Barbie

Summary

Greta Gerwig’sBarbiemovie has Easter ball referencing Barbie ’s real root , but not all moviegoers might fuck the straight write up behind the famous fashion dame and her Maker , Ruth Handler . inspire by the iconic toy of the same name , Greta Gerwig ’s movieBarbietells the story ofMargot Robbie ’s Barbie and Ryan Gosling ’s Ken , who go on a journey of self - find after leaving Barbieland for the real world . The live - actionBarbiehas not only attracted sight of attention for its unique premise but also for its surprising loge office rivalry withOppenheimer , clear Barbie one of the most anticipated motion picture of summer 2023 .

Ruth Handler , the Almighty of the Barbie doll and founding father of Mattel , not only was integral to Barbie ’s true story but also the journeying of Margot Robbie ’s character inBarbie .

AlthoughBarbieplays with the existence and characters created by Mattel in a fantastical means , the movie also pays court to the titular doll ’s real - life creator . Ruth Handler , the creator of the Barbie dolly and beginner of Mattel , not only was integral to Barbie ’s true story but also the journeying of Margot Robbie ’s character inBarbie . However , while Barbie makes several references and jokes about Ruth Handler ’s actual background with Mattel and Barbie , their substance might not immediately be clear . Here is the truthful backstory of Ruth Handler ’s innovation of Barbie , let in the chick ’s origins and what happened to Ruth in her lifetime after Barbie .

Barbie Movie Poster

Ruth Handler Founded Mattel In 1945

Not only was Ruth Handler behind the creation of Barbie , but she was also integral to the grounding of the titan toy company , Mattel . Ruth ’s husband and commercial enterprise pardner , Elliot , had been pursuing article of furniture devising , which Ruth construe as a potential byplay opportunity . The two then partnered with Harold “ Matt ” Matson , pass to the creation of Mattel in 1945 . Mattel ’s name fare from the combination of Matson ’s cognomen and Elliot Handler ’s first name , leaving Ruth ’s name unrepresented despite her importance to the fellowship ’s genesis because the founder “ could n’t fit it in . ” In contrast to what Mattel would later become famous for , the company was initially a article of furniture manufacturer .

During World War II , piece of furniture sales dip drastically , leading Mattel to swivel from make article of furniture to making toys . After go out such major succeeder from their toy sales , Mattel flip their focus entirely to toy , which has keep into the present day . Prior to the creation of the Barbie dolly , Mattel had several other hit toy on the market , including a uke called the “ Uke - A - Doodle , ” the Magic 8 Ball , and Fisher - Price ’s Corn Popper .

When Ruth Handler Invented Barbie & Real-Life Inspiration

Though the Barbie dame has been criticize over the years for being unrealistic , Ruth Handler ’s stirring for the skirt came from her own life . There are two significant moments that prompt Ruth to create Barbie . While on holiday in Europe with her husband and children , Ruth discover a mode doll called the Bild Lilli , which stood out to her in demarcation to the baby skirt girlfriend had to play with in the U.S. On a freestanding holiday , Ruth look out her daughter play with newspaper bird and wonder why her daughter did n’t have a 3D doll to dress up when her boy had so many toy options to choose from .

As a consequence of these major experiences in her living , Ruth decided to create a realistic , 3D fashion doll for Mattel . Ruth ’s aim with the Barbie skirt was to create a plaything for young lady that allowed them to guess what and who they wanted to be , just like boy could with their toy . Mattel ’s Barbie wench premiered at the American Toy Fair in New York on March 9 , 1959 . Barbie was an instant succeeder , paving the way for Barbie to become the cultural icon that she is today .

Ruth Handler Named Barbie After Her Daughter

The name of the Barbie doll also give homage to Ruth ’s real - life inspiration for the introduction of the dolly . Ruth named Mattel ’s new skirt after her own daughter , Barbara Handler , whose lack of formidable toys led to Barbie ’s creation . Likewise , when Mattel decided to add a boyfriend doll for Barbie to the company ’s roll , the toy titan again aim divine guidance from the Handlers ’ family extremity . Barbie ’s boyfriend Ken is name after Ruth and Elliot ’s son , Kenneth . Naming Mattel ’s two main skirt after the Handlers ’ tiddler is a wholesome admonisher of the doll ’ origins : to give Barbara a toy dog that supply as many options for playing as Kenneth had .

