Who specifically connects the birth of a famous toy, real missiles, and Zsa Zsa Gabor?

griffinj

Jack Ryan, who allegedly designed the very first Barbie, worked at the Pentagon as an engineer designing Sparrow and Hawk missiles. Jack was married to Miss Gabor from 1976 to 1977. Nov 08 03, 9:45 AM

gmackematix

Yay, griffin. Dolls to missiles. What a bizarre career path! I wonder if his name was the inspiration for Tom Clancy's action hero. Note that despite there having been wedding dress Barbie and a pregnant Barbie, Mattel has never announced a marriage between Barbie and Ken. Nov 08 03, 12:16 PM

mibmob

I thought that Barbie was the name of his daughter and it was his wife who had the idea. Nov 08 03, 12:16 PM

Brainyblonde

The Skinny on Barbie - Essential Facts About Her Checkered Past The original Barbie, based on a German doll named Lilli, was sold as a collector's item for adults only. When Mattel purchased patent rights to Lilli, the company instructed its designer to make her look less like a "German street walker." Before he designed the very first Barbie, Jack Ryan worked at the Pentagon as an engineer designing Sparrow and Hawk missiles. Mattel hired him for his "space-aged savvy" and knowledge of materials. Thankfully, Ryan also had a good handle on the female form -- he was briefly married to Zsa Zsa Gabor. http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/1997/11/26facts.html In 1945, Ruth and Elliot Handler and Harold "Matt" Matson launched a new company named Mattel out of a garage workshop in Southern California. Barbie named after the Handler's daughter Barbara was introduced in 1959 and Ken named after their son was introduced in 1961. http://www.mattel.com/about_us/history/default.asp?f=true Nov 08 03, 1:19 PM

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