Top Twenty Trivia Tidbits about America’s Favorite Doll, Barbie! | Dolls

Barbie has lived no dull life.  She has bounced around from job to job, lived in beautiful view apartments or pool homes.  The public and the press have been good to her.  Mayor Koch named a day after her; a section of Times Square was temporarily renamed for her.  Barbie has made her mark and she is here to stay.  Learn more her with these fun tidbits about America’s Favorite Doll, Barbie.

Top Twenty Trivia Tidbits about America’s Favorite Doll, Barbie:

1. Mattel estimates that three Barbie dolls are sold every second.

2. Mattel averages there are over 1000,000 Barbie doll collectors.

3. A mint boxed Barbie collectable can now sell for up to $3000.00 or more.  That is a nice investment for a 1959 purchase price of $3.00.

4. The average collector purchases up to twenty or even forty Barbie dolls per year.

5. Barbie’s birthday is March 9, 1959.  Mattel Toy Company held her debut in New York City at the American International Toy fair.  Barbie was one of the first adult-looking three-dimensional dolls, taking the place of the once popular paper doll.

6. Barbie’s real name is Barbara Millicent Roberts.  Her designer was Mrs. Ruth Handler, wife of Elliot Handler, a co-founder of Mattel toys.  Mrs. Handler’s inspiration to design the doll came from her daughter, Barbara.  Barbie is named after Barabara.

7. According to the Random House novels of the 1960s, her parents’ names are George and Margaret Roberts of Willows, Wisconsin. Barbie has been said to attend Willows High School in Willows, Wisconsin and Manhattan International High School in New York City.

8. In 1961 Barbie met Ken, and they began their relationship. 

9. Barbie and Ken never married but their relationship lasted forty-three years.   Barbie and Ken are one of the most famous, well known couples today.

10. Barbie has had thirty-eight recorded pets.  Amongst some of them are cats, dogs, horses, a panda, a lion cub, and even a zebra.

11. Barbie has held several jobs.  She started out as a fashion model.  From there her life has been very busy.  Barbie has been a doctor, dentist, nurse, firefighter, rock star and many more.  This includes her many different types Olympic competition categories.  In recent years Barbie has even entered politics. 

12. In 1974, when Barbie turned sixteen, a section of Times Square in New York City was renamed “Barbie Boulevard” for a week.

13. Barbie is frequently criticized for being physically out of proportion. It is often said, “For a woman to have Barbie’s body, she would have to be 7 feet, 2 inches in height; weigh 115-130 pounds; have 30 to 36 inch hips; an 18 to 23 inch waist; and a 38 to 48 inch bust. If she were a real person, Barbie would have to crawl around on all fours just to support her unnatural proportions.”

14. Mattel asserts that Barbie’s exaggerated proportions are necessary to allow clothes to fit properly on such a small scale

15. As a response to consumer and teenage advocate complaints Mattel makes adjustments to Barbie and widens her waist in the late 1990s.

16. Barbie had her 25th anniversary in 1984.  New York Mayor, Ed Koch, declared it “Barbie and Ken Day.”

17. Tiffany’s and Co. made a sterling silver Barbie doll for her 25th anniversary.

18. In 1998, Elizabeth Taylor endorsed the first approved doll in her likeness.

19. Barbie has a very Limited Edition of 20,000 dolls, which are given to Toy Fair Gala attendees. Barbie “Generation Girl” series was a controversy, as the series has one doll with a nose ring and one doll (Barbie) with an ankle tattoo.

20.  In 2004, after forty-three years of infamous romance, Barbie and Ken separate. It was reported that the couples  “business manager,” Russell Arons, vice president of marketing at Mattel, said that Barbie and Ken “feel it’s time to spend some quality time - apart.”

Which direction will she be going now?  She has definitely kept up with modern technology.  Barbie’s presence is on the Internet and children are already enjoying her interactive games and features.  Is this separation a marketing plan for Mattel that is going to inspire a new Barbie?  Or is it simply for her fans to follow her love life like any other star?