Harold matson ruth handler biography

Eventually, Mattel added a boyfriend for Barbie, the famous Ken doll, and many other friend dolls followed. Barbie was unique not only because she was a representative of a grown woman, but because she had a wardrobe and could serve in many jobs. Mattel was investigated by the Securities and Exchange Commission and, although Ruth maintained her innocence, she pled no contest to charges of falsifying financial documents, mail fraud, and making false statement to the SEC.

But resigning from Mattel did not mean the end of her entrepreneurial career.

Harold matson ruth handler biography: Business executive Harold "Matt" Matson joined

Although she temporarily cast the project aside, a vacation to Switzerland would show Handler her idea had potential. While on the trip, Handler and a teenaged Barbara came across a Bild Lilli novelty doll on display. Lilli quickly became popular and was turned into a plastic doll—a novelty toy given to men as a gag gift. Lord explained in her book that men would hang the doll off the rearview mirror of their cars and take Lilli to bars, pulling down her pants or lifting up her skirt as a source of humor.

At just under a foot tall, Lilli also had an exaggerated physique featuring a disproportionately large bust, blue eye shadow, and a distinctive blonde ponytail. But Handler saw a source of inspiration for her own doll and quickly amassed a collection of almost two dozen of the European toys upon her return to California. Barbara kept one Lilli in her room, while her mother took the rest to Mattel for a makeover.

Not quite. However, the case was eventually dismissed. Additionally, a former designer at Mattel, Jack Ryan, sued the company in after claiming he, not Handler, actually created Barbie and named the doll after his wife. Isadore Elliot Handler April 9, — July 21, was an American inventor, business magnate, and the co-founder of Mattel. Handler's parents were Ukrainian Jews who largely spoke Yiddish within their household.

The family moved out of Chicago, and Handler grew up on the west side of Denver, Colorado. Inhe met his future wife Ruth Mosko at a B'nai B'rith dance for teenagers. Shortly after their marriage, his new wife Ruth requested he change his name: partially due to her preferring his middle name "Elliot" over "Izzy", and partially from her fears of American antisemitism toward an obviously Jewish name like Isadore.

He complied. The couple had two children: Barbara, who was the namesake of Barbie dolls; and Kenneththe namesake of Ken dolls. Elliot's wife, Ruth, took Matson's role when the Handlers bought his share in the late s. Handler holds credit for developing the first talking doll Chatty Cathy[ 3 ] using a pull string talking mechanism, revolutionizing the toy industry.

The talking doll Baby Cheryl was named after the Handlers' first grandchild, and the Todd doll in the Barbie line was named after their grandson. Handler was primarily responsible for two additional Mattel product lines. InMattel introduced smaller dolls called Liddle Kiddles. Handler claimed he wanted them to resemble little children in neighborhoods across America.

They were sculpted by doll artist Martha Armstrong-Hand. Kiddles were a great success and continued to be produced in different versions until the early s. Another product line was Hot Wheelsintroduced inwhich gave rise to 10, different models. American Antiquarian Society. Retrieved February 29, USA Today.

Harold matson ruth handler biography: She married Elliot Handler, her

Associated Press. April 28, Archived from the original on October 2, Retrieved January 12, The New York Times Magazine. Archived from the original on July 11, Retrieved July 11, The story behind Barbie's mother figure in the new movie". Retrieved January 11, July 21, Further reading [ edit ]. External links [ edit ]. Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ruth Handler.

Barbie accolades Barbenheimer. MCA Records, Inc. Bild-Lilli doll Barbie's careers Mattel Inc. Walking Mountain Prods. Authority control databases.

Harold matson ruth handler biography: Ruth Mosko Handler is best

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