Mattel

Mattel History
Year

Event

Event Detail

1945

Mattel is born.

Ruth and Elliot Handler and Harold
"Matt" Matson launch a new company
named Mattel, out of a garage
workshop in Southern California. The
first Mattel products are picture
frames, but Elliot soon develops a
side business in dollhouse furniture
made from picture frame scraps.
Harold Matson soon sells out to hispartner, and, encouraged by the
success of the doll furniture, the
Handlers turn the company’s
emphasis to toys.

1947

The Uke-A-Doodle is the first in a line
of musical toys.

1948

Mattel is incorporated with
headquarters in Hawthorne,
California.

1955

Mattel meets the “Mickey Mouse
Club.”

Mattel begins advertising its toys
through the popular “Mickey Mouse
Club”television show, revolutionizing
the way toys are marketed. It would
also introduce another highly
successful product, the Burp Gun, an
automatic cap gun based on a
patented mechanism.

1959

Barbie® doll makes her debut.

Inspired by her daughter’s fascination
with cutout paper dolls, Ruth Handler
suggests making a three-dimensional
doll through which little girls could
play out theirdreams. She names the
doll “Barbie,” after her own daughter
Barbara’s nickname. Barbie soon

Page 1 of 11
Mattel History

The information in this timeline represents selected highlights from Mattel's history and does not purport
to be complete or comprehensive. For further information about Mattel's history, we encourage you to
review the Investor & Media section of the site or historical SECFilings.
© 2001 Mattel, Inc. All rights reserved.

Year

Event

Event Detail
leads Mattel to the forefront of the toy
industry and fascinates generations of
young girls.

1960

Mattel becomes a publicly owned
company.

After becoming publicly owned in
1960, Mattel will have its common
stock listed on the New York and
Pacific Coast Stock Exchanges in
1963. By 1965, sales top$100 million
and the company joins the Fortune
500.

1961

Ken® doll joins Barbie® doll.

Mattel introduces the Ken doll,
Barbie’s one and only boyfriend.
Named for the Handlers’ son, Ken
has brown hair and his own
fashionable wardrobe. Barbie and
Ken are joined by friends Midge® doll
(1963) and Skipper® (1965).

1965

Mattel enters the educational
preschool market with See ‘NSay®
talking toy.

1968

Mattel rolls out the Hot Wheels® diecast vehicles.

The number one name in die-cast
vehicles roars into the toy world.
Distinguished by their customized and
modified designs, the first Hot
Wheels cars are outrageous hot-rods
with candy-colored paint jobs. More
than 41 million kids grow up with the
brand over the years, with many
enthusiasts continuing to beloyal
collectors as adults. The largest
private Hot Wheels® collection to
date is valued at more than $1
million.

1968

Mattel embarks on its “World of the
Young” acquisition strategy.

Mattel purchases the first of several
companies as part of its "World of the
Young" acquisition strategy.
Monogram Models is first, and over
the next decade follow Metaframe, a
pet products company;Turco, a
manufacturer of playground
equipment; Ringling Brothers and

Page 2 of 11
Mattel History

The information in this timeline represents selected highlights from Mattel's history and does not purport
to be complete or comprehensive. For further information about Mattel's history, we encourage you to
review the Investor & Media section of the site or historical SEC Filings.
© 2001Mattel, Inc. All rights reserved.

Year

Event

Event Detail
Barnum & Bailey Circus; Circus
World, a theme park; Western
Publishing Company; and
Radnitz/Mattel Productions, a motion
picture production company.
Christie® is the first of many ethnic
friends of Barbie, which will include
Theresa® (1988) and Kira® (1990),
Barbie Latina and Asian friends.

1968

Mattel introduces...