umsami Posted January 31, 2016 Posted January 31, 2016 This is the first I've heard of this. Is this somebody that everybody but me knew? The resemblance is striking. Quote
gardenmom5 Posted January 31, 2016 Posted January 31, 2016 I'm over 50 - so yes, I've heard about it. especially her make-up from when she was first introduced in '59 was *very* heavy and not even something you'd see in hollywood movies of the time. not sure how it compared to models of the day. dh is very proud that he knew her last name . . . Roberts. http://inventors.about.com/od/bstartinventions/a/The-History-Of-Barbie-Dolls.htm 1 Quote
Aiden Posted January 31, 2016 Posted January 31, 2016 I didn't know of it until recently. It makes me shocked that the first generation of kids--whose parents presumably knew she was a prostitute doll--was allowed to play with her. I guarantee my parents, and most other Bible Belt parents, would never have allowed me to play with her if they thought of her in those terms. She's such a cultural icon now that no one will stop allowing their kids to play with her based on that, but I'm surprised she ever became popular. 1 Quote
Pam in CT Posted January 31, 2016 Posted January 31, 2016 OK, never heard of that, but, #Hilarious. I guess it comes all the way around -- I have heard of Valeria Lukynova, a current day Ukrainian model who evidently makes a better-life-through-plastic-surgery living impersonating Barbie. 1 Quote
Tanaqui Posted January 31, 2016 Posted January 31, 2016 I really thought everybody knew about it. It makes me shocked that the first generation of kids--whose parents presumably knew she was a prostitute doll--was allowed to play with her. Well, why not? It's not like they're reading the comics, or like the doll itself is sexually explicit - though of course, generations of children have gone on to put Barbie and Ken (or Barbie and Barbie, or occasionally Ken and Ken) in all sorts of poses! 2 Quote
umsami Posted January 31, 2016 Author Posted January 31, 2016 See, I heard the story of the woman inventor who founded Mattel....but I never heard the German call girl thing. Quote
Twigs Posted January 31, 2016 Posted January 31, 2016 See, I heard the story of the woman inventor who founded Mattel....but I never heard the German call girl thing. :iagree: 1 Quote
MercyA Posted January 31, 2016 Posted January 31, 2016 Yes, I knew about it. I've always been surprised Mattel copied Lilli so precisely and unabashedly! 2 Quote
Jenny in Florida Posted January 31, 2016 Posted January 31, 2016 Yes, I knew that. I've read that one of the reasons many early Barbies were shown in ads wearing wedding dresses was specifically to make the very sexy doll more palatable to American moms. 1 Quote
SparklyUnicorn Posted January 31, 2016 Posted January 31, 2016 My grandmother did not allow my mother to have one of those dolls. I never knew why, but maybe this is why. Quote
poppy Posted January 31, 2016 Posted January 31, 2016 I didn't , but it's not surprising. I don't think it matters. Barbie and Lillie are both variations on "blonde bombshell", a type that predates them both by quite a few years. Quote
Spryte Posted January 31, 2016 Posted January 31, 2016 I had a friend in my undergrad years who wrote her honors thesis on Barbie - so, I knew about it then. Early 90s, or so. I always found it hilarious. 1 Quote
gardenmom5 Posted January 31, 2016 Posted January 31, 2016 the make-up was toned down within just a few years, as was her wardrobe. 1 Quote
gardenmom5 Posted January 31, 2016 Posted January 31, 2016 My grandmother did not allow my mother to have one of those dolls. I never knew why, but maybe this is why. when asked about "proper toys" for children, even miss manners alluded to her by referring to her as any "hussie that caller itself a doll." 2 Quote
Retired Posted January 31, 2016 Posted January 31, 2016 This is cool and funny. I grew up in the very legalistic church, small town within the bible belt. (born in 1970) They even thought aerobic workouts were sinning. My very couldn't' wait to leave rebel of all their up tightness just loves this. They would of been all about boycotting mattell. They boycotted Tide detergent because they thought its company symbol was satanic. They didn't go to movies or listen to secular music but all the girls got to play with hussy Barbie. I just love the irony. I happen to be a bit of tomboy. I only had one barbie doll and gave her Mowhauk and then a buzz cut. SHe was Rambo Barbie LOL My sister was the girlie one and had a few Barbie and the marie obsmond dolls. 2 Quote
Spryte Posted January 31, 2016 Posted January 31, 2016 This is cool and funny. I grew up in the very legalistic church, small town within the bible belt. (born in 1970) They even thought aerobic workouts were sinning. My very couldn't' wait to leave rebel of all their up tightness just loves this. They would of been all about boycotting mattell. They boycotted Tide detergent because they thought its company symbol was satanic. They didn't go to movies or listen to secular music but all the girls got to play with hussy Barbie. I just love the irony. I happen to be a bit of tomboy. I only had one barbie doll and gave her Mowhauk and then a buzz cut. SHe was Rambo Barbie LOL My sister was the girlie one and had a few Barbie and the marie obsmond dolls. I love the irony, too. Your Rambo Barbie would've been good friends with my green haired Mohawk Barbie. :) 1 Quote
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