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Song o' the Day-"I've Found a New Baby"
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New Orleans JAZZ NHP's Song o' the Day:
"I’ve Found a New Baby"
Because her debut was on this day in 1959, at the American Toy Fair, every March 9th is designated “National Barbie Day”! Barbara Millicent Roberts (yes, that is her “real” name) was the invention of Ms. Ruth Handler. She and her husband founded Mattel Toy Company in 1945, and she “realized there was an important niche in the market for a toy that allowed little girls to imagine the future.” Thus began the “Barbie Doll” and all her iterations, varieties, relations, acquaintances, companions and offspring. There is even a “Park Ranger Barbie”.
Well, not to be outdone by a mere multi-billion-dollar corporation, did you know that the National Park Service has dolls of its own? Not just the adorable Jr. Ranger simulacra from America’s National Parks Gift Stores, but actual historical museum-space inhabiting, web-page worthy dolls. That’s right… and the NPS doll talks, too!
Just check out Thomas Edison National Historical Park. Way back in 1890, ever-inventive Mr. Edison had fabricated “the world's first recorded-audio product designed, manufactured, and sold for home entertainment.” And, although she was a “knockout”, “The talking doll business venture was a costly failure for Edison and his investors, who ceased sales after only about one month on the market.” Possibly because his doll’s statistics did not translate to Ms. Barb’s would-be-real-life measurements: “5’9” tall, have a 39” bust, an 18” waist, 33” hips and a size 3 shoe!” (“Get Real Barbie” Fact Sheet)
From: The Gypsy Drag
Composed by: Williams – Palmer, Universal MCA Music Publishing
Performed by: Richard “Piano” Scott with Bruce Brackman, Chuck Brackman, Jack Fine, Ingrid Lucia, Ronnie Magri, Chris Sharkey & Seva Venet
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Image Gallery
NPS photo: Edison NHP, Joan & Robin Rolfs collection
Photo: Mazurka Music cover art by Uhl Photography and Danielle Walters