March 9, 1959 – Present Barbie Doll™ History and Collecting.

March 9, 1959 Barbie™ Doll

Barbie™ Doll, Teenage Fashion Model™.

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• Barbie™ is a best-selling doll launched at the American International Toy Fair on March 9, 1959. The doll is produced by Mattel, Inc. She took the world by storm, surprising skeptical toy critics at New York’s Toy Fair. With her good looks, charm, and charisma, she won audiences over in record time. Soon, little girls across America, and later, the world, were singing her praises. In the coming years, both adults and children would collect her in record numbers. Today she remains one of the hottest selling toys in the world.

1959 #1  Barbie™  in advertisement

• She’s a successful businesswoman, a member of a rock band and a Women’s World Cup Soccer player. Who is this superstar? It’s none other than Barbie™ doll. Commemorating her 50th anniversary on March 09, 2009. Barbie™ doll is further expanding her versatile and limitless roles to inspire girls’ dreams as she prepares for the future.

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General Knowledge

• Ruth Handler watched her daughter Barbara at play with paper dolls and noticed that she often enjoyed giving them adult roles. At the time, most children’s toy dolls were representations of infants. Realizing that there could be a gap in the market, she suggested the idea of an adult-bodied doll to her husband Elliot, Mattel toy company. He was unenthusiastic about the idea, as were Mattel’s directors.

Feb. 7, 1959 Ruth and Ellliot Handler. See in the picture the #1 Barbiedoll™ .

• During a trip to Germany in 1956 with her children Barbara and Kenneth, Ruth Handler discovered a German doll called the Bild Lilli doll in a shop window.

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-Zeitun. On June 24th, 1952, she first appeared in the newspaper as a cartoon character.

Lilli was a working girl who knew what she wanted and was not above using men to get it. In 1953 Bild-Zeitung decided to market a Lilli doll and contacted Max Weissbrodt from the toy company O&M Hausser in Neustadt/Coburg, Germany. Following Beuthien’s drawings, Weissbrodt designed the prototype of the doll. The Lilli doll was available in two sizes: 30 cm (12 inches) and 19 cm (7.5 inches). The Lilli doll was first sold in Germany on August 12, 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.

On 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 New York on March 9, 1959. This date is also used as Barbie’s™ official birthday. Mattel acquired the rights to the Bild Lilli doll in 1964 and production of Lilli was stopped.

Barbie Doll Patent

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.

Mattel fashion designer Charlotte Johnson

1959 Mattel ad

(March 12, 2019, Dressing Barbie (Book) by Carol Spencer.

Read more …

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Around 350,000 BarbieTM dolls were sold during the first year of production.

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• Barbie’s™ appearance has been changed many times, most notably in 1971 when the doll’s eyes were adjusted to look forwards rather than sideways.

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• Barbie™ was one of the first toys to have a marketing strategy based extensively on televistion advertising, which has been widely copied by other toys.

Barbie’s™ frist TV commercial in 1959

Harris-Tuchman won a “Lulu” Award in 1959 for producing the first television commercials for the Barbie doll.

Barbie™ & Ken™ TV commercial in 1961

Barbie™ TV commercial from the early 1960’s

Barbie™ TV commercial promoting the Barbie™ Fan Club

See more Barbie doll TV commercials at my YouTube Page Barbara Roberts

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• 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.

Oktober 8, 2012 Barbie flagship store by Slade Architecture, Shanghai

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• Barbie™ products include not only the range of dolls with their clothes and accessories, but also a huge range of Barbie™ branded goods such as books, fashion items and video games.
  

  1991 original promo AD little girl playing Barbie computer game

   

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• Barbie® has appeared in a series of animated films and makes a brief guest appearance in the 1999 film Toy Story 2. In Toy Story 3 (2010) – we meet Toy Story’s newest character Ken and Ken lays eyes on Barbie for the first time! In Toy Story 4 (2012) – Woody and Buzz lead a group of toys in giving Barbie and Ken the Hawaiian vacation of their dreams – but it must be in Bonnie’s room in the middle of winter, because Ken badly miscalculated the travel arrangements.

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July 21, 2023, Barbie the Movie.

• Barbie is an upcoming film based on the eponymous toyline by Mattel and directed by Greta Gerwig, who co-wrote the screenplay with Noah Baumbach. It is the first live-action film based on the fashion doll after a series of animated films and television series and stars Margot Robbie as the titular character and Ryan Gosling as her male counterpart Ken.

Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken.

