Happy 50th Birthday!

[southerngale]

Barbie!


This is the doll that started it all. Introduced at the 1959 New York Toy Fair, the first Barbie doll was created by Ruth Handler who based the doll on a cartoon doll named Bild Lilli she happened to see on a trip to Germany.



On March 9th, 1959, the first Barbie doll made her debut at the American International Toy Fair in New York. Barbie is an iconic figure, especially for young girls. From the initial introduction in 1959, Barbie filled the gap for children who still wanted to play with dolls but wanted something more. Still a doll, but no longer resembling a baby, Barbie became a hot item.

[CajunMama]

I had a barbie like that. Traded her in at montgomery wards for that new fancy-schmancy twist & turn barbie.

[DESTRUCTION5]

I had a barbie like that. Traded her in at montgomery wards for that new fancy-schmancy twist & turn barbie.

So she was a virgin till Ken came out in 1961...

[AnnularCane]

I had a barbie like that. Traded her in at montgomery wards for that new fancy-schmancy twist & turn barbie.

So she was a virgin till Ken came out in 1961...

One-track mind.

She doesn't look a day over 20!

[Miss Mary]

I probably had a Barbie like this. I was born in 1955.

Although as I proudly told my daughters, I had:

1 Barbie
1 Midge
1 Ken
1 Skipper

Lots of homemade and store bought clothes to clothe all 4 dolls but girls today growing up have at least 5 Barbie dolls. Sigh......

I know, I know, I'm so old fashioned. My mother must have ingrained this in me - one Barbie per girl. LOL

[dizzyfish]

I have a Barbie just like that one - still. In the original box.

And it makes it even more special to me because I also turn 50 this year.

[somethingfunny]

My mom still has her old Barbies. I don't know the model or year they're from but they're still in these little lunch box-like carrying cases and she's got a Barbie, a Ken, and one other. We just put them into storage as my mom is packing all her loose odds and ends up and moving this past weekend.

I wonder how much those dolls would be worth these days. My mom turned ten in 1964, so they're probably older than that. Enough to buy the house back?

[arkess7]

Wow Barbie your getting up there huh? I had 13 Barbies when I was growing up and now my daughter has about the same amount!

[Stephanie]

My first Barbie was a talking Barbie, pull out string on the back of her neck and all. She had long dark hair that was braided. I wish I still had her and all of the others...

[azskyman]

I was entering junior high when Barbie was born. She was too young and traditional to catch my eye during those early years. By the time I was out of high school, another Barbie by the name of Barbie Benton got my attention.

I remember her as old man Hugh Hefner's 18 year-old girlfriend and playmate. THAT Barbie DID capture my attention. Someone must have shown me one of her cover photos on Playboy, as I was clearly too traditional and shy myself to have bought a copy.

Like Ken's Barbie, Barbie Benton has aged a little too. She must be close to 60 by now.

That old man Hef continues to have new Barbies at his door, but rumor has it that Ken is drawing his pension these days and considering a position as spokesperson for the little purple pill.

[Pburgh]

I saw Barbie Benton on TV not long ago and she looks pretty good. I've never owned a Barbie. I too was in Junior High when she was introduced. My kids had the dolls, campers, townhouse with elevator and just about anything that came out. They loved their Barbies almost as much as Poppysky loved his Barbie!!!!!!!

[azskyman]

How did I know that you, Karan, would remember Barbie Benton...although not in the way that Poppysky does?

Off the subject, but while in Vietnam two other GI's and I ate lunch with then Miss California Susan Anton. I saw her recently on TV, and she's hanging in there too!

I continue to get shorter as gravity seems to work more on me than the long-legged Barbie doll that has made it 50 years without so much as a single sag!

How about a Botox Barbie next!!!

[Miss Mary]

You two - Karan and Steve - LOL!!!!

Anyway, here's a blast from the past. Did anyone else have one of the first, simple cardboard Barbie houses? This house folded up into a suitcase, with carrying handle. When you opened it you pulled out the two sides, unfolded the floor, unpacked all of the furniture that fit inside the case and started playing. I just thought that was the COOLEST Barbie accessory! I played with it so much it eventually fell apart (since it was cardboard).

When my girls had Barbies, suddenly their Barbie houses, campers, vans, became so complicated and made so shoddy. My husband - aka Santa's elf - would put hours into the assembly, then hope it would hold up. Inevitably our daughters would bring us items, one by one - Mom, here's the windshield to my Barbie car, Mom here's the steering wheel, door, bumper, LOL! After a while we had quite the collection of Barbie accessory items that never went back the way it was supposed to be!

And I would compare their houses and whatknot to my old, simple-simple but made well cardboard Barbie house!

[Pburgh]

Mary, the stickers for those things always gave me fits. I never got them stuck straight!!!

I think the hardest thing to put together was the house with the elevator. I remember that Christmas Eve - after a few Christmas cheers, my ex and I attempted the construction project. Three hours and several drinks later it was complete. The result was a horrible hangover on Christmas Day and a fully assembled Barbie home.

[Miss Mary]

LOL, that brings back memories. Hubby putting the contraption together, cursing the whole time, stuck in the cold basement or our walk in closet, Dec. 24, in case the girls got out of bed. When he said - it's done - we were both so relieved.

Believe it or not I miss those late nights and secret assembly sessions. We always encouraged gift suggestions that could be put together in a few hours. Anything more and we suggested they wait for their birthdays, knowing we had a lot more time to put them together.

I'll never forget the doll that pooped in a diaper. Not that we had to assemble it, but we had to read the instructions, open this can of paste and feed the baby. Now the paste was white or grey but it certainly did not come grey! It came out an army green color. And it never stopped. Picture a Play-doh machine attached to a doll's rear end. First time my youngest (about 5 then), fed this doll, then took off the diaper to watch for the poop, we were all howling on the floor but she was so upset with us because this was supposed to simulate a real baby. Funny thing was, the poop kept coming and coming. She said - turn it off! I couldn't. Then she flung the doll at me and said - I don't want it anymore! It won't stop pooping. More howls, more tears rolling down her sisters' face and mine. Oh I don't think Laura's ever forgiven us for that post-Christmas Day play session. LOL

I have no idea where that doll ended up either. Yikes!

Back to Barbies.....I found the house I posted about. But funny thing is all of the furniture was made out of cardboard. I thought some of mine was plastic? Memories are odd that way...he he

http://www.ladollshouse.com/1960s-barbi ... house.html

[Pburgh]

ROTFLMBO

[vbhoutex]

ROTFLMBO

Thanks for a good laugh today Mary!!!

My wife still has some of her Barbie's(don't know where)as does our daughter(don't know where either). And that townhouse was an SOB to put together!!!!!! Erin had the pink Barbie car and I can't remember what else.

[Miss Mary]

You're both quite welcome!

If I just mention to my girls - hey, do you remember the baby doll that pooped green poop? They do laugh (even Laura). But boy was she mad at Santa when he only brought her a toy she asked for. LOL!

Oh yeah, all these Barbie assembly toys - what a pain they were to put together. My husband and I still talk about it!

*Edit* I think I found the pooping doll! LOL (newer version, the food looks almost real. LOL)
http://www.hasbro.com/babyalive/