- Title: UNITED STATES: TOY DOLL 'BARBIE' CELEBRATES HER 40TH BIRTHDAY
- Date: 9th March 1999
- Summary: (RECENT) CU ORIGINAL BARBIE 57 PAN PRINCESS BARBIE CU BLACK BARBIE SCU GENERATION GIRL BARBIE CU SLIM BARBIE WITH GUITAR SV (SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) LISA MCKENDALL, SPOKESPERSON MATTEL SAYING "One of the things we try to do is have her appeal to all different kinds of girls. "So there are dolls that appeals to younger girls, or Barbies that appeal to older girls." CU 40TH ANNIVERSARY BARBIE WITH BUNCH OF ROSES PAN UP BARBIE AND KEN X-FILE SPECIAL SCU BARBIE AND KEN ROMEO AND JULIET SPECIAL SV (SOUNDBITE) (English) DAVID NIGGIL, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT MERCHANDISING, FAO SCHWARZ SAYING "It's pretty spectacular, because in the toy world there is hardly anything else that has had a run like Barbie has had - so it's really any exciting achievement for her and Mattel." SV (SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) LITTLE GIRL ASKED HOW MANY BARBIES SHE HAS: "There's one in a purple dress." MOTHER SAYS WHAT ABOUT THE ONE IN THE RED DRESS: "The one in the red dress is Vanessa."
- Embargoed: 24th March 1999 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: NEW YORK,WASHINGTON D.C. AND UNIDENTIFIED LOCATION, UNITED STATES
- City:
- Country: USA
- Topics: Industry
- Reuters ID: LVACX3EJDELI9FCPLU5FQ1XXOF1W
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- Story Text: Barbie, the doll that launched a million little girls' dreams, is 40 years old.Mattel, the doll's manufacturer, arranged for creater Ruth Handler to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange, to celebrate one of the most successful toys ever.
She's sparked the imagination of little girls around the world for four decades.
But while Barbie may be turning 40 this year, she's more spry and hip than ever.
These days she carries a cell phone and even has a tattoo.
Toy industry experts say it's that ability to change with the times that keeps the world's most famous dolls on top of the heap.
The inspiration of Mattel co-founder, Ruth Handler, Barbie was first introduced at the New York Toy Fair in 1959.And became an instant hit.
She earns Mattel, the maker of the plastic bombshell, two billion U.S.dollars a year.
The original Barbie sported a black and white striped one-piece swimsuit and ponytail...but as time changed...so too did Barbie.
Over the years the doll has crossed ethnic lines, changing her look to represent 45 nationalities.
In the 1960s, she wore Jackie Kennedy-like pillbox hats...by 1964 Mattel made her knees bend and in '67 her waist twist.
In the 1970s Barbie wore her hair streaked and straight.....dropping her pale skin for a deep malibu tan.
By the gogo 80's Barbie transformed into a dress for success business woman complete with briefcase.
Barbie is perhaps the most famous for her anatomically incorrect body.If a human woman had the same dimensions...a hipless 32-17-28 she wouldn't be able to stand up.
But in the 90s she's gone through reduction surgery, slimming her hips and flattening her chest, to make her more believable.
Every year Mattel comes out with 100 new Barbies.
"One of the things we try to do is have her appeal to all different kinds of girls.So there are dolls that appeals to younger girls, or Barbies that appeal to older girls" Lisa McKendal, Mattel spokeswoman told Reuters Television.
She even inspired a controversial song from Swedish pop group Aqua.
Barbie is a multi-billion dollar, multi-national marketing emprie...a cultural icon.From sunglasses to cd roms.
"It's pretty spectacular because in the toy world there is hardly anything else that has had a run like Barbie has had-so its really any exciting achievement for her and Mattel" says David Niggil, Executive Vice President of toy store FAO Schwarz.
How many Barbies do you have? "there's one in a purple dress" and what about the one in the red dress? "the onein the red dress is Vanessa"
A surge in collecting is expected this year...Mattel is issuing several special Barbies in honour of her birthday, including a 40th anniversary Barbie.
The original 1959 dollin mint conditio has sold for up to 7 grand.
Mattel will host a big birthday bash on Barbie's actual birthday, March 9th.She'll ring the opening bell at the new York Stock Exchange.And a Barbie postage stamp will be issued as well.
And despite the ongoing discussion about how politically correct Barbie may or may-not be...one thing is for sure: 25 years from now the children of these children will most probably be playing with Barbie. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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