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1958: Ruth Handler develops the idea of Barbie,inspired
by the Bild Lilli doll.
1959: Barbie doll debutsand the era of Barbie
begins.
1960: Barbie dolls number 3 and 4 are released.
1961: Barbie doll now available with red hair and a new
style known as the "bubblecut." Barbie gets a
boyfriend named Ken.
1963: Fashion Queen Barbie debuts with molded hair and
three interchangeable wigs. Barbie doll's best
friend,Midge, is introduced.
1964: "Miss Barbie" debuts with sleep eyes and is the
first with bendable legs. Like the Fashion Queen,
she also wears wigs. A new "Swirl" ponytail style
Barbie is also introduced as well as Skipper,
Barbie's little sister.
1965: Barbie "American Girl" is introduced. Fashions
inspired by the First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy are
marketed. More of the dolls offered with lifelike
with legs that bend. Astronaut Barbie is
introduced.
1966: Color Magic Barbie debuts. Lunch on the Terrace,
Pretty as a Picture, and Shimmering Magic are
marketed. Barbie's cousin Francie is introduced.
Barbie's family becomes larger with the arrival
of twins, brother and sister Tutti and Todd.
1967: Twist & Turn Barbie is introduced. Fashion Shiner
and Braniff Boarding Outfit are marketed. Colored
Francie appears.
1968: Barbie speaks for the first time (English &
Spanish). Six different phrases are said,
including "I have a date tonight", "I love being
a fashion model", and "Let's have a costume
party."
1969: Ken is reintroduced with muscles and a new head,
knees that bend, and the ability to speak.
1970: Living Barbie is introduced. Her elbows, knees,
and ankles bend. Her head, waist, arms, hands and
legs swivel.
1971: Malibu Barbie debuts. Growin'Pretty Hair Barbie
debuts. Barbie doll's demure side-glancing eyes
now look straight ahead.
1972: This is the year that the modern era of Barbie
begins. Walk-Lively Barbie and Talking Busy
Barbie are introduced. Talking Busy Barbie can
communicate and has rotating wrists and is now
able to hold accessories.
1973: Quick Curl Barbie is introduced. Ken doll's hair
comes with straight or curly hair and a removable
beard, sideburns and two moustaches.
1974: Barbie turns sixteen. A section of Times Square
in New York City is renamed Barbie Boulevard for
a week.
1975: Barbie Olympic skier, gymnast and skater are
marketed poseable with a "gold" medal. Barbie
Get-Ups 'N Go new careers as a doctor, surgical
nurse, ballerina and a flight attendant. Barbie
Dream Boat is introduced.
1976: Ballerina Barbie debuts. Barbie of the Century
for the bicentennial celebration is dressed in a
red, white, and blue dress. Her red skirt is
decorated with the American flag. A line of
revolutionary soldiers in uniform are also
supplied.
1977: SuperStar Barbie is introduced. Eighteen inches
(457 mm) tall Super Size Barbie debuts. Barbie and
Ken have new bent arms and extra-poseable heads.
"Pierced" earrings reappear, and have rings for
the first time.
1978: SuperStar Barbie gets the SuperStar Stage Show.
Fashion Photo Barbie has photo shoots posing on a
modeling stand.
1979: Pretty Changes Barbie debuts.
1980: Black Barbie, Hispanic Barbie, and the
International Collection are marketed. The
International Collection initially including
Italian Barbie, Parisian Barbie, and Royal U.K.
Barbie. The first Barbie doll convention is held.
1981: Western Barbie goes country with Westward Ho and
Classic Cowgirl. Dallas, her palomino horse,
debuts.
1982: Pink & Pretty Barbie debuts. Black Magic Curl
Barbie debuts. Eskimo Barbie and India Barbie are
added to the International Collection.
1983: Twirly Curls Barbieis marketed. Dream Date Barbie
dates Ken. Angel Face Barbie has her own makeup
line. Swedish Barbie and Spanish Barbie are added
to the International Collection.
1984: Barbie doll's 25th Anniversary. Barbie & Ken Day
is declared by New York Mayor Ed Koch. Tiffany's
creates a sterling silver Barbie doll. The
International Collection becomes the Dolls of the
World Collection. Swiss Barbie and Irish Barbie
are introduced.
1985: Day-to-Night Barbie debuts. Andy Warhol releases
his Barbie painting. Barbie doll exhibition
finishes its travels from France and nine U.S.
cities.
1986: Barbie joins a band, The Rockers. Dream Glow
Fashions that glow in the dark is marketed. Blue
Rhapsody Barbie is introduced. It is the first
Limited Edition collector Barbie doll. It is the
first porcelain doll. Astronaut Barbie travels to
space. Peruvian Barbie and Greek Barbie debut.
1987: Barbie's wild Concert Tour fashions take a cue
from pop star Madonna. The World Collection adds
Icelandic Barbie and German Barbie.
1988: The Happy Holidays Series debuts. Benefit
Performance 1967 Barbie is added to the Limited
Edition porcelain dolls. Mardis Gras Barbie
debuts. Canadian Barbie and Korean Barbie are
introduced.
1989: Barbie doll's 30th Anniversary. 1200 Pink Jubilee
Barbie are given to invitation-only attendees.
Army Barbie is marketed.
1990: Sophisticated Lady Barbie is added to the Limited
Edition Porcelain Collection. Bob Mackie Gold
Barbie is introduced with over 5,000 golden
sequins and beads. It is Dolls magazine's "1990
Award of Excellence" and Doll Reader magazine's
"Doty Doll of the Year Award." Air Force Barbie
debuts. Nigerian Barbie and Brazilian Barbie join
the Dolls of the World.