• Development for the film originally began in 2014 at Sony Pictures. Following multiple writer and director changes and the casting of two different actresses to play the title character, Sony’s option expired, and the rights were transferred to Warner Bros. Pictures. Robbie was cast in 2019 and serves as a producer under LuckyChap Entertainment alongside Mattel Films and Heyday Films. Gerwig was confirmed as director and co-writer with Baumbach in 2021. Principal photography began in March 2022 at Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden in England.

Barbie is scheduled to be released in the United States, on July 21, 2023 (UK & Europe July 2023.)

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• Uniquely for a toy fashion doll, Barbie® has become a cultural icon and has been given honors that are rare in the toy world. In 1974 a section of Times Square in New York Cittywas renamed Barbie® Boulevard for a week, while in 1986 the artist Andy Warhol created a painting of Barbie®. Why Warhol painted Barbie, read the story.

BARBIE, PORTRAIT OF BILLYBOY*

A second version of Warhol’s painting, this time with an orange-red background instead of blue, was created for and purchased by Mattel.

Andy Warhol outside his 47th street Factory. NYC 1965.

50 years later…

Dec.3,2015 at 10AM PT, Andy Warhol Barbie Doll at The Barbie Collection.com. The Doll sold out at the same time it came out!?

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• February 18, 2015, HELLO Barbie. A Barbie girl in a techie world: Barbie doll to get digital makeover.
  The iconic Barbie doll is getting a 21st century makeover, with Wi-Fi and speech recognition skills. Its maker Mattel is partnering with US start-up ToyTalk to make a version called Hello Barbie. Using tech similar to the digital assistants Siri and Google Now, the doll will be able to have two-way conversations with children.
  It will also be able to play interactive games and even tell stories and jokes.
  Scarily, it will remember what you tell it too. Mention you like dancing, and it might bring it up in a future chat.
  It connects over Wi-Fi and will last an hour of chat before needing recharging.
  The doll has a microphone, speaker and two LEDs in its necklace.
  “The number one request we hear from girls around the world is that they want to have a conversation with Barbie. Now, for the first time ever, Barbie can have a two-way conversation,” a Mattel spokesperson told the BBC.                                                   ToyTalk’s CEO Oren Jacob told Fast Company that Barbie’s most requested feature is speech: kids have always wanted to talk to her. Now the companies are making that a reality, though it’ll likely take some time before fans can get their hands on one. Mattel is at least exhibiting a prototype at the North American Toy Fair, and Chip Chick has recorded a video (below) of Hello Barbie chatting with her human gal pal. You go, girl!

 

In November 20, 2015 in the shop.

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• December 23, 2015.  2016 Silkstone® Dolls “The New Classics” The new dolls have articulation at the knees, elbows, wrists, and torso. The New Collection beginning in February o1 2016 with
  

  Classic Black Dress Barbie® Doll

Posable Silkstone Dolls! An Interview With Robert Best

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• January 28, 2016. Barbie’s got a new body. Three new bodies, actually: petite, tall and curvy, in Mattel’s exhaustively debated lexicon, and beginning Jan. 28 2016.By introducing more variety into the line, Barbie® is offering girls choices that are better reflective of the world they see today. The new 2016 Barbie® Fashionistas® collection includes four body types, seven skin tones, eighteen eye colors, eighteen hairstyles, and countless on-trend fashions and accessories.

• February 21, 2017, NEW YORK – Mattel received the highly coveted Toy of the Year (T.O.T.Y.) award in the “Doll of the Year” category for Barbie Fashionistas. In 2016, the Barbie brand introduced three new body types, curvy, tall, and petite, along with new skin tones, hair types and countless fashions making the Barbie Fashionistas line the most diverse doll line to date. The award was presented Friday evening in New York at the Toy Industry Association’s Annual T.O.T.Y. Awards gala.

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• November 2016 – Barbie® Hello Dreamhouse™. Barbie Dreamhouse™ has received a digital makeover.

Say hello to the Barbie® Hello Dreamhouse™ play set! This two-story smart home’s innovative features reflect today’s modern lifestyle. Recognizing more than 100 voice commands, Hello Dreamhouse™ responds to your directions with lights, sounds and motors. Floor and feature switches in each room bring your stories to life.

