发信人: love-greedy(玲玲)
整理人: roy_young(2001-06-12 02:55:03), 站内信件
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The Intriguing Stories behind Five American icons(3)
Barbie 岜比娃娃
Before Malibu Barbie and Golden Dream Barbie,there was just Barbie.Actually,Barbara.
BArbara Handler was the daughter of Elliot and Ruth Handler,co-founders,with Harold Mattson,of Mattel toys.Ruth came up with the idea for Barbie after watching her daughter play with paper dolls.The three-dimensional model for Barbie was a German doll called Lilli-a gag gift described as having the appearance of a "hooker,or and actress between performand\ces".Mattel refashined the doll into a wholesome,all-American version and named it after Barbara ,then in her teens.
Since her unveiling in 1959,Barbie has become the universally recognized Queen of the Dolls.Mattel says the average American girl owns ten Barbie dolls,and two are sold somewhere in the world every second.
The handlers lost control of Barbie when they were forced out of the company in 1975.Now a senior citizen,Barbara -who declines interviews but is said to to have loved the doll--may be the most famous anonymous figure on the planet.
Barbie's boyfriend,Ken,was introduced in 1961and named ater Barbara's brother,.The real Ken,who died in 1994,was repelled by the doll that made his family famous."I don't want my children to play with it ,"He said in 1993.
FROM:English Language Learning |
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