Along with his wife, Ruth, and business partner Harold Matson, Mr. Handler formed Mattel Creations in 1945. After purchasing their partner’s share of the business, the Handler’s grew their small company from a manufacturer of picture frames and dollhouse furniture to become the world’s largest toy company in the world.
Inducted together into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame in 1989, the Handler’s were recognized as the “first couple” of the industry. Extraordinary collaborators, Elliot created toys and supervised production while Ruth managed marketing and finance and dealt with customers. They were also innovative marketers, becoming the first toy company to advertise on television when Mattel debuted on Walt Disney’s "Mickey Mouse Show" in 1955.
A few years later, in 1959, Elliot Handler became known as the “Father of Barbie” when he and Ruth introduced a fashion doll named after their daughter. The Barbie doll is still one of the company’s top-selling dolls.
