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1. The breasts of Barbie, those peaks of yankee merchandising, get their owing in tonights report around the captivating small overlook -- now 40 a long time previous, While you wouldnt comprehend it -- who revolutionized global dolldom. Delving into The key Life of Barbie, Robert Krulwich goes to Barbies creator and developer, Ruth Handler, for an account of how she conquer down the resistance of prudish male executives at Mattel, the big toy enterprise that she and her partner Established, and made all of them prosperous. Our engaging correspondent talks to Center- aged women who cherish memories of their Barbie collections also to deconstructionists of her design, noting together the best way how Mattel has played hardball with rivals bent on imitating the inimitable. It all started on a trip to Europe when Ms. Handler came upon a intercourse toy, often called Bild Lilli; Mr. Krulwich phone calls her a slutty doll from Germany, but Ms. Handlers eyesight of pulchritude for kids and many significant television advertising and marketing carried the day. Though turning out to be the most well-liked and lucrative toy of all time, Barbie gave two generations of lecturers something to get their teeth into; tonight you'll be able to meet up with a girl who is recognized as a Barbie scholar. Exegetes concur that Barbie is about intercourse. Quickly she was joined by Ken, described in this article like a palpable fool Together with the hint of the bump the place his genitalia ought to be. Camille Paglia, often fantastic to get a Visit the website quotable observation, sees Barbie as foremost the motion towards feminine liberation: knowledgeable woman with glamour. (But why does my 3-year-previous granddaughter, Rebecca, insist on taking away her hair?) Whatever the fundamental appeal, the marketeers saved tempo with trend. In the course of Camelot, Barbie had a Jackie Kennedy hairdo. Since the civil rights motion acquired assistance, Barbie gained her initial black Pal, sadly named Colored Francie. Despite these indications of social consciousness, revenue dipped as the sixties was the nineteen seventies, when Barbie seemed from step with liberation movements and Mattel got into lawful issues with The federal government. But she found favor yet again for a Reagan-period go-getter, the queen of conspicuous consumption, someone crowns her. Outfitted with all fashion of outfits, she was also The brand new Lady who could be any person and do nearly anything. With revenue approaching $two billion a 12 months, Barbie became, in Mr. Krulwichs slightly combined image, the Coca-Cola of toys. Critics like Dr. Ruth Westheimer even now dont like those breasts, which, they alert, may perhaps stir women anxieties about their own individual imperfectly proportioned bodies, but no person is picketing; one hundred million Barbies are very likely to be marketed around the globe this 12 months. The fascinating promise of 1998 is often a refigured Barbie: will she be fatter or flatter? A glimpse tonight reveals no spectacular variation, except, be certain, to students of her sort. This system finishes that has a scene of kids making up stories showcasing their Barbies and Kens: an admirer notes contentedly the youngsters are in control of this tiny piece of world commerce. Other adults, who have been traveling to toy outlets and viewing television commercials, might appear away with a distinct tackle that's managing these young controllers. ABC NEWS THURSDAY Night time The Secret Life of Barbie ABC, tonight at 10 (Channel 7 in New York)

2. Robert Krulwich, correspondent; Janice Tomlin, govt producer of ABC News Thursday Night; Rudy Bednar, senior broadcast producer; Jon Meyersohn, senior producer; Betsy West, executive-in-demand; Lisa Jackson, producer of The trick Lifetime of Barbie. WITH: Mr. Krulwich, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Paula Poundstone, Camille Paglia and Ruth Handler.