Comments on: Judi and Joni: “Rulers of their Barbie Universe”

By: Freddie

Freddie — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 06:10:20 +0000

I had always been one that liked to get my hands dirty and play with GI Joes. However, Barbies provided them with dates and spouses in play. I learned that it takes more time for females to get ready for going out than guys. Therefore, I need to provide more time for my old girlfriends and wife to get ready for events.

By: sumacsue

sumacsue — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 21:29:19 +0000

Jan, you are so right about Vera-ellen as a model for Barbie. I never noticed that before, even though I love those holiday movies. My Barbie had brown hair, so that is why I thought she looked like Audrey Hepburn.

Barb Scott, we have similar taste in toys. I still have my childhood Etch-a-Sketch, and my sister has her Lite Brite. Our Spirograph disappeared along the way, but I found one with all the parts at a yard sale last year, and gave it to my stepson’s girlfriend, who is an artist. Did you have the Think-a-tron? My sister still has it, too. But, alas, one of our favorites, the Showboat Majestic Theatre, floated away somewhere. Our Barbies would sit on the floor and watch Showboat Majestic performances of plays like “Heidi.” My parents were super toy picker-outers back in the old days. But then, they had so many great toys to pick from.

By: jan

jan — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:52:54 +0000

If I had to guess who might have been the human model for Barbie, it would likely be Vera-ellen. She was an actor and dancer from the 50’s, notably in White Christmas with Rosemary Clooney, Bing, and Danny Kaye. Google her name for images or check these links out.
For figure: http://movies.tvguide.com/white-christmas/photos/122768/3
For facial comparison:
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3131/3084049278_2d8c178033.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.flickr.com/photos/20connectedbreaths/3084049278/&usg=__INJnYHHsuEqpLgUodtN7dqbzFaQ=&h=333&w=500&sz=142&hl=en&start=87&um=1&tbnid=QTannBIG8tEHfM:&tbnh=87&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3DVera-ellen%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den%26sa%3DN%26start%3D80%26um%3D1

By: super kawaii mama

super kawaii mama — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 23:54:26 +0000

Entirely fabulous story. One of the problems with all the modern dolls and often modern Barbies, is that they come with pre-prescribed furniture and clothes, now so cheap and freely available. it doesn’t allow for children to use there imaginations and creativity. Having an experience like yours, is what develops the designers of tomorrow.

By: Jita

Jita — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:28:31 +0000

I agree about what you said about Barbie.
I too agree that she gets a bad rap.
In my childhood mind Barbie could have everything she put her mind to. My Barbie’s where married, with children, immaculate homes, and wonderful jobs.
Barbie could be an astronaut, stay-at-home mom, or doctor.
Nothing held Barbie back from having her dreams and achieving them.

By: vacationbarbie

vacationbarbie — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 00:59:19 +0000

Oh I loved my Barbies too! I had the Barbie house from the early 70’s complete with hanging swing on the patio. My sister and I also inherited from the older neighborhood girls a 1960’s Barbie Ranch style house complete with a cardboard console tv, I also remember having a real working sink (it had a reservoir that held water), a fridge (with food) and a table and chairs. My older brother built us Barbie bunk beds and we also used shoe boxes to make other things, including clothes. We also had Barbie, Midge, Francie, Skipper and Barbie’s friend P.J. P.J. had ash blond hair and was dressed in a bathing suit with lavender sunglasses.
I just googled P.J. and came up with a list on Wiki of all Barbie’s friends and relatives! LOL

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Barbie%27s_friends_and_family

We moved to Florida, from Chicago, when I was in the 7th grade and I sadly gave all my Barbie stuff away to a friends little girl. I saw it a few years later and it was completely trashed. So sad. Sniff….

By: Barb Scott

Barb Scott — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 02:11:18 +0000

Oops….and I hit a key and it posted! A couple of years ago, I picked up the skinny black Barbie case for $10-12.00 at an antique show. My husband and I were wandering through a vintage toy store in Ashland, Ohio and ran across a pretty complete Barbie Dream House, just like the one I had. I made the comment that if I had the extra $$ I would have bought it….but didn’t. For our wedding anniversary that year, when I returned home from church that Sunday, guess what was sitting in the middle of our living room with a big bow and a card? You guessed it….that beautiful Dream House. It is now stored away, but we get out both the house and the carrying case and put them under our vintage aluminum tree, along with our Lite Brite, an Etch a Sketch, a Spirograph, and lots of other vintage toys that we have collected (usually bought because we had one of them as a child)!

By: Barb Scott

Barb Scott — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 02:06:37 +0000

I had a Barbie just like the one pictured. I used to sit in the middle of our living room floor and play with mine for hours! I had all the requisite accompanying pieces: Barbie’s car, the Dream House, the Fashion Shop, the small black carrying case with the Barbies on the front and the larger back carrying case that I believe had Barbie and Ken on it. I had the cool four-poster bed, and the white plastic furniture with the yellow and orange spongy pillows. I had Ken, Midge, Alan (Midge’s boyfriend), Skipper, etc…..and also got the newer Barbies as they came out. There was a doll called Francie, I believe, that I also had. Over the years, I got rid of all of my Barbie stuff.

By: Julie Rogers

Julie Rogers — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 01:25:05 +0000

I actually remember praying to God that I wouldn’t stop liking playing with Barbies as my sister had. Part of the plea to the heavens included the fact that it was “so, so fun and nothing else will be that fun.”

By: mcmeg

mcmeg — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 23:08:51 +0000

My sister is seven years older than I and I inherited her Barbie and Midge and Black Barbie case. I remember some of those original outfits. Remember the blue appliqued skirted jumper? Later I had a Skipper and my best friend and I spent hours making cardboard houses and making our own Barbie clothes. Unfortunately, all those are gone. My daughter, who is 20 still keeps her plastic box full of Barbies, clothes and paraphernalia. Thanks for sharing and bringing back those memories.