Search results
Doll Revolution is the fourth studio album by American pop rock band The Bangles. It was released in March 2003 in Europe and Japan, and in September of that year in the United States. It is the first album by the group since their 1998 reunion.
Showing up fashionably late to board the good ship Revival, The Bangles (Susanna Hoffs, Michael Steele and sisters Debbi and Vikki Peterson), return with their fourth album Doll Revolution.
Mar 17, 2024 · The 19th century witnessed a revolution in the world of dolls. With the advent of new materials such as porcelain and celluloid, dolls became more lifelike and realistic. These dolls, often...
- Spencer Henry
- Overview
- 1. The First Barbie Doll Launches at the American Toy Fair in New York City
- 2. Barbie’s Impressive Resume
- 3. The Year of Ken
- 4. Barbie’s Friends & Family
- 5. First Celebrity Barbie
- 6. African American and Latina Barbie Introduced
- 7. Andy Warhol Paints Barbie
- 8. Bob Mackie Designs his First Barbie
- 9. Barbie for President
Take a look at Barbie's cultural revolution through the decades.
In March 1959, a doll named "Barbie" launched onto the American toy market, sporting a black-and-white striped bathing suit, pouty red lips and a sassy blonde ponytail. The leggy, 11-inch plastic figure—full name: Barbara Millicent Roberts—was the first mass-produced toy doll in the U.S. with adult features. She would go on to become one of the most iconic playthings in history.
Barbie was the brainchild of Ruth Handler, co-founder (with her husband Elliot) of the toy company Mattel, Inc. Inspired by watching their daughter play with make-believe paper dolls of adult women, Handler realized there was an unfilled niche in the market for a toy that allowed little girls to imagine the future.
Barbie’s appearance was modeled after a doll named the Bild Lilli, which had been inspired by a German comic-strip character. Originally marketed as a racy gag gift that men could buy in tobacco shops, the Lilli doll later became extremely popular with children. Mattel bought the rights to Lilli, and Handler created her own version.
This Day in History: 03/09/1959 - Barbie makes her debut
For decades to come, Barbie continued to evolve with the changing times. Here's a look at her cultural revolution through the years.
An original 1959 Barbie
Barbie’s official birthday is March 9, 1959—the day she was officially introduced to the world. Handler always saw Barbie as a reflection of the times, with the first doll mimicking the glamour of 1950s stars such as Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe. In its first year, 300,000 Barbie dolls were sold. The first Barbie doll sold for $3.00, but a mint condition #1 doll can fetch more than $25,000 today.
Astronaut Barbie
Over the span of her existence, Barbie has had more than 250 careers. She broke the plastic ceiling when she went to the moon in 1965, four years before Neil Armstrong. Since then, she has been everything from a doctor to a paleontologist to a rock star to a computer engineer.
Barbie and Ken in the 1960s
Barbie’s on-again, off-again longtime boyfriend, Ken Carson, was introduced two years after Barbie in 1961. Ken was named after Ruth Handler’s son.
Barbie’s best friend Midge, 1963
To counteract criticisms that Barbie was solely a sex symbol, Mattel gave her a best friend, Midge Hadley, introduced in 1963. A year later, they gave her a little sister: Skipper Roberts.
The first celebrity Barbie, Twiggy the 1960s supermodel
In 1967, supermodel Twiggy became the first celebrity to have a Barbie made in her likeness. Cher, Audrey Hepburn, Diana Ross and JK Rowling—to name a few—would later join the ranks of celebrity Barbies.
African American Barbie, 1980
While there had been other African American dolls in the Barbie collection before—including Barbie’s friend Christie, first introduced in 1968—an official African American Barbie wasn’t created until 1980, alongside a Latina Barbie. That same year saw the first of more than 40 different international Barbies released to date.
Artist Andy Warhol displaying his portrait of a Barbie doll
Given Andy Warhol’s longtime fascination with iconic stars such as Jackie Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley, it came as little surprise that the Pop artist would get around to depicting Barbie. The inspiration for his 1986 painting came from his longtime friendship with a jewelry designer, who happened to be an avid Barbie collector with tens of thousands of dolls. When Warhol asked to paint the designer’s portrait, his friend replied, “Do a portrait of Barbie because...Barbie, c’est moi.” Nearly 20 years later, Mattel returned the favor, issuing an Andy Warhol-themed Barbie collectible.
The Bob Mackie Gold Barbie, 1990
To this day, the Bob Mackie Barbie dolls are some of the most sought-after collectibles. Featuring his trademark glam style, the Bob Mackie Gold Barbie featured 5,000 hand-sewn golden sequin accents. Mackie helped start the collectible Barbie craze.
Barbie runs for president in 1992
Barbie first ran for president in 1992, and has hit the campaign trail at least seven times since. In 2020, she launched a campaign team.
Until 1869, dolls bodies were made of sewn fabric and filled with bran. The invention of celluloid was a real revolution, much cheaper and less fragile than porcelain, it was well suited to children. Since 1945, most dolls are now made of plastic or synthetic materials.
Feb 15, 2013 · Made to look like a real newborn baby, the doll was revolutionary for its time. During the latter part of the decade, Effanbee introduced Patsy, a 14-inch composition doll generally considered to be the fi rst with an extensive wardrobe and accessories.
People also ask
When did Doll Revolution come out?
When did 'jam & Doll Revolution' come out?
How many songs are on Doll Revolution?
When did fashion dolls come out?
When did American dolls come out?
How did Dolls change in the 19th century?
Interesting History of Dolls. A doll is a figure of a human being (or sometimes of an animal) used most often as a children’s toy, in magic and religious rituals. There are documents that prove that dolls were use in Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome.