Use the Hello Dreamhouse™ Companion app to customize sounds in 15 locations throughout the house. You can even record your own sound effects! The six fabulous rooms feature realistic backdrops and provide a trendy palette for your decorating ideas. Rearrange the furniture and accessories again and again as you play out your favorite Barbie® stories. The elegant hallway is the perfect place to greet friends. Open the door with a voice command, then set the chandelier spinning in nine assorted colors to create an exciting dance floor for your parties. The fire crackles in the living room, the toilet flushes in the bathroom and the oven light turns on when you’re ready to cook. Check your messages in the office, and sleep with a cozy nightlight in the bedroom. Travel between floors on the real working elevator or on the magical staircase that you can turn into a slide!

Colorful furniture with modern designs includes a dining set with two chairs, a couch, a circle chair, a stool, a coffee table, a bed and two chandeliers. Realistic house accessories—such as place settings, bathroom supplies, pillows, a tablet and laptop and a vase of flowers—expand your creative expression and storytelling fun! Exciting light and music displays bring a new level of excitement to your stories. Celebrate holidays, throw surprise parties, and live out your superhero or princess dreams. You can even be a mermaid and swim through the rooms as if they were an imaginary blue sea.

Using speech recognition technology and signature Barbie® style, Hello Dreamhouse™ offers so many options for customization and play.

 

See for complete list: 1961 – Present ~ STRUCTURES/ Playsets – Houses, Furniture and Shops for Barbie, Family and Friends dolls!

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• February 17, 2017 Barbie Is Now a Hologram,

  Barbie’s new mold is in the form of a futuristic hologram.

  Mattel this Friday unveiled the debut of Hello Barbie Hologram, a new artificial intelligence-powered version of the popular doll that will feature a holographic character to give “girls an entirely new way to engage with Barbie throughout the day.” Debuting at the industry’s New York City Toy Fair, Hello Barbie Hologram will feature speech recognition and is a nightstand version of Barbie…… read more.

  

Video from YouTube member 3decades3kids

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• June 20, 2017 Today, Barbie® announced the expansion of its Fashionistas® line with  diverse Ken® dolls, featuring three body types: slim, broad, and original & seven skin tones, eight hair colors, nine hairstyles and on-trend fashions.

Video from GQ

Ken Fashionistas® line Summer 2017 and Spring 2018.

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• February 11, 2019, Mattel announced new additions to the Fashionista line adding Barbies with braided hair textures, new body types, and disabilities. Barbie will now have a wheelchair, and another doll will have a removable prosthetic leg. While the line has added more than one hundred new looks over the past few years to make its stock increasingly diverse — like the young people who play with Barbies — the latest additions are a direct response to what Barbie fans want.

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• October 10, 2020 – Creations.mattel.com – Today Mattel launched their first collection for Mattel Creations, a platform for Creators, Collaborators & Innovators:  75 YEARS OF ART AND ENGINEERING – You already know we’ve been making the toys you love since 1945. Mattel Creations™ is our chance to show you the art and science that goes into each one. To kick it all off, we’re launching the limited-edition Art of Engineering collection, designed to give you a clear look at what goes into making some of our most iconic toys. We hope you love it as much as we do!
• THE DOLL THAT STARTED IT-ALL. Have you ever met a woman who beat Neil Armstrong to the moon, acted as a muse to Andy Warhol, and ran for president seven times? You have now. When our co-founder, Ruth Handler, observed her daughter Barbara playing with paper dolls for hours and hours, she saw the future. In a time when she, as a woman, was not allowed to cut her own checks, she created a doll that would show the world and girls everywhere they had choices. Creating an entirely new category, the Barbie® doll was designed to be dressed and styled, allowing girls to explore their future through play. Limited quantities. Regular price$75.00

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• June 8, 2021, INTRODUCING THE FIRST
  BARBIE DOLL COLLECTION

MADE FROM
90% RECYCLED
OCEAN-BOUND PLASTIC*

*Plastic parts made from 90% plastic sourced within 50km of waterways in areas lacking formal waste collection systems. Doll head, shoes, tablet, and beach lantern accessory excluded.

Read more….

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Biography

• (1959 – present) Barbara Millicent “Barbie” Roberts™ The first Barbie doll was described as a “Teen Age Fashion Model” on her packaging. According to the Random House books, the Barbie character’s full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts, and her parents’ names are George and Margaret (Rawlins) Roberts.

May 31, 2018, Parents of Barbie are in the video series Barbie dreamhouse adventures.

Barbie™ has been said to attend Willows High School in Willows, Wisconsin, and Manhattan International High School in Newyork City, (based on the real-life Stuyvesant High School). She is the main character in the “Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse” series.

