HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BARBIE; DOLL'S POPULARITY STILL HIGH AS EVER

After four decades, Barbie still looks as good as ever, but then it's tough to top a doll with an almost limitless wardrobe.

Since the doll debuted in 1959, more than 1 billion Barbies have been sold in 140 countries. Placed head to toe, that's enough to circle the globe seven times.

The stylish and ever popular Barbie turned 40 Tuesday.

Jackson resident Barbie Stroder figures she couldn't have a better role model.

"I still use the name Barbie," said the 29-year-old Stroder.

As a child, she played with Barbies. Today, she collects them.

She and her mother, Bonnie Macke, who lives in Gordonville, own several hundred Barbies.

"The oldest ones that we have that are still in the box are from the mid-1980s," Stroder said.

She collects the dolls for their fashions and for nostalgia.

Barbies come in a wide price range.

The regular Barbies typically sell for less than $30. Designer Barbies can cost anywhere from $50 to $1,000, local merchants say.

Vintage Barbies are in a whole other league of their own. An original 1959 Barbie in mint condition can command a price of $5,000.

"Barbie just has that timeless look and everybody just loves her,' said Marybeth Williams, who manages The Fantasticks store in Cape Girardeau.

The store sells designer Barbies, such as those created by top fashion designers such as Bob Mackie.

Stroder loves the Barbies outfitted in their Mackie designer dresses.

Mattel Inc., which manufactures Barbie, has created a whole series of collectible Barbies that are based on movie themes such as "Gone With the Wind," "My Fair Lady" and the "Wizard of Oz."

Barbie also comes dressed in the native attire of different countries.

Williams said her store regularly sells collectible Barbies in the $50 to $200 range.

"We have one here that is $800," said Williams. That one is "Pink Splendor" Barbie, a special edition doll attired in a big, pink ball gown. Only 10,000 of that doll were made.

Williams said doll collectors she deals with think the dolls are beautiful.

Many of the collectors are women. "They grew up playing with Barbies," said Williams.

Barbie's popularity is shaped in part by all the new outfits and accessories that Mattel keeps turning out.

"As soon as a little girl says, `I am going to play Barbie,' you know what she is going to do -- change their clothes and comb their hair," said Williams.

But clothes and tons of shoes aren't the only things in Barbie's world. Her accessories include a plane, a yacht and 46 houses.

She also has her share of pets: 17 dogs, 12 horses, five cats and three ponies.

Over the years, Barbie has had many careers, from astronaut to surgeon. She was an airline pilot in 1990 and a presidential candidate in 1992.

The world's most popular fashion doll has had 75 careers.

Stroder said Barbie's popularity is at least partly due to her varied career roles.

Playing Barbie, children can play any number of career roles. "They can act things out that they want to be," said Stroder.

Like other Barbie collectors, Stroder relies on a monthly Barbie magazine to keep up with the latest news about the popular doll.

There also is a wealth of Barbie information on the Internet, Stroder said.

Barbie dolls are big sellers at the Toys R Us store in Cape Girardeau.

"It is a good constant seller all year-round," said Marc Edwards, one of the store's managers. "Of course, it is great for birthdays."

Edwards said Mattel's Barbie dolls include ones they make exclusively for a particular chain of stores.

Toys R Us sells a "Harley Davidson Barbie." Said Edwards, "She doesn't come with a motorcycle, but she is dressed in leather."

To celebrate Barbie's 40th birthday, live Barbies are scheduled to visit the nation's 700 Toys R Us stores on March 27 and the local store from from noon to 2.

Edwards said Mattel knows how to sell its Barbies. "They definitely know how to market it well," he said.

Basic Barbie

The Barbie doll debuted in 1959 and since that time more than 1 billion Barbies have been sold in 140 countries.

Barbie's full name is Barbie Millicent Roberts.

Her birthstone is aquamarine.

Her hometown is Willows, Wisc.

Barbie and Ken were named after the children of Mattel founders Ruth and Elliot Handler.

Barbie's boyfriend Ken first came on the scene in 1961.

Barbie's family members are Skipper from 1964, twins Tutti and Todd from 1966, Stacie from 1992 and Kelly from 1995.

Barbie's first friend was Midge, introduced in 1963.

An original 1959 Barbie in mint condition has sold for up to $5,000. Her original price was $3.

One of the first major changes in Barbie's body came in 1965 when she was given bendable legs.

Francie, Barbie's mod cousin, was the first black doll in the Barbie family. She appeared in 1967. A more widely known black Barbie doll was introduced in 1980.

The all-time-best-selling Barbie doll was Totally Hair Barbie, released in 1992. She had ankle-length blonde or brunette hair that girls loved to brush.

More than 105 million yards of fabric has gone into Barbie fashions, making Mattel one of the largest apparel manufacturers in the world.

Barbie's signature color is "Barbie Pink."

Barbie has had more than a billion pairs of shoes.

Barbie has had more than 500 professional makeovers.

If placed head to toe, Barbie and her family members sold since 1959 would circle the world more than seven times.

There are currently 120 new ensembles designed for Barbie each year.