Did Ruth Handler & Mattel Have Problems With The IRS?

Barbie ’s IRS jokes about Mattel are base in reality . During the seventies , Mattel find argument when story came out that the toy company had falsify invoices , circular , and signature for paint a more affirmative motion-picture show of Mattel ’s finances .

InGreta Gerwig’sBarbiemovie , Ruth Handler crack a antic alluding to Mattel having issues with the IRS , but did Ruth Handler and Mattel actually have problem with the IRS in real living ? Unfortunately for Ruth Handler ’s bequest , Barbie ’s IRS jokes about Mattel are based in reality . During the seventies , Mattel encountered arguing when report came out that the toy party had fudge invoices , bills , and touch so as to paint a more affirmative photograph of Mattel ’s finances . In reality , Mattel had actually been report millions in losses . This scandal lead the Handlers to resign from their use in the ship’s company , but the damage had already been done .

Ruth Handler was indict by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ( SEC ) in 1978 for pseudo and false coverage , which she plead no contest to ( despite maintaining her innocence to the public ) . As a solution , Ruth Handler receive a $ 57,000 fine and 2,500 hours of community of interests military service in response to the complaint . The ousting of the Handlers in the backwash of Mattel ’s pseudo controversy in the 1970s stay on a mar on Ruth Handler ’s legacy , occasionally dominate her vital contributions to Mattel as Barbie ’s creator .

The inventor of Barbie, Ruth Handler, with Margot Robbie’s Barbie from the movie.

What Happened To The Real Ruth Handler After Creating Barbie

After creating the Barbie doll in 1959 , Ruth Handler continued to act a major role in Mattel ’s operations until she and Elliot resign from the company in 1974 as a result of Mattel ’s imposter contestation . Ruth encountered tough times in 1970 when she was diagnose with breast Crab , which require her to undergo a mastectomy . Dismayed at the trouble of finding knocker prostheses that were realistic , Ruth settle to create her own . With the assist of concern partner Peyton Massey , Ruth ground new caller Ruthton Corp. , which create the “ near Me ” tit prosthesis , an invention that became quite popular .

After the Handlers left their posture at Mattel in 1974 , Ruth and Elliot Handler led a life that was mostly out of the public oculus . Towards the end of her animation , Ruth was stricken with colon Cancer the Crab , which ultimately led to her death . As a outcome of complication with surgery to shell out with her El Salvadoran colon Crab , Ruth Handler give way on April 27 , 2002 , at the years of 85 . Though her reputation has been complicated by her involvement in Mattel ’s fraud scandal , Ruth Handler is still best remember and celebrated for her innovation in creating Barbie .

Who Plays Ruth Handler In The Barbie Movie

Barbienot only uses Ruth Handler ’s creations for the moving picture but include an important homage to Ruth Handler . Rhea Perlman offers a thoughtful portrayal of the Barbie doll artificer , adding a touching modern sentiment about what Barbie has meant to generation of charwoman and how these sentiment have evolve over time . Perlman , who has been married to actor Danny DeVito since 1982 , has appear in dozens of moving picture and goggle box series , includingMatilda(1996 ) andCheers(1982 - 1993 ) .

Rhea Perlman plays a spiritual role in Greta Gerwig’sBarbieas Ruth , serve as an overwatching god for Barbieland . She provides Barbie aid and counsel at the remainder of the motion-picture show , specially when Barbie get by with the prospect of becoming human . TowardBarbie ’s ending , Ruth reveal her identity to Barbie , and she says Barbie ’s story has no ending , motivating Barbie to embrace the human world . The real - aliveness contributions of Ruth Handler make her the perfect person to help Barbie , tyingBarbieand the real humanity together again .

Ruth Handler, the inventor of Barbie, as a younger woman.

Margot Robbie as Barbie in her car in the Barbie movie.

Margot Robbie in the Barbie movie with her cowgirl hat.

Ruth Handler with a Barbie doll in her later life.

Rhea Pearlman, the actor playing Ruth Handler in the Barbie movie.

Movies

Barbie