• Barbie™ has an on-off romantic relationship with her beau (1961-present) Kenneth Sean “Ken” Carson, the second character added to the line, Ken has been Barbie’s boyfriend for much of the time the character has existed. After a short break, they got back together. According to the 1960s Random House books, Ken’s full name is Ken Carson. In Barbie Fashion Comic #34 from 1993, Ken’s mother is named Edna. In Barbie Fashion Comic #52 from 1995, Edna’s father is named Kenneth. In Brazil in the 1980s, the Estrela company named the doll Bob instead of Ken.
  

  Ken doll’s first advertising in the Mattel dealer catalogue of 1961. Notice the black and white swim trunks made from the same material as Barbie dolls swimsuit. Although impossible to find, a small quantity of these versions was released.

  

  1961 #750 NO1 Ken with Flockendhair brunette (and also in blonde or RARE red brownette) Hair styl. NRFB in the first release box.

2004 (February) Mattel announced that Barbie™ and Ken™ had split up!

 2011 They were back together again ❤ ❤ ❤

He is a main character in the “Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse” series.

• (1963 – present) Midge Hadley Sherwood ™ .
  This character was Barbie™ doll’s first female friend the first character added to the Barbie™ product line, after Barbie™ and Ken™. In the Random House novels:

1988 (- 2001) Midge® Return: California Dream Midge™

After she married Allan/Alan in 1991, she became Midge Hadley Sherwood. In the 1990s Price Stern Sloan series Adventures with Barbie, she and Alan are married, and in book 5, The Phantom of Shrinking Pond, by Suzanne Weyn, copyright 1992, it’s implied that she is named after her Aunt Margaret (not the same person as Margaret Roberts). 2002 (- 2006) Mattel made the “Happy Family”™ line with Alen ™  and Midge™ . She is named Viky in Brazil. In 2013, she was brought back in the “Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse” web series. In the series, she undergoes a makeover to look more modern, though the character tends to act like she is still in the 1960s. There is no mention of Allan/Alan in the series.

•  (1964 -1965) Allen Sherwood™  had been marketed as Midge’s™ boyfriend in the vintage years. (1991 – 2006) Alen ™  and Midge™ are now married . They got married in 1991 and in 2002 Mattel made the “Happy Family”™  line with Alen ™  and Midge™, they stopped making the line in mid 2006.
•  (1964–present) Skipper Roberts™ was the first character added to the line as part of Barbie doll’s family. Skipper™ is Barbie™ doll’s younger sister, originally appearing to be approximately 10 years of age, and later becoming a teenager.
• (1965-1976)  Tutti Roberts™ Twin sister of Todd™ (1965 – 1976) ,both Tutti™ and Todd™ were younger siblings of Barbie™ and Skipper™ and had seamless ‘bendy’ bodies. Both dolls are approximately 4 years of age.
• Francie Fairchild ™ (1966-present) Cousin of Barbie™, Skipper™, Tutti™ and Todd™. Francie™ appeared to be only slightly younger than Barbie™ and had a much less shapely figure. The Francie™ doll was the first to feature rooted eyelashes. In the March 1966 issue of Barbie™ Magazine, she is the daughter of Claude and Lily Fairchild.
• Jazzie™ (1988-1992) A new cousin of Barbie™, part of a small group of high school age dolls.
• Anastasia ‘Stacie’ Roberts  (1990) Introduced as Kelly™, in the 1991 Wedding Day Midge™ gift set as the flower girl, this doll is often confused with Tutti™, though the Tutti™ character had been discontinued for years at this time. Kelly™ was renamed Stacie™ shortly thereafter, and the Kelly™ name was used for a younger character.
• Todd Roberts™ (1990-2001) Introduced in the 1991 Wedding Day Midge™ gift set as the ring bearer, this doll should not be confused with the earlier Todd™ doll. His packaging mentions that he is the “twin brother of Stacie™,” like how the other Todd’s packaging said he was the “twin brother of Tutti™.” Mattel’s continuity for Barbie’s family and friends has not been consistent over the years, some characters disappear for years at a time, others are dropped indefinitely, and still others continue for years while undergoing marked changes in appearance.
• Kelly Roberts™ (1995-late 2010) This character is of toddler age, and is sister to Barbie™, Skipper™, and Stacie™. Originally the baby of the family (replaced by her younger sister Krissy™ Roberts in 1999), she also has five older sisters named Stacie™, Chelsea™, Tutti™ Roberts, and Skipper™, and a brother named Todd™ Roberts. In Europe, she is known as Shelly™. Kelly™ dolls have since ceased production in late 2010 and were replaced by Chelsea™. Excluding a brief period when the design of the Kelly™ doll was changed to have an oval-shaped head, larger eyes, and longer limbs marketed under the name “Sweetsville,” Kelly™ dolls have stayed true to their original design which debuted in 1995. A Kelly™ doll was introduced in the early 1990s as part of the Midge™ and Alen™ wedding party, a set of 6 dolls dressed for a wedding. This Kelly™ doll is 7 1/2 inches tall, the same size as the ring bearer, Todd™, who is wearing a Tux. She is wearing a peach dotted Swiss dress and carries a white basket of flowers as she is the flower girl. She was made for an extremely limited time as part of this set. She has long blonde hair. The Todd™ doll which is made from the same mold has fuzzy brown hair. They both appear to be 6 to 9 years old and are exceedingly rare and she is a very pretty little girl doll. There were no clothes other than the wedding attire made for either of these dolls.
• Krissy Roberts ™ (1999-2001) – This character is an infant and is only intermittently included in the Barbie™ sibling lineup.
• Blaine Gordon ™ (2004) – Barbie’s Australian ex-boyfriend, whom she dated during her much-publicized “breakup” with the Ken™ character. Blaine™ is said to be the brother of Summer, one of Barbie’s friends.
• Chelsea Roberts™ (2010–present) – Barbie’s younger sister. She replaced Kelly™. She appears to be 5–7 years old and is slightly taller than Kelly™. The doll was first produced in 2011 as part of the “My Fab Sisters”™ line. She is the youngest sister of Barbie currently sold (Mattel discontinued Kelly™ shortly before Chelsea™ was produced). She has blonde hair and blue eyes (like Kelly). Mattel has also made African American versions of Chelsea™.
• Mattel has created a range of companions for Barbie™, including Hispanic Teresa™, African American Christie™ and Steven™ (Christie’s boyfriend).

