This doll with curious and odd proportions was a major hit.  Mattel has since sold over a billion Barbie dolls worldwide, educating the world’s children on the importance of materialism.   But Barbie’s image changed over the years.

There aren’t many men in Barbie’s life, and there isn’t any real competition for her.  So, she met Ken so little girls can live out their innocent yet questionable fantasies vicariously.  Kens come in different head styles but generally he’s a clean shaven pretty boy with a calm smile and bright eyes.  He is blonde with dirty blonde hair and flesh colored undies to cover his nonobtrusive naughty parts.

Then, Barbie as just “Barbie” got quite boring but was an immensely popular with entire department store aisles devoted to hot pink colored boxes filled with every Barbie imaginable.  Soon Mattel realized that there was not much money to be made in cheap Barbie clothes and accessories – however – there was a massive demand to put 10 Barbie dolls in the possession of every girl.  In fact, that was probably their business slogan, “10 dolls for every girl”.

This gave rise to the “Niche Barbies”, Barbies that were designed to appeal with a specific interest to increase exposure and distinct recognition by every little girl in the world.  Through the 1980’s and 1990’s, Barbie became a doctor, astronaut, teacher, potty trainer, motor home driver, mermaid, and a rappin’ rockin’ superstar.

Barbie, while still popular today, has faced competition from a whole new generation of little girl dolls including Bratz.  Mattel sued Bratz due to their creator having developed the idea for them while he worked for Mattel and won a healthy sum.  Since then, Bratz is now replaced by the new “Moxie Girlz” which looks curiously look Bratz.

Radioactive products in the 1940s and 1950s were considered modern, powerful, wave-of-the-future type goods.  They were used in creams, pills, toys, clocks, water, fertility products, and suppositories.  Even more amusing was that there were all sorts of radiactive products at the time.  Here are some more popular radioactive products.

This must’ve been before they started putting the actual toys in boxes.  Maybe not, but there’s a special offer on this commercial to send off to get your free Rocket Toy, which actually looks like a cool cereal toy.  (You know, one that grabs more than 2 minutes of your child’s attention span.)

It’s too bad kids had to wait in the mail for them though, it’s all about instant gratification, baby.

Well, Diet Delight is the fruit cocktail with half the calories of regular fruit cocktail.  Sounds exciting.

Starkly different from today’s advertising, and inherently classic 1950’s style, smiling kids sing about the wonders of this tasty artificial drink.   It’s “Pure and Good” with the “Parents Magazine Seal”.

Back in the good ol’ days of commercial breaks, cartoons sold us cigarettes and booze.    In this oldie, senile Mr. Magoo drinks ice-cold refreshing Stag.  He seems a little confused, or a little too drunk, but at least he’s generous with it.  Pass a Stag to me, Mr. Magoo.