Ladies and gentlemen, let us delve into the fascinating story of Barbie, one of the most iconic dolls in history. Contrary to popular belief, Margot Robbie’s portrayal of Barbie in the upcoming live-action film does not align with the real-life inspiration behind the doll. The debate over who truly influenced the creation of Barbie is a contentious one, with two possible contenders: Barbie Ryan and Barbara Handler Segal. Allow me to shed some light on these conflicting origin stories, which contain far more complexity than meets the eye.
First, we have the tale of the late Barbie Ryan, whose existence spawned the beloved doll. It is said that Barbie owes her origins to a man’s obsession with the concept of the “perfect woman.” This narrative takes a rather dark turn and involves elements like orgies, sex toys, embezzlement, AIDS, and suicide. On the other hand, we have the heartwarming story of Barbara Handler Segal, now 82 years old, who claims to be the true-life Barbie. This version revolves around a mother’s love for her two children and stands in stark contrast to the previously mentioned dark undercurrents.
The clash between these two versions of Barbie’s genesis only intensified long after the doll’s debut at the International Toy Fair in 1959. Standing at 11 inches tall, with long legs, a slim waist, perky breasts, and either blonde or brunette hair, Barbie quickly captured the hearts of children everywhere. As we fast forward to the present, the 64-year-old Barbie continues to rake in profits for Mattel, propelling the company’s stock price to new heights.
The battle for the true creator of Barbie erupted in 1994. Ruth Handler, in her autobiography “Dream Doll,” takes sole credit for naming the doll after her daughter. Regrettably, she largely disregards the contributions of Jack Ryan, whose name appears on the Barbie patent. Ryan, a brilliant engineer and former designer of missiles for the Pentagon, designed Barbie from head to toe during his tenure as Mattel’s vice president of design. Handler, the co-founder of Mattel along with her husband Elliot, paints herself as the Walt Disney of Barbie’s creation, while Ryan remains largely overlooked.
To shed light on Mattel’s hidden history, I explored this subject in my best-selling book, “Toy Monster: The Big, Bad World of Mattel,” published in 2009. The creation of Mattel itself involved Ruth and Elliot Handler, along with their business partner Harold “Matt” Matson. However, Handler’s narrative came under question due to her association with a German doll named “Lilli,” originally based on a newspaper character who happened to be a prostitute.
It is crucial to mention that Ken, Barbie’s iconic companion, was supposedly based on Handler’s son. However, it later came to light that the real-life Ken had a secret gay identity and sadly passed away from AIDS. Furthermore, in 1973, Handler faced allegations of fraud and false reporting to the Securities and Exchange Commission, resulting in her resignation, a fine, and community service.
The autobiography Handler penned positioned her as Barbie’s sole creator, securing her place in history. However, critics argue that this was a deliberate attempt to erase Jack Ryan’s contributions. Ann Ryan, Jack’s daughter, is writing a memoir shedding light on the peculiar world of Barbie and her life as Ryan’s daughter. Ann strongly refutes Handler’s claim and asserts that Barbie was indeed named after her mother, Barbie Ryan.
Although Jack Ryan is no longer with us and unable to dispute Handler’s account, Ann and her family strongly disagree with Handler’s version of events. According to Ann, her mother was flattered to be the inspiration for the coveted doll named after her. Despite Jack Ryan’s womanizing tendencies, Barbie Ryan took pride in her role as the original Barbie.
In conclusion, the true story behind Barbie’s creation is a complex and captivating one. Both the Barbie Ryan and Barbara Handler Segal narratives offer unique perspectives. While the upcoming movie featuring Margot Robbie as Barbie promises to be a box-office hit, it is essential to remember the rich history and conflicting accounts that lie beneath the surface of this beloved doll.
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