For more pictures and details, see my total list ‘the Facebook of Barbie’s friends and family‘

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• Barbie™ has had over forty pets including cats and dogs, horses, a panda, a lion cub, and a zebra. See my complete list:

  1959 till Present Barbie™, Family and Friends animals including cats, dogs, horses, panda, lion cub, zebra and much more…

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• She has owned pink conver tibles, trailers, jeeps and more.

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• She also holds a pilot’s license, and operates commercial airliners in addition to serving as a flight attendant.

She has been, among many others, an Astronaut, 2012-2016 President from USA and 2013 Kanzlerin from Germany.

Barbie’s® careers are designed to show that women can take on a variety of roles in life.

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Controversies

• Barbie’s® popularity ensures that her effect on the play of Western children attracts a high degree of scrutiny. The criticisms leveled at her are often based on the assumption that children consider Barbie® a role model and will attempt to emulate her.

• In September 2003, the Middle Estern country of Saudi Arabia outlawed the sale of Barbie® dolls, saying that she did not conform to the ideals of Islam.
  
• The Committee for the Propagation of Virtue and prevention of Virtue and Prevention of Vice stated “Jewish Barbie® dolls, with their revealing clothes and shameful postures, accessories and tools are a symbol of decadence to the perverted West. Let us beware of her dangers and be careful. In Middle Eastern countries there is an alternative doll called Fulla who is like Barbie® but is designed to be more acceptable to an Islamic market. Fulla is not made by the Mattel Corporation. In Iran, Sara and Dara Dolls are available as an alternative to Barbie®.  But they also sold in 2008 the Western Barbie collection.

          

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• 1997 The word Barbie® has come to be used as a derogatory slang term for a girl or woman who is considered stupid, most famously in the song “Barbie Girl”. the is a song by the Danish–Norwegian dance-pop group Aqua. It was released in May 1997 as their third single overall, and the first United Kingdom release, it is included on the album Aquarium. The song was written by Johnny Mosegaard Pedersen and Karsten Dahlgaard after the group saw an exhibit on kitsch culture.The song topped the charts worldwide, particularly in European countries such as the UK, where it was a number-one hit for three weeks. It was also on top of the charts in Australia for the same length of time, and debuted and peaked at No. 7 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on 6 September 1997 and it remains Aqua’s biggest hit single in the US to date, and their only one to reach the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100. It is Aqua’s most popular work. The song became the subject of the controversial lawsuit Mattel v. MCA Records.

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•  In 1992 Mattel released Teen Talk Barbie®,which spoke a number of phrases including “Will we ever have enough clothes?”, “I love shopping!”, and “Wanna have a Pizza party?” Each doll was programmed to say four out of 270 possible phrases, so that no two dolls were likely to be the same. One of these 270 phrases was “Math class is tough!” Although only about 1.5% of all the dolls sold said the phrase, it caused a public outcry.

