Q 01/05

Which department store hosted the first public demonstration of the Slinky in 1945?

A) Gimbels in Philadelphia

B) Macy's in New York

C) Marshall Field's in Chicago

D) Wanamaker's in Philadelphia

Answer · why

A) Gimbels in Philadelphia

Gimbels in Philadelphia let Richard James show the spring walking down a ramp, and customers snapped up all 400 Slinkys within 90 minutes.

Q 02/05

Who ran the Slinky company after Richard James left for Bolivia?

A) Partner

B) Son

C) Wife

D) Brother

Answer · why

C) Wife

Wife Betty James stayed with their six children, rebuilt the nearly bankrupt business and ran it until selling it in 1998.

Q 03/05

Who created the Barbie doll?

A) Pleasant Rowland

B) Beatrice Alexander

C) Ruth Handler

D) Ruth Kruger

Answer · why

C) Ruth Handler

Ruth Handler watched her daughter Barbara give paper dolls adult roles, and created a grown-up doll when store shelves were full of baby dolls.

Q 04/05

Barbie was based on which German doll that its creator bought on a trip to Europe?

A) Käthe Kruse

B) Schildkröt Inge

C) Armand Marseille

D) Bild Lilli

Answer · why

D) Bild Lilli

Bild Lilli was sold in German smoke shops as a gag gift for adult men, and Mattel later bought its rights and ended its production.

Q 05/05

In the 1960s Random House novels, what is Barbie's full name?

A) Barbara Millicent Roberts

B) Barbara Louise Miller

C) Barbara Ann Matson

D) Barbara Jean Willows

Answer · why

A) Barbara Millicent Roberts

Barbara Millicent Roberts split from Ken in a 2004 Mattel announcement after 43 years together, and the couple reunited on Valentine's Day 2011.