Comments on: Barbie Doll: An Icon of California Design

By: Reader

Reader — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 15:42:19 +0000

Let’s not forget that Barbie was a copy of a German doll, the Bild Lilli. Barbie did not spring to life entirely from Handler’s imagaination. I had a Barbie #4 that was lost to childhood; I purchased one as a adult to recapture those memories.

By: Linda Jacqueline

Linda Jacqueline — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 19:37:39 +0000

Wonderful Barbie has always changed with the times, representing what our dreams were and still are. She is and has always been employed, has run for government offices, is a child and home caretaker, and has always stayed on top of the fashion world. She is everything she and we want to be.

My love affair with Barbie has never changed since I first laid eyes on her in 1959. I asked for her with a longing that I can still see in a little girls heart 53 years later.

It was wonderful to see my doll on display. Thank you Ruth, thank you Mattel, thank you LACMA.

By: Audrey Burtrum-Stanley

Audrey Burtrum-Stanley — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 01:32:28 +0000

There is controversy yet regarding if the dsign for this doll was possibly ‘swiped’ from a popular German doll. If you place the two dolls side-by-side, you can hardly tell one from the other!

Oh yes, and Ruth (who was a co-founder / had served as President) eventually was KICKED OUT of the Mattel Toy Company. She then went into the business of manufacturing breast forms for women who had had a brast removed. This proved to be a very successful endeavor. (She herself had had breast cancer.) She was obviously a brilliant an caring lady

By: AitchCS

AitchCS — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 19:19:28 +0000

This is a fascinating bit of cultural history. Among several other fascinating early design entrepreneurs– like the inventors of Slinky and Tupperware.
I will see the lacma exhibition next month.