GI Joes are a line of action figures that were produced first in the US by a toy making company called Hasbro. The line features a set of figures that are representative of ground forces, air, and navy. These GI Joe action figures have been a steady inspiration for children who grow into adults, wanting to live out the adventure and have contributed to the recruitment into US armed forces over the years.   The figures instil patriotism and it’s not just children who are fans but millions of adults around the world engage in collecting these action figures by buying them from exclusive GI Joe stores or from eBay and other internet websites that sell these figures.   The original action figure that was launched in 1964 was a 12 inch male action figure which diversified into two toy lines, with the one in the US being called by its original name and the other which hit the UK markets came to be called Action Man.   Over the years many different sets were launched with many themes and story lines contributed to by animated shows that complemented the line on TV. The size of the GI Joe action figure was cut down to just under four inches and vehicles and sets were also included.   The story lines always were centred on the ongoing conflict between the good GI Joe action team and the evil cobra outfit. This is probably the first action figure series that spawned cartoons, comics and movies after it rather than the other way around.   GI Joe action figures were launched subsequent to the immense popularity of the Barbie doll series with young girls. The makers realized the potential for a boy oriented action figure based on a military theme centred on the fight between good and evil that spelled action and adventure, something that young boys take a fancy to.   The line was launched with a post world war theme initially but later on went on to adopt a unique story line. Such was the popularity of these figures that soon GI Joe stores were selling these figures across America and within a year these figures were found in toy stores in Europe as well.   Although the GI Joe fever died down with Hasbro stopping their production and moving onto more lucrative toys and figures, their popularity continues unabated to this day. Those who have grown up in the company of these toys and owned them when they were children still cherish and preserve these GI Joe action figures with great care.   Collecting action figures is a hobby which is indulged in by both adults and children, with the children more focused on playing with them while the adults collect them as a hobby or as an investment. A vintage GI Joe action figure could fetch thousands of dollars in the market today depending on its rarity. There are people who buy and sell action figures for hundreds and thousands of dollars each year.   Those that collect it often take care not to have even the packaging damaged, hoping that a few years down the lane, the price of these figures increase exponentially and they can sell it for a huge profit by selling them to stores that buy these vintage figures or online websites that buy and sell them.

A long-time favorite of girls young and old, Barbie has a life full of ups and down. Social revolutions and political changes can all be seen in Barbie games through the years and in many cases, the social history of major nations can be charted through changes in a simple plastic doll. Barbie Meets the World Barbara Millicent Roberts was introduced to the world on March 9, 1959. In a series of books released soon after her initial debut, Barbie’s parents were named as George and Margaret Roberts from Willows, Wisconsin, but in reality, Barbie was the brain child of one devoted mother who just happened to have sway with a major toy company, Mattel. In the mid 1950s, Ruth Handler watched her daughter play with paper dolls and was entertained to see her give dolls adult roles and personalities. As almost all dolls at the time were infants, Ruth was troubled that she wasn’t able to give her daughter adult styled dolls to play with. Ruth approached her husband, who happened to be a cofounder of Mattel, about her concern and ideas for creating an adult doll, but the idea was dismissed. It wasn’t until after finding a similar doll manufactured for adults in Germany based on a popular German comic book that she found the answer. Ruth used the doll as a basis for her own creation and soon, Barbie dolls were ready to meet the world. And the young woman was welcomed with open arms, despite some concerns over her proportions and distinctive anatomy. Barbie Games through the Years Barbie was introduced to the world with unrealistic proportions, a striped swimsuit and a sweetly demur expression on her face. In 2008, she is a more naturally shaped woman with multiple high-powered careers, an extensive wardrobe and her own fleet of homes and vehicles. Barbie has been through a lot in the last 49 years, and that extensive history has helped her remain a cultural legend popular with adult collectors and little girls alike. According to Mattel, who still manufactures Barbie games and products, three Barbie dolls are sold every second across the globe. Barbie is famous the world over and has looks and styles suitable for hundreds of cultures. Although some cultures and companies, particularly those in the Middle East, still feel Barbie doesn’t meet their religious guidelines, many others recognize Barbie as a rite of passage for many young girls. Online Barbie Today, Barbie isn’t just on the pink aisle at the toy store. She’s on wrapping paper, lunch boxes, and now she’s also online. Barbie games are popular with the same demographic who collect her latest outfits and dream of Barbie dream houses. In fact, many of the girls who enjoy playing online Barbie games have left traditional Barbies behind, but still greatly enjoy dressing online doll versions of Barbie in her unlimited outfits and accessories. While online versions of the popular doll will never replace the traditional Barbie doll, the games and activities found online are helping to drive new traffic and interest back to the world of tiny high heels and perpetual smiles.

