TIMELINE BARBIE 1959 Barbie debuted at New York's American International Toy Fair on March 9, 1959. First year sales topped 300,000 for the original $3 doll. Today, a mint condition 1959 Barbie is worth $27,450. Ruth Handler, the free-spirited woman who...
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TIMELINE BARBIE 1959 Barbie debuted at New York's American International Toy Fair on March 9, 1959. First year sales topped 300,000 for the original $3 doll. Today, a mint condition 1959 Barbie is worth $27,450. Ruth Handler, the free-spirited woman who created Barbie, faced strong opposition to Barbie from within her own company. Barbie was originally modeled on a German doll marketed as an adult sex toy. Still, Mattel made a risky, unprecedented bet by heavily advertising on television shows like "The Mickey Mouse Club." 1961 Two years later, Barbie got a male companion to pal around with, Ken. Barbie and Ken stayed together 43 years. The boyfriend's name was inspired by the son of Mattel founders Ruth and Elliot Handler. Ken Handler, the son for whom the doll was named, was a closeted gay man who hated the Ken doll and later died of AIDS. 1962 Flare red Barbie, like all the dolls, came with the same complete backstory: Her full name was Barbie Millicent Robert, of Willows, Wisc. She
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