This Saturday, March 9 marks the 60th birthday for the Barbie doll. Creator of the Barbie Ruth Handler unveiled her new doll at the American International Toy Fair in New York on March 9, 1959. Handler and her husband along with a man named Mattel formed the Mattel company shortly after the end of World War Two. They at first sold picture frames and then gradually segued into toys. In fact Ruth named the Barbie doll after her own daughter Barbara. The Handlers also had a son and you can guess his name can't you? It was Ken.

The first Barbie doll sold for $3. Depending on the condition I've noticed some number 1 Barbies from 1959 bringing something between 25 and 27 thousand dollars.

This weekend there will be a 60th Barbie birthday dance party, a Ken and Barbie costume contest and more down in Florida.

Looking back my little sister had dolls but never a Barbie. Maybe that was a good thing as I remember about the time she started getting dolls was around the time my uncle gave me a wood burning set for Christmas. Little Loren was not content with burning pictures into wood. Alas I took my wood burning set to my sisters dolls and I was at that age where I was discovering anatomy and I think I'll stop and let you imagine what I did to my sister's dolls.

On a humorous note I know a local couple named Dick and Jane. Guess what? Their daughter is married to the son of a Ken and Barbie. I get a kick out of that.

Barbie turns 60
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