Barbie dolls have become a tradition. Being a tradition turns you into a collector’s item. The specialty dolls are highly sought after and can become very valuable as the years pass. For example, the Holiday Barbie is normally hard to come by each year. A person has to make sure that they are in front of the line whenever the doll is put on the shelf; if not, they will not get one as they usually sell out. The Barbie doll was released at a toy show on March 9, 1959. This has become her birthday. She has since been nicknamed Barbie. The wife of one of the co-founders of the Mattel toy company thought of the idea. She then named the doll after her daughter Barbara. It was because of Barbara that Ruth got the idea. She watched her daughter play many times with her paper dolls that assumed the rolls of adults. During that time, dolls that were produced was only manufactured as infants. Random House published a biography of Barbie. The biography reveals many things about the Barbie doll. Her real name is Barbara Millicent Roberts. She was born on March 9, 1959 to George and Margaret Roberts. They all live in a fictional town known as Willows. The biography continues on to include Barbie’s boyfriend, high school, etc. By the way, her boyfriend is Ken Carson. Over the years, there has been many companions produced for Barbie and they include: friends, family, siblings, etc. Barbie has experienced many careers over the decades. The careers that she participates in usually reflect current times. For example, in 2010 expect to see an Astronaut Barbie and a Registered Nurse Barbie. Barbie dolls have caused many controversies over the decades. It has been criticized many times. It has been said that the Barbie doll represents unrealistic ideas for a woman’s body. Many little girls have idled Barbie; however, it is said that she causes poor self image because the girls cannot live up to the perfection that Barbie portrays. Mattel answered back by increasing the waist size of Barbie. More recently, the release of the “Totally Tattoos” Barbie caused controversy because of the “tramp stamp” tattoo. Barbie dolls have been in production for decades, and they will continue to be produced. We are now seeing the tradition pass into the third and fourth generations with great-grandma, grandma, mom, and child playing with the dolls. Mattel has seen the value and still produces collector dolls that can be found at their Barbie collectibles website.

Ruth Handler was the lady who designed and gave life to the original Barbie doll in her striped bathing suit, in March 1959. Barbie also known by the name Barbara Millicent Roberts, has been loved by millions over the years. She is a doll with an adolescent face, but adult characteristics. Barbie, who now celebrates her 50th birthday, appears to have been originally popularized by a Yale-educated man. Jack Ryan was a swinger from the 70’s, but he had a deep dark secret. He was driven by an insatiable sexual appetite. Ryan’s wives included such beauties as the delightful Zsa Zsa Gabor. A close friend and confidant of Ryan, Stephen Gnass, said to hear Ryan talk about Barbie, was to feel Ryan was talking about something sexual. Ryan is said to have paid high-class call girls and it was not unknown for Ryan to hold sex-orgies at his expensive Bel-air mansion. It was also reported that Ryan was a sufferer of the disease gonorrhea. Barbie was portrayed to embrace a ‘normal’ kind of opulent lifestyle, with her pink mansions and extravagant cars. In 2004 Barbie even separated from her long time boyfriend, Ken Carson, as many couples were doing in real life. However, in February 2006 the couple were reunited. About the only thing missing in Barbie’s life were children. Barbie represented the up and coming professional women, who decided against a family. Instead, Barbie has owned over forty pets, from a panda, lion cub, cats, dogs, horses, to a zebra. She was employed as a flight attendant, held a pilots’ license, become an astronaut and a doctor, to mention just a few of her many occupations. An Islamic Barbie, called Fulla, was created, alongside an African and Hispanic Barbie. By the late 1990’s, the term ‘Barbie’ however, came to symbolize any woman who is considered, by the majority, to be frivolous and empty headed. Perhaps this was an unconscious flow-on from the ‘blondes have all the fun’ syndrome of the 1980’s. The harshest and most realistic criticism thrown at Barbie, was her out-of-reach body shape. This presented the ever present and very real danger of promoting anorexia in the young girls. According to the University Central Hospital in Helsinki, Finland, any girl striving for a shape like Barbie, would be missing 17 – 22% body fat, which is needed for her to menstruate. The Barbie mould was eventually given a new design in 1997, when a few inches were added to her waist. In keeping with the signs of the time, in 1997 there also came a friend of Barbie, in a pink wheelchair. A 2005 survey revealed that in an effort to rid themselves of their ‘Barbie Days’, some girls would go through a ‘hate Barbie’ stage. Barbie would end up decapitated, or melted down in a microwave oven. Yet it is claimed that 90% of fanatical Barbie doll collectors, of well over 100,000 women, are over the age of 40. They buy more than 20 Barbie dolls each year, with over 45% of them spending an average of over $1000 a year. The original Barbie sold for $3 in 1959. In October 2004 the same Barbie, in a mint-condition box was sold for $3552 on eBay. The highest price ever to be paid for a Barbie was at Christies in London, for nine thousand pounds sterling. This was a Barbie dressed in Midnight Red from 1965, which had been part of a private collection of 4,000 Barbie dolls. She was sold by two Dutch women, Ietje Raebel and her daughter Marina. To celebrate her 50th birthday, the original striped bathing suit Barbie, from 1959, has been reproduced.

Barbie Games were a 49-year history full of ups and downs, but Barbie has managed to always remain in the foreground. Barbie Historya a long time favorite of young girls and old, Barbie has a life full of ups and downs. Social revolutions and political changes in Barbie can be seen all the games over the years and in many cases, the social history of the great nations of variations in a simple plastic doll can be mapped. Barbie Meets World Barbara Millicent Roberts was introduced at the Welt 9 March 1959. In a series of books published shortly after his debut in Barbie’s parents were George and Margaret Roberts of Willow, Wisconsin, but in reality, Barbie was the brain child, a devoted mother who has just mentioned moving from a swing with big toy company Mattel. [Read more →]