The Barbie Dolls
In the mid 1940s, the young ambitious duo Ruth and Elliot Handler, owned a company that made wooden pictures frames. It was in 1945 that Ruth and Elliot Handler joined with their close friend Harold Mattson to form a company that would be known for the most famous and successful doll ever created. This company would be named Mattel, MATT for Mattson, and EL for Elliot.
In the mid 1950s, while visiting Switzerland, Ruth Handler purchased a German Lilli doll. Lilli was a shapely, pretty fashion doll first made in 1955. She was originally fashioned after a famous cartoon character in the West German Newsletter, Build.
Lilli is the doll that would inspire Ruth Handler to design the Barbie doll. With the help of her technicians and engineers at Mattel, Barbie was born. Ruth then hired Charlotte Johnson, a fashion designer, to create Barbies wardrobe. It was in 1958 that the patent for Barbie was obtained. This would be a fashion doll unlike any of her time. She would be long limbed, shapely, beautiful, and only 11.5 inches tall. Ruth and Elliot would name their new fashion doll after their own daughter, Barbie.
In 1959, the Barbie doll would make her way to the New York Toy Show and receive a cool reception from the toy buyers.
Barbie has undergone a lot of changes over the years and has managed to keep up with current trends in hairstyles, makeup and clothing. She is a reflection of the history of fashion since her introduction to the toy market.
Barbie has a universal appeal and collectors both young and old enjoy time spent and memories made with their dolls.
1. When Ruth and Elliot Handler was young, they had a strong desire
A) to go to school.
B) to take photos.
C) to make frames.
D) to be highly successful.
2. Who owned Mattel?
A) Mattson.
B) Elliot.
C) Harold Mattson and Elliot Handler.
D) Harold Mattson, Ruth and Ellion Handler.
3. It can be inferred from the second paragraph that Lilli was fashioned after
A) Build.
B) a German doll.
C) a pretty girl.
D) a shapely woman.
4. Where did Ruth Handlers inspiration for the design of the Barbie doll come from?
A) Barbie.
B) Lilli.
C) Charlotte Johnson.
D) A fashion designer.
5. Which of the following statements is NOT true of the Barbie doll?
A) She does not attract young men.
B) She has undergone many changes over the years.
C) She is 11.5 inches tall.
D) She has managed to keep up with fashion.
KEY: DDABA
Olympic Champion Luo washed out at taekwondo worlds
China nails second gold in table tennis championships
诺维斯基成为NBA的MVP
Yao, Tracy named All-NBA 2nd Team
China coach gets Asian Cup ultimatum
China beats FIFA Stars 3-2 on late goal by Ji Ting
Seedorf shows his emotions after reaching another final
Chinas Dong a great promise for Man Utd - Gill
Du Li shoots down a gold in ISSF World Cup
HK shuttler wins first match at Singapore Open
Rockets fire Van Gundy as coach
Dispute over knighthood for Beckham
Houston beats Utah to take lead in series
Roy unanimous for NBA all-rookie team
Charlton suffers relegation in Premiership
Chelsea manager arrested in dog row
Compulsory nationwide sports hour for students
China name Sudirman cup squad
体坛资讯:Real blundered over treatment of Beckham, says Capello
Unlucky 13 as Mauresmo fails again
Ohio States Oden plans to enter draft
Henin extends win streak at French Open
TT Worlds: Guo Yue crowned, top three vying for mens title
China determined to defend title at Sudirman Cup
Heidi Klum goes topless for clothing company Jordache
Chinas Wu wins first gold of taekwondo worlds
Man U seeks alternative after Malaysia tour called off
莎拉波娃因伤退出意大利公开赛
Womens World Cup may expand to 24 teams in 2011
Soccer-Li Tie in China squad for Thai warm-up match