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toys

Barbie:
Barbie was created by Elliot Handler, and his wife, Ruth. Elliot Handler was one of the creators of Mattel. The doll was named after their daughter, Barbie and their son Ken. Barbie was introduced to the world at the American Toy Fair in New York City in 1959. The doll was originally intended to be a teenage fashion doll. In 1965, they came up with the idea of making Barbie’s legs bendable. Barbie is still one of the most successful and lasting toys on the market.

Twister: Twister was the first game ever invented that required people to use their bodies as playing pieces. It has been played by an estimated 65 million people around the world. Twister actually grew out of a project that inventor Reyn Guyer was working on for his father's design company. While trying to develop a promotion for Johnson's shoe polish, it occurred to Guyer that a polka dot paper mat he had just created might better serve as a game...and Twister was born.

 

Hot Wheels: Elliot Handler, Mattel creator in 1967 came up with the idea to add axles and wheels to the model cars back then. He ended up developing a gravity-powered car that could run at a record-breaking speed of 300 mph downhill. To receive such a high speed and great racing action was the low friction wheels that ended up being patented by Mattel. Handler came up with the name simply by taking a look at his new product by saying, “Wow, those are hot wheels.”

Candyland: When Eleanor Abbott was recuperating from being sick with polio she occupied herself with coming up with games and activities for youngsters who had polio. One of her inventions was called "Candy Land." Her friends liked the game so much she submitted it to Milton Bradley Company where it was immediately accepted. Since then, Candy Land has been recognized as a “child's first game.”


American Girl: All you girls know about American Girl don’t you? In 1983, Pleasant T. Rowland was looking for special dolls as Christmas gifts for her young nieces. She was disappointed that she could not find any quality dolls that explained what it mean to be a girl growing up in America. She wanted her nieces to treasure the dolls for years. Not being able to find this perfect doll and a visit to Colonial Williamsburg inspired her to produce the American Girl Dolls and books. The company grew from there.

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