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Muslim “Barbie” Dolls Coming To A Store Near You… Maybe

If you have ever left a toy store frustrated because you were not able to find a modestly dressed doll I have good news for you. An Indonesian mother who couldn’t find a Barbie-like doll dressed in conservative fashions finally took matters into her own hands. Sukmawati Suryaman spent months designing the Salma Muslim doll for parents out there looking to inspire the virtue of modesty among young girls. The 28-year-old mother-of-one’s new creation exploded on the toy scene and now the Salma doll is the latest must-have toy for girls in Indonesia. The name Salma is derived from the … Continue reading →

Barbie is a Movie Star?

We all know Barbie, the better-than-real-life woman made of plastic who can do anything, be anything, and have her makeup perfectly applied the entire time. An inspiration to girls since her invention and possibly the best-selling girls’ toy of all time, Barbie is an American icon that has surpassed the border and gone worldwide. She’s a toy, a game, a coloring book, a clothes label, and now, a movie star. Yes, that’s right – through the miracle of modern technology, Barbie is now a movie star. Computer animators have taken her likeness and transformed her into a walking, talking woman, … Continue reading →

The Evolution Of Barbie

Is anyone in your family requesting a Barbie for Christmas? If so, he or she isn’t alone. In a recent survey of parents done by the National Retail Federation Barbie ranked as the top toy for girls this holiday season (TMX Elmo was first for boys). The news came as a surprise to some analysts who have been watching sales of the doll slump in recent years, as they did at the beginning of the women’s movement in early 1970s – when toy consultants say “girls weren’t supposed to just go to the prom and marry Ken.” I grew up … Continue reading →

A Fun House for Little Girls… and Big Ones

If you have a Barbie fan in your home, then you might consider booking a flight to California before the end of the month. That’s when the curtains will be drawn on a real-life Barbie Malibu Dream House. But until then, you can try to snag a tour of an actual Malibu mansion that has been transformed into the popular doll’s dream home. Toy maker Mattel recently hired interior decorator Jonathan Adler to replicate Barbie’s pimped out pad in a real-life 3,500-square-foot beach house overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The home is being decorated to honor the doll on her 50th … Continue reading →

How TV and Movies Have Infiltrated the World of Toys

There are two items on my 3-year-old’s Christmas list that she would be crushed if Santa did not bring her—-a minivan for her dollhouse and Squawkers McCaw the talking parrot. Interestingly, they are among the only toys in all of Toyland that are not tied to a movie or TV show. (Though, for the amount of times we’ve seen that Squawkers commercial, he might as well have had his own TV show.) If you have children or are shopping for kids this Christmas, you understand what I’m talking about. From action figures to bicycles to books, stuffed animals, Play-Doh and … Continue reading →

How Much Would You Pay For Obi-Wan Kenobi’s Cloak?

I love auctions, especially the ones that include movie and TV memorabilia. I could never afford to bid on any of the pieces, but I never tire of hearing what others are willing to shell out for a piece of Hollywood history. Recently, the company, Angels The Costumiers, hosted an auction in an effort to cut insurance costs. It put more than 400 movie, TV and theater costumes from its 1.5 million-piece collection on the block and opened the bidding. To say that the auction was a success would be an understatement. According to the company’s president, there was no … Continue reading →

Could It Be The Next Hula Hoop?

Recently, my co-blogger, Libby posted an article about the hula-hoop’s role in the world of popular culture. Kids’ playthings have certainly made their mark on pop culture and each year toy makers take a stab at creating new products that may impact society the way items like hula-hoops have. Potential candidates were unveiled this week at the American International Toy Fair in New York. The annual event is the largest of its kind in the Western Hemisphere and this year more than 1,500 toy manufacturers, importers and sales agents came in from 30 countries to show off their new goods. … Continue reading →

Steve McQueen Auction: Cool for Sale

Steve McQueen was and always will be the King of Cool. Even 26 years after his death (due to mesothelioma), he is still a pop culture icon. Almost as well known for his love of racing as his acting, Sheryl Crow paid homage to him in her song titled “Steve McQueen” – “Like Steve McQueen, All I need’s a fast machine.” Unfortunately, it was this love of racing that might have contributed to his premature death as he wore asbestos-insulated suits in the racecars. This past Saturday, November 11th, the famous Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles was the site … Continue reading →