共用题干 第三篇

The Barbie Dolls

In the mid 1940"s, the young ambitious duo（一对艺人）Ruth and Elliot Handler,
owned a company that made wooden picture 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 1950"s,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 Barbie"s wardrobe.It was in 1 958 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. Where did Ruth"s inspiration for the design of the Barbie doll come from?