another doll was invented the next year and it was Ken (Barbie's on and off again boyfriend who was named after Ruth's son Ken) 

         

 

          
 
The invention of the Barbie doll has done everything that Ruth had envisioned and more.  When she watched her daughter Barbara play with paper dolls she knew that she wanted her daughter to have a doll that she could imagine with.  She could play with the doll and live out her dreams.   Since the invention of the Barbie Doll, Barbie has done many things and here are just a few:
Barbie...
  • has had 80 careers starting with a teenage fashion model to a Presidential candidate
  • is marketed in over 150 countries and represents 45 different nationalities
  • has had 43 pets from dogs to a zebra- her first pet was a horse named Dancer
  • and the collection of Barbies has made doll collecting second only to stamp collecting 

 

 

Barbie made the most interesting decision when she went into the official "America's Time Capsule" which was buried at the celebration of the Bicentennial in 1976.  This showed what an impact the invention of the Barbie Doll has had with our society.  Barbie has changed with the times through her clothes and her careers which represents the ever changing aspirations of every little girl.  The invention of the Barbie doll has become an icon which represents the ever changing world we live in. 
Barbie in 1959  Barbie in 2007
                                              
 
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