original Barbie doll

Barbie


Mattel Toys co-owner Ruth Handler had often observed her daughter Barbara playing with paper dolls, and noticed that she often enjoyed giving them adult roles. At the time, most children's toy dolls were baby dolls. Realizing that there could be a gap in the market, Handler suggested the idea of an adult-bodied doll to her husband Elliot, also a co-founder of Mattel. He was unenthusiastic about the idea, as were Mattel's directors.

During a trip to Europe in 1956 with her children Barbara and Kenneth, Handler came across a German toy doll called Bild Lilli. The adult-figured Lilli doll was exactly what Handler had in mind, so she purchased three of them. She gave one to her daughter and took the others back to Mattel. The Lilli doll was based on a popular character appearing in a comic strip drawn by Reinhard Beuthin for the newspaper Die Bild-Zeitung. The Lilli doll was first sold in Germany in 1955, and although it was initially sold to adults, it became popular with children who enjoyed dressing her up in outfits that were available separately.

Upon her return to the United States, Handler reworked the design of the doll (with help from engineer Jack Ryan) and the doll was given a new name, Barbie, after Handler's daughter Barbara. The doll made its debut at the American International Toy Fair in New York on March 9, 1959. The first Barbie doll wore a black and white zebra striped swimsuit and signature topknot ponytail, and was available as either a blonde or brunette. The doll was marketed as a "Teen-age Fashion Model," with her clothes created by Mattel fashion designer Charlotte Johnson. The first Barbie dolls were manufactured in Japan; around 350,000 Barbie dolls were sold during the first year of production.

Ruth Handler believed that it was important for Barbie to have an adult appearance, and early market research showed that some parents were unhappy about the doll's chest, which had distinct breasts. Barbie's appearance has been changed many times, most notably in 1971 when the doll's eyes were adjusted to look forwards rather than having the demure sideways glance of the original model.

Barbie was one of the first toys to have a marketing strategy based extensively on television advertising, which has been copied widely by other toys. It is estimated that over a billion Barbie dolls have been sold worldwide in over 150 countries, with Mattel claiming that three Barbie dolls are sold every second.

Tweet    |    StumbleUpon    |    Digg    |    Reddit




Dolls

Barbie
Barbie (original)
Bubblecut Barbie*
Twist 'N Turn Barbie
Ballerina Barbie
Busy Barbie
Busy Talking Barbie
Color Magic Barbie*
Deluxe Quick Curl Barbie
Dramatic New Living Barbie
Fashion Photo Barbie
Fashion Queen Barbie
Free-Moving Barbie
Growin' Pretty Hair Barbie
Hair Happenin's Barbie
Kissing Barbie
Live Action Barbie
Living Barbie
Malibu Barbie
Miss Barbie
Newport Barbie
Pink 'N Pretty Barbie
Quick Curl Barbie
Supersize Barbie
Sweet 16 Barbie
Switzerland Barbie
Talking Barbie
Twirly Curls Barbie
Walk Lively Barbie
Western Barbie
Bild Lilli

Other Dolls
Casey
Chris
Christie
- Malibu Christie*
- Talking Christie
- Twist N Turn Christie*
Francie
- Black Francie
- Growin' Pretty Hair Francie
- Hair Happenin's Francie
- Quick Curl Francie*
Julia
Living Fluff
Midge
Mrs. Beasley
Live Action P.J.
Twist and Turn P.J.
Pretty Pairs Lori and Rori
Pretty Pairs Nan 'n Fran
Skipper
- Dramatic Living Skipper
- Living Skipper
- Malibu Skipper
- Pose N Play Skipper*
- Quick Curl Skipper*
- Sausage Curls Skipper
Skooter
Stacey
- Busy Talking Stacey
- Talking Stacey
- Twist 'n Turn Stacey
- Walk Lively Stacey
Truly Scrumptious
Tutti*
Twiggy
Walking Jamie*

Male Dolls
Ken
- Busy Talking Ken
- Live Action Ken
- Mod Hair Ken*
- Talking Ken
Allan
Brad
- Talking Brad
Ricky*

Fashions

Barbie
After Five
American Airlines Stewardess
Apple Print Sheath
Ballerina
Barbie-Q Outfit
Bride's Dream
Busy Gal
Campus Sweetheart
Candy Striper
Career Girl
the Color Kick
Commuter Set
Cotton Casual
Crisp 'n Cool
Cruise Stripes
Dog 'n Duds
Easter Parade
Enchanted Evening
Evening Gala
Evening Splendor
Fancy Free
Fashion Editor
Floating Gardens
Friday Night Date
Gay Parisienne
Golden Elegance
Golden Girl
Gold 'n Glamour
Hair Originals
Happy Go Pink
Icebreaker
Knit Separates
Knitting Pretty
Let's Dance
Masquerade
Midnight Blue
Mood for Music
Movie Date
Nighty Negligee
On the Avenue
Open Road
Orange Blossom
Peachy Fleecy Coat
Picnic Set
Plantation Belle
Plush Pony
Poncho Put-On
Rain Coat
Red Flare
Registered Nurse
Resort Set
Roman Holiday
Sewing Pak
Sheath Sensation
Shimmering Magic
Silken Flame
Singing in the Shower
Skin Diver*
Solo in the Spotlight
Sorority Meeting
Sparkle Squares
Student Teacher
Suburban Shopper
Sweater Girl
Sweet Dreams
Swingin' Easy
Tennis Anyone?
Theatre Date
Tropicana
Wedding Day Set
Wedding Whirl
Winter Holiday

Fashions cont.

Ken
Accessory Pack
Army & Air Force
Business Appointment
Campus Hero
Casuals
College Student
Dreamboat
Drum Major
Going Huntin'
Graduation
Holiday
In Training
King Arthur*
Ken in Switzerland
Masquerade
Mr. Astronaut
the Prince
Roving Reporter
Saturday Date
Sleeper Set
Special Date
Sport Shorts
Terry Togs
Time for Tennis
Tuxedo
Victory Dance

Allan
Rally Day
the Yachtman

Francie
the Combination
Long on Looks
Satin Happenin' Francie
Tennis Tunic
Wild N Wooly*

Midge
Busy Morning
Garden Party
Graduation
Orange Blossom

Skipper
Land & Sea
Learning to Ride
Masquerade
Pepsi Cola*
Rain or Shine
Red Set For When It's Wet*
Red White N Blue*
Silk 'n Fancy
Summer Country*
Sweet Orange
Town Togs

Skooter
School Girl

Tutti
Sea Shore Shorties
Skippin Rope

Playsets & Vehicles

Barbie Goes To College*
Discoteque*
Wedding Party Gift Set*