Ruth Handler
Ruth Handler | |
---|---|
Born | Ruth Marianna Mosko November 4, 1916 Denver, Colorado, U.S. |
Died | April 27, 2002[1] Los Angeles, California, U.S. | (aged 85)
Occupation | President of Mattel (1945–1975) |
Notable work | Barbie |
Successor | Robert A. Eckert |
Spouse | |
Children | Barbara and Kenneth |
Ruth Marianna Handler (née Mosko; November 4, 1916 – April 27, 2002) was an American businesswoman and inventor. She is best known for inventing the
The Handlers were forced to resign from Mattel in 1975 after the
Handler was prominently characterized in the 2023 film Barbie.
Early life
Ruth Marianna Mosko
In 1932, Ruth fell in love with Izzy Handler,
Mattel
Elliot became interested in furniture-making, and decided to make furniture from two plastics,
Business executive
Barbie
Observing her daughter Barbara and friends having fun with paper dolls and role-play adult scenarios, Ruth noticed a market void.[8] Dolls available at that time were mainly babies and toddlers; no dolls were available that resembled adults.
During a trip to Europe in 1956 with Barbara and her son Kenneth, Ruth came across Bild Lilli,[10] a German doll. In an interview with Mary G. Lord, author of Forever Barbie, Handler said that she saw the doll in Lucerne, Switzerland. However, the book points out that on other occasions Handler said that she saw it in Zürich or Vienna. The adult-figured doll was exactly what Ruth had in mind. She purchased three, gave one to her daughter, and took the others to Mattel. The Lilli doll was based on a popular character in a satirical comic strip drawn by Reinhard Beuthin for the newspaper Bild. The Lilli doll was first sold in 1955 in Germany, and although initially sold to adults, it became popular with children who enjoyed dressing it in outfits that were available separately.[11]
On return to the US, Handler redesigned the doll with help from local inventor-designer
The Handlers and Mattel later added a boyfriend for Barbie, named Ken after the Handlers' son.[14] Eventually a huge range of Barbie dolls was released, portrayed with more than 125 careers,[8] and Barbie became known for her versatility and fashion. The Handlers added cars, sports gear, clothes, and doll furniture to their Barbie products.
Later years
Handler was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1970. She had a
Due to difficulties in finding a good breast prosthesis, Handler decided to make her own. With the help of new business partner Peyton Massey, and under her new company, Ruthton Corp., she manufactured a more realistic version of a woman's breast called Nearly Me, aiming to boost women's confidence regardless of their health. The invention became quite popular; first lady Betty Ford was fitted for one after a mastectomy.[15]
Handler received various awards for her philanthropy and business activities. She was chosen Woman of the Year in Business by the Los Angeles Times, inducted into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame by the Toy Manufacturers of America, received the Volunteer Achievement Award from the American Cancer Society, and was the inaugural Woman of Distinction of the United Jewish Appeal.[3]
Following several investigations into fraudulent financial reports, Handler resigned from Mattel in 1975. Investigations continued, and she was charged with fraud and false reporting by the
Handler died on April 27, 2002 in California from complications during surgery for
In popular culture
Handler is portrayed in the 2023 film Barbie[18] by actress Rhea Perlman. In the film, the ghost of an elderly Handler resides in an office on the 17th floor of Mattel headquarters in Los Angeles. There she meets the movie's stereotypical Barbie (Margot Robbie). Later, while advising Barbie, Handler tells her about her creation and how it related to her daughter, Barbara. Barbie then takes the name "Barbara Handler" as her own.
The film stirred a wave of media coverage of Handler.[19][20][21]
References
- ^ Kershaw, Sarah (April 29, 2002). "Ruth Handler, Whose Barbie Gave Dolls Curves, Dies at 85". The New York Times. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
- ^ a b "Ruth Handler, Barbie Doll Invention". Famous Women Inventors. Retrieved January 23, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Altman, Julie (March 20, 2009). "Ruth Mosko Handler". Jewish Women's Archive. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
- ^ Castellitto, Linda M. (February 22, 2009). "Scandal tainted long career of Barbie's creator". ABC News. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
- ^ "Collection: Papers of Ruth Handler, 1931-2002". HOLLIS Archives. Harvard University Press. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
- ISBN 9781610690867.
- ^ "Who Made America?: Ruth Handler". PBS. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
- ^ a b c Haynes, Ian (August 15, 2023). "The brains behind Barbie: A look at the entrepreneurial journey of Ruth Handler". ASBN Small Business Network. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
- ^ "History of Mattel by Robert Eckert". Youtube. September 9, 2012.
- ^ Javaid, Maham (May 25, 2023). "Barbie's 'pornographic' origin story, as told by historians - A new trailer for the Barbie movie shows her visiting the real world. In reality, the doll was based on a German sex toy called Lilli". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- ^ "Meet Lilli, the High-end German Call Girl Who Became America's Iconic Barbie Doll". Messy Nessy. January 29, 2016. Retrieved February 10, 2018.
- ^ "Ruth Mosko Handler unveils Barbie Doll". Jewish Women's Archive. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
- ^ a b "Ruth Handler: The Entrepreneur Who Created Barbie". History Hit. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
- ^ "Barbie Through the Ages". history.com. July 14, 2023. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
- ^ Pollock, Danny (April 29, 2002). "Barbie creator wanted doll to stand for women's choices". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. p. 9.
- ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ "Creator of Barbie dies at 85". USA Today. Associated Press. April 28, 2002. Archived from the original on October 2, 2022. Retrieved January 12, 2013.
- ^ Paskin, Willa (July 11, 2023). "Greta Gerwig's 'Barbie' Dream Job". The New York Times Magazine. Archived from the original on July 11, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
- ^ Heching, Dan (July 22, 2023). "Who was Ruth Handler? The story behind Barbie's mother figure in the new movie". CNN. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
- ^ "Who Is Ruth Handler? How Barbie's Creator Factors Into the Film". TIME. July 21, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
- ^ "The real-life inspiration for Barbie". www.bbc.com. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
Further reading
- Forman-Brunell, Miriam. "Barbie in" LIFE": The Life of Barbie." Journal of the History of Childhood and Youth 2.3 (2009): 303-311. online
- Gerber, Robin. Barbie and Ruth: The Story of the World's Most Famous Doll and the Woman Who Created Her. Harper/Collins, 2008.
- Weissman, Kristin Noelle. Barbie: The Icon, the Image, the Ideal: An Analytical Interpretation of the Barbie Doll in Popular Culture (1999).
- Wepman, Dennis. "Handler, Ruth" American National Biography (2000) online
External links
- Ruth Handler at IMDb