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• Barbie’s waist widens®, one of the most common criticisms of Barbie®

Barbie’s® is that she promotes an unrealistic idea of body image for a woman, leading to a risk that women who attempt to emulate her will become anorexic. Critics have argued that for a woman to have Barbie’s® body, she would need to be 7 feet 2 inches tall, weigh 115-130 pounds, have 30 to 36 inch hips, an 18 to 23 inch waist and a 38 to 48 inch bust. Additionally, she would lack the 17 to 22 percent body fat required for a woman to menstruate. In 1997 Barbie® was redesigned and given a wider waist, with Mattel saying that this would make the doll better suited to contemporary fashion designs. A standard Barbie® doll is 11.5 inches tall, giving a height of 5 feet 9 inches at 1/6 scale.  January 28 2016. Barbie’s Got a New Body…….. Three new bodies, actually: petite, tall and curvy, in Mattel’s exhaustively debated lexicon, and beginning Jan. 28 they will be sold alongside the original busty, thin-waisted form on Barbie.com. They’ll all be called Barbie, but it’s the curvy one—with meat on her thighs and a protruding tummy and behind—that marks the most startling change to the most infamous body in the world.

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• “Colored Francie®” made her debut in 1967, and she is sometimes described as the first Afrian American Barbie® doll. However, she was produced using the existing molds for the Caucasian Francie® doll and lacked correct ethnic features other than a dark skin.

1967 First Francie #1100 NRFB

•  The first African American doll in the Barbie® range is usually regarded as Christie™. who made her debut in 1968.

1968 #1126 Christie Talking NRFB

•  Black Barbie™ and Hispanic Barbie™ were launched in 1980.

1980 #1293 Black Barbie NRFB

1980 HISPANIC
BARBIE NRFB

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• In 1976 Barbie was placed in the “Time Capsule” American Bicentennial to be opened in 2076.

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• In 1997 Mattel joined forces with Nabisco to launch a cross-promotion of Barbie® with Oreo cookies. Oreo Fun Barbie® was marketed as someone with whom little girls could play after class and share “America’s favorite cookie.” As had become the custom, Mattel manufactured both a white and a black version. Critics argued that in the African American community Oreo is a derogatory term for a person like the chocolate sandwich cookie itself, meaning that the person is black on the outside and white on the inside. The doll was unsuccessful and Mattel recalled the unsold stock, making it sought after by collectors.

 

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• In May 1997 Mattel introduced , a doll in a pink wheelchair. Kjersti Johnson, a 17-year-old high school student in Tacoma, Washington with cerebral palsy, pointed out that the doll would not fit into the elevator of Barbie’s® $100 Dream House. Mattel announced that it would redesign the house in the future to accommodate the doll.

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• In March 2000 stories appeared in the media claiming that the hard vinyl used in vintage Barbie® dolls could leak toxic chemicals, causing danger to children playing with them. The claim was rejected as false by technical experts. A modern Barbie® doll has a body made from ABS plastic, while the head is made from soft PVC.

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• In December 2005 Dr. Agnes Nairn at the University of Bath in England published research suggesting that girls often go through a stage where they hate their Barbie® dolls and subject them to a range of punishments, including decapition and placing the doll in a microwave oven. Dr. Nairn said: “It’s as though disavowing Barbie® is a rite of passage and a rejection of their past.”

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•  In April 2009, the launch of a Totally Tattoos Barbie with a range of tattoos that could be applied to the doll, including a lower back tattoo, led to controversy. Mattel’s promotional material read “Customize the fashions and apply the fun temporary tattoos on you too”, but Ed Mayo, chief executive of Consumer Focus, argued that children might want to get tattooed themselves.

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• In July 2010, Mattel released “Barbie Video Girl“, a Barbie doll with a pinhole video camera in its chest, enabling clips of up to 30 minutes to be recorded, viewed and uploaded to a computer via a USB cable. On November 30, 2010, The FBI issued a warning in a private memo that the doll could be used to produce child pornography, although it stated publicly that there was “no reported evidence that the doll had been used in any way other than intended.