1991: Starlight Splendor Barbie and Platinum Barbie are
added to the long line. Navy Barbie doll is
introduced. Gay Parisien Barbie doll is marketed.
Czechoslovakian Barbie debuts.
1992: Stacie is introduced. Marine Corps Barbie debuts.
Barbie store opens at FAO Schwarz in New York.
Crystal Rhapsody Barbie debuts is the first
mail-order Barbie doll. It is part of the
Presidential Porcelain Barbie Collection. Neptune
Fantasy Barbie and Empress Bride Barbie are
marketed. Benefit Ball Barbie of the Classique
Collection is introduced.
1993: 1920s Flapper Barbie and Gibson Girl Barbie of
the Great Eras Collection are introduced. The
First Edition Native American Barbie debuts and
is added to the World Collection. The Masquerade
Ball Barbie debuts.
1994: Barbie celebrates 35th Anniversary. Mattel
reproduces the original number 1 Barbie. Limited
Edition Jubilee Barbie is introduced and only
5,000 were made for domestic distribution. Kenyan
Barbie and Chinese Barbie join Dolls of the
World. Hollywood Legends Collection begins with
as Scarlet O' Hara Barbie. Queen of Hearts Barbie
is marketed.
1995: Mattel's 50th Anniversary. Limited Edition 50th
Anniversary Barbie is released. Kelly is
introduced. The second doll in the Hollywood
Legends Collection with Dorothy Barbie from The
Wizard of Oz is introduced. Goddess of the Sun
Barbie debuts. Rapunzel Barbie debuts as part of
the new Children Collector Series.
1996: Barbie web site is available. Moon Goddess Barbie
debuts. Barbie Millicent Roberts Collection
debuts. Limited Edition Vintage Reproduction
Poodle Parade Barbie is introduced. Hollywood
Legends Collection features Barbie as Eliza
Doolittle in My Fair Lady.
1997: Harley-Davidson Barbie, a Toys 'R Us and
Harley-Davidson dealership exclusive, debuts.
Official Barbie Collector Club debuts. Marilyn
Barbie is added to the Hollywood Legends
Collection. Grand Premier Barbie doll, the first
doll for club members only is marketed. Limelight
Barbie is introduced. Billions of Dreams Barbie
debuts. Classic Ballet Series with Sugar Plum
Fairy Barbie.
1998: Sunflower Barbie, second in the Artist Series, is
marketed. Happy Holidays Barbie doll series ends.
Timeless Sentiments Collection is introduced with
the Angel of Joy Barbie. Nolan Miller's Sheer
Illusion Barbie and Vera Wang's bridal gown
Barbie debut. Harley-Davidson Barbie #2 is
released. Elizabeth Taylor endorses first
approved doll in her likeness. One of a kind
"Dream Halloween" CAAF auction doll depicting
Miss Taylor at the 1954 Oscars ceremony designed
by Anne Zielinski-Old sells to Demi Moore for
ground breaking $25000.00. Collectible vinyl
production dolls depicting "Cleopatra" and
"Father of the Bride" follow.
1999: Silken Flame Barbie doll selected as a 1960s
lifestyle for the U.S. Postal Service's Celebrate
the Century,s stamp series. Le Papillon' Barbie
and Crystal Jubilee Barbie debuts. Barbie doll's
40th Anniversary. New face sculpting is used on
Coca-Cola Barbie, NASCAR Official #94 Barbie, and
Barbie in the Barbie and Kenny Country Duet Set.
Collector Edition 40th Anniversary Barbie is
released. Gala Edition 40th Anniversary Barbie
has a very Limited Edition of 20,000 dolls which
are given to Toy Fair Gala attendees. The "Art of
Barbie" event and exhibition is held in London to
commemorate her anniversary, raising funds for
the Elton John AIDS Foundation. The release of
"Heartstring Angel", "Todd Oldham", and "Western
Plains Barbie" designed by Anne Zielinski-Old.
2000: Barbie for President debuts. Limited Edition
dolls production is reduced to quantities of
35,000 or less. Barbie celebrates the year 2000!
Barbie 2000, Millennium Wedding and Sydney 2000
Olympic Pin Collector become part of the Most
Collectible Doll In The World series. Hollywood
Movie Star Collection with Barbie as part of the
Golden Age of Hollywood is marketed. Barbie
Fashion Model Collection debuts. Barbie Silkstone
is introduced in this Collection; the distinctive
pose and attitude for the new doll was designed
by Anne Zielinski-Old , from a 3D digital
mannequin earlier developed at the Royal College
of Art for a "Virtual Catwalk" . Barbie debuts
with the belly button.
2001: The Cher Barbie doll debuts. Jeannie Barbie From
I Dream of Jeannie and The Munsters Barbie Lily
and Ken Herman Munster are introduced.
2003: Saudi Arabia's "Committee for the Propagation of
Virtue and Prevention of Vice" (the muttawa or
"religious police") declares that Barbie's
provocative clothing is offensive to Islam. The
doll is already banned in the kingdom as a
"Jewish" toy, but are available as contraband.
"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."
2005: Mattel expands the Barbie domain with the
introduction of a high-end "Barbie Luxe" designer
line of clothing and accessories for adult women.
Included: jeans, shirts, handbags and jewelry
designed by well-known fashion designers. US
sales of Barbie "crashed by 30%, and world sales
by 18%"
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