One morning in 1960, amid the euphoria of Barbie’s first year, Mattel co-founders Ruth and Elliot Handler held a kind of debate. They brought in the toy marketing team. And the ad guys, Cy Schneider ...
A new exhibition reminds us that while the famous doll can now do any job, her greatest power is selling stuff — to children and adults alike. By Emily LaBarge The critic Emily LaBarge saw “Barbie: ...