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Animated Films starring Barbie

Barbie (film series)
Barbie and the Rockers: Out of this World (1987) – Barbie in the Nutcracker (2001) – Barbie as Rapunzel (2002) – Barbie of Swan Lake (2003) –Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper (2004) – Barbie: Fairytopia (2005) – Barbie and the Magic of Pegasus (2005)   – Barbie: Mermaidia (2006) – The Barbie Diaries (2006) –Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses (2006) – Barbie Fairytopia: Magic of the Rainbow (2007) – Barbie as the Island Princess (2007) – Barbie Mariposa (2008) – Barbie and the Diamond Castle (2008) – Barbie in a Christmas Carol (2008) – Barbie Fairytopia: Magical Twist of Time (2009) – Barbie as the Sleeping Beauty (2009) Barbie Thumbelina (2009)–Barbie and the Three Musketeers (2009) –  – Barbie: A Fairy Secret (2011) – Barbie: Princess Charm School (2011) – Barbie A Perfect Christmas (2011) – Barbie in A Mermaid Tale 2 (2012) – Barbie: The Princess and The Popstar (2012) –Barbie in The Pink Shoes (2013) – Barbie: Mariposa and the Fairy Princess (2013) –Barbie and her Sisters in a Pony Tale (2013)  – Barbie: The Pearl Princess (2014) – Barbie and The Secret Door (2014) – Barbie: Princess Power (2015) – Barbie in Rock ’n Royals (2015) – Barbie & Her Sisters in the Great Puppy Adventure (2015) – Barbie: Spy Squad (2016) – Barbie: Star Light Adventure (2016) – Barbie & Her Sisters in a Puppy Chase (2016) – Barbie Dreamtopia (2016) -Barbie:Video Game Hero (2017) – Barbie Dreamtopia #2 (2017) – Barbie Dream House Adventures (March 30, 2018) – Barbie Dolphin Magic (August 6, 2018) – Barbie: Princess Adventure (September 1, 2020) Supporting character: Toy Story 2 (1999) Minor role – My Scene: Jammin’ In Jamaica (2004) – My Scene: Masquerade Madness (2004) – My Scene Goes Hollywood (2005) – Sing Along with Barbie (2010) – Toy Story 3 (2010) Minor Role – Toy Story 4 (2012) Minor Role – Toy Story 4  #2 (June 21, 2019) Other Movies: Barbie: A Camping We Will Go (Short Film) (2011) – Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse (2012)– present (web series) Live-Action Barbie Movie (Canceld in 2020):  Sony Pictures and Mattel are developing a comedic live-action Barbie movie with Walter F. Parkes and Laurie MacDonald producing and Jenny Bicks writing the film. On March 4th, 2015 it was announced that Diablo Cody will be doing rewrites on the script.  January 23, 2018: Read more… Margot Robbie is in negotiations to play the title role in Barbie, the live-action.

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Fun of Collecting

• Mattel estimates that there are well over 100,000 avid Barbie® collectors. Ninety percent are women, at an average age of 40, purchasing more than twenty Barbie® dolls each year. Forty-five percent of them spend upwards of $1500 a year.

• Why Barbie is a real doll of an investment? In most cases, turning a profit in the world of doll collecting requires a great deal of research and patience. But a very recent example shows that trend spotting can be an exception to the rule. In October 2011, Mattel released tokidoki Barbie, complete with a pink bob hairdo, tattoos and cactus friend, Bastardino. The dolls retailed for $50 and are, as of this writing, listed on Amazon.com starting at $400 and going for as much as $1,590.

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Feb 12, 2016 , 2:54AM. 2009 Moonlight Mist – Designed by Robert Best ONE OF A KIND. This Ooak doll designed for the National Barbie Doll Convention in 2009 was listed on Ebay. And again she was sold for an amazing prize. This time she went to her new owner for $8,300.00.

That kind of escalation in value is rare in a market where vintage or antique is typically the way to go. Typically, though, the money to be made collecting Barbie dolls revolves around acquiring vintage dolls that are, optimally, still in the box with all their accessories, including the stand.  Vintage Barbie® dolls from the early years are the most valuable at auction. MIB NO. 1 #850 Barbie from 1959 can fetch between $7,000 and $27,000 depending upon the condition. A MIB NO. 1 #850 Barbie from 1959 sold for $14,000.00 on EBAY.COM at February 21, 2009.

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September 26, 2006, Christie’s – London: private collection of 4,000 Barbie dolls being sold.

On September 26,2006, a Barbie® doll set a world record at auction of 9,000 pounds sterling (ApproximatelyUS $16,996.) at Christie’s in London.

