king doll, then recently there was a release of a handicapped Barbie (Hein 7). All of these different Barbie dolls were made so that children, while playing with dolls, could begin to have real life experiences (Hein 6). This fantasyland/adult life idea, was one of the best ideas that Mattel had ever had, and the biggest selling point ever. The Barbie doll sold so well its first year in production, that it took three full years to fill the orders (Long 17). Barbies popularity didnt soon die out either. By 1965 Mattel had sold more than one hundred million dollars worth of Barbie merchandise. By 1968, Mattel had Barbie factories in Germany, England, and Mexico, and distributors in Italy and Belgium (Lord 59). In 1964, amidst of all the fame and fortune of the new doll, times got tough and the company almost went broke as corporate marketing turned away from Barbie on other types of toys. Management began focusing more attention on electronic games than Barbie dolls, but the games did not sell well and the company lost a great deal of money (Lord 15). By 1981, however, Mattel was back on track with thirteen new Barbie dolls on the market. Today Barbie is more popular than ever with collectors and young girls alike. The average American girl under the age of eleven owns ten Barbie dolls (Barbie Overview1), and Mattel introduces more than one hundred new Barbie dolls each year!Barbie is of course, still changing with the times and with the latest technology. She has new electronic games where players can choose to discuss careers, shopping, dating, or parties with her, and her own web site. She has also been the proud recipient of a brain (New Barbie 1). Talk with Me Barbie was just recently unveiled who can actually hold a conversation with a real human being. Barbie can now even wish a girl happy birthday, but she just cant seem to blow out the candles (New Barbie 1)-- yet. What does this mere eleven and one-half-inch beau...
