50 is the New 17

What do these diverse celebrities have in common? Danny Bonaduce, Judd Nelson, Kyle MacLachlan, Lydia Lunch, Mackenzie Phillips, Marie Osmond, Perry Farrell, Rosanna Arquette, Sheena Easton, Val Kilmer, Apollonia, Vanity, Sade and Barbie®?That's right they are all somewhat plastic and have all been in rehab. Just kidding!!! Actually, that might be true, but what I'm getting at is they are all turning 50 this year!Yes, the Barbie Doll is 50 years old - and she doesn't look a day over 17! She's still long limbed, shapely and beautiful, and still only 11" tall. Barbie’s measurements are 5 inches (bust), 3¼ inches (waist), 5 3/16 inches (hips). Her weight is 7.25 ounces!Ruth and Elliot Handler of Mattel Toys launched the fabulous fashion doll named after their own daughter, Barbie - 50 years ago. Barbie's full name is Barbie Millicent Roberts. (Pictured below is a TV Guide advertisement telling you when a TV advertisement for Talking Barbie is going to air - an ad for an ad - how odd!)And strangely, Barbie's soon to be boyfriend Ken, was named after their son. Um, that's kinda gross. (Below is an issue of Dell Comic's BARBIE AND KEN, detailing their European tour, where Barbie almost discovered that Ken was her brother!!!)

By the late 1960s, her adoring public purchased $500 million worth of Barbie products.  And not just dolls - but other cool stuff like records... (Six teen-age tunes sung by Barbie and Ken! I wonder what that sounds like?)

and phones...(How cool is this pink Barbie phone? And not that yucky modern PMS 219  "Barbie pink", but real girl-ish 1960s pink!)
Oddly enough, Barbie has never been married , apparently she just likes to model wedding gowns and leaves Ken at the altar repeatedly. Barbie has managed to keep up with current trends in hairstyles, makeup and clothing, becoming a reflection of the history of fashion and style - for better or worse!The best-selling Barbie doll ever was the freakish white-trashy 1992 Totally Hair Barbie®, with hair from the top of her head to her toes.My sister had this very same Dream House and I was never allowed to play with it. I guess they'd though I'd turn out gay if I played with Barbie. Um, guess what? (Check out that stylish brick fireplace below!)Well, happy 50th birthday to the girl who has it all, has been it all from schoolteacher to astronaut (Barbie has had more than 108 careers and has been a presidential candidate four times as an Independent candidate!) and most all all, always a great Malibu tan.