The doll was a Barbie® in Midnight Red® from 1965

Barbie® in Midnight Red® from 1965

Barbie in a rare pink version of “Midnight Blue”Price Realized: £5,040.* (Approximately $9,518. USD)

Barbie in a rare “Gabend, Japanese ” Price Realized: £7,200.* (Approximately $13,593. USD)

#1 Barbie Brunette Pony Tail. Price Realized: £2,880.* (Approximately $5422. USD)

This was part of a collection of 4,000 Barbie dolls being sold by two Dutch women, Ietje Raebel and her daughter Marina. By the time the hammer came down for the final time the sale total was 111,288 pounds (Approximal $179,593. USD).

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Now (December 10, 2018) for sale at Marl & B (Marlbe.com USA) Midnight Red  $3,300.00 and Midnight Pink $2,900.00 (sold the same day.)

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New “Barbie Collection” Collectors:

• March 9, 2013, Florida USA – ABC News: Man, lives with 2,000 Barbie dolls.

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• In recent years Mattel has sold a wide range of Barbie® dolls aimed specifically at collectors, including Porcelain versions and depictions of Barbie® as a range of characters from television series such as The Munsters and Star Trek. There are also collector’s edition dolls depicting Barbie® dolls with a range of different ethnic identities.

Gay Parisienne® Barbie® Doll – Porcelain – Limited Edition
Release Date: 1/1/1991

The Munsters™ Giftset  – Release Date: 8/1/2001

2009 Star Trek Barbie Doll,collection

• Introduced in 2000, Silkstone Barbie Dolls are also known as Fashion Model Barbie dolls and Lingerie Model Barbie dolls. They are called silkstone, because they are made of a very hard plastic that is intended to mimic porcelain. These dolls have been extremely popular since their introduction. Many vintage Barbie collectors love the vintage-style flavor of the silkstones.

Delphine™ Barbie® Doll – Silkstones Collection. Release Date: 1/1/2000

Little Red Dress™Barbie Doll -Silkstones Collection – Release Date: 05/15/2015

List and Photos of all Silkstone Barbie Dolls and Ensembles. 

• In 2004 Mattel introduced the Color Tier system for its collector’s edition Barbie® dolls, ranging through Black, pink, silver, gold and platinum depending on how many of the dolls are produced.

Black Canary Barbie® Doll Black Label® Release Date: 9/1/2008

Princess of the Korean Court™ Barbie® Doll – Pink Label®
Release Date: 11/15/2004

The Enchantress™ Fairytopia™ Doll – Silver Label®
Release Date: 11/15/2004

Skiing Vacation® Barbie® Fashion – Gold Label®
Release Date: 9/1/2004

Faerie Queen™ Barbie® Doll – Platinum Label®
Release Date: 12/1/2004

 

• Barbie celebrates her 50th anniversary in 2009, and Mattel released a new reproduction of the original 1959 Barbie doll to mark the occasion

2009 The Original Teenage Fashion Model™ Barbie® Doll – Vintage Reproduction – 50th anniversary version

List of all the Vintage Barbie Reproductions 1998 – Present.

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Exclusive “The Barbie Collerction” Designer Interviews and News:

• May 26, 2011 – The Barbie Collection Doll Designer Spotlight, Featuring Bill Greening

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• 2016 (December 5) Designer Carlye Nuera: Giving you blush pink marshmallow while I talk about my inspiration behind the 2017 Birthday Wishes Barbies! 😉

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• February 19, 2017 – DollObservers.com/awards – 2017 Best Fashion Doll Designer “Carlyle Nuera”!

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• October 29, 2019 BMR1959 Interview With Designer Carlyle Nuera!

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• May 31, 2021 Mattel Barbie Designers:

Every doll has the potential to tell countless stories, which is why Barbie believes that inclusivity and representation are vital. In honor of #AAPIHeritageMonth, the designers who work behind the scenes to make your favorite Barbie dolls share how their heritages inspire creativity, and why honoring our differences has the power to bring us together.

See also my Blogs:

1959 – 2014 Fifty-five years big changes of the Barbie™ Doll (Part I – 1959 till 1989)

1959 – 2014 Fifty-five years big changes of the Barbie™ Doll (Part II – 1990 till 1999)

1959 – 2014 Fifty-five years big changes of the Barbie™ Doll (Part III – 2000 till and 2014)

Ruth Handler (Nov-04-1916 – Apr-27-2002)

New Collector BARBIE® DOLLS 2008 – 2019

Facebook with Pictures of Barbiedolls Family and Friends

Mattel© Barbie® and Friends: 1966 Trademarks and Dates 1

Mattel©Barbie® and Friends: 1966 Trademarks and Dates 2