About Mattel, Inc – Mattel started out as a garage workshop activity in Southern California in 1947 (Mattel Inc. 2007). Its founders were Ruth and Elliot Handle and Harold Matson, from whom the company was derived. Their first simple products were picture frames. Elliot thought of starting a doll house furniture business from their picture frame scraps. Harold Matson later sold his share of the business to the Handlers who decided to embark on toy production (Mattel).
             The Handlers' first product in the toys line was the Uke-a-Doodle in 1947 (Mattel 2007). In 1955, they began advertising their products through the Mickey Mouse Club. They introduced Barbie in 1959, naming it after their daughter Barbara who had a fascination with cut out paper dolls. Barbie became the foremost doll brand in the toy industry. In 1960, Mattel became a publicly owned company, listed in the New York and Pacific Coast Stock Exchanges in 1963 and 1965. At this time, its sales shot up to $100 million and Mattel joined the Fortune 500 list. From the 60s to the 70s, It added the Ken Doll; See N Say talking toy for the educational market; Hot Wheels die cast vehicles; the World of the young; and Christine, an African-American doll. In the same decade, the company was restructured and its founders left the company. In the 70s, the new company began offering electronic games markets and established the Mattel Children's Foundation. In the 80s, it produced He-Man, the Masters of the Universe. It acquired the Hong Kong-based ARCO industries, entered into a joint venture with Bandai of Japan, the country's largest toy company. In 1988, Mattel revived its association with Walt Disney Company and agreed to purchase Corolle SA of France. The following year, it acquired Corgi Toys Ltd. of Britain, Aviva Sports, Inc. and International Games, Inc. In 1989, Fisher Price introduced Tickle Me Elmo. It signed the Nickelodeon licensing agreement ...