In 1955, the Handlers bought 52 weeks of advertising on the new "Mickey Mouse Club" television show, marking the first time toys had been advertised on a year-round basis. In conjunction with the company's sponsorship of the show, Mattel introduced a child-size"Mouseguitar," which became an instant sensation in the industry

As the story goes, Ruth Handler saw these kinda sexy German Lili dolls in Europe but wanted her doll to be a model of bubbly teenage innocence but with the same curvaceous look.

She named the doll after her daughter Barbara’s nickname Barbie. Ruth knew her girls and dolls. In 1959 its first year, 351,000 Barbie dolls were sold at $3 each. Had you saved that doll, in the box no less, it would be worth over $5,000 today.

The first Barbie sported a ponytail hairstyle, black and white zebra striped bathing suit, open toed shoes, sunglasses and gold coloured hoop earrings. She had two holes in her feet because her stand required them and stood 11 and a ½ inches tall. She is identified at #1 by collectors.

She had white irises, red lipstick and nails, and arched eyebrows. Blondes outnumber brunettes by two to one. Later that year #2 was released and as her stand didn’t require them, she had no foot holes. A provisional #2 exists with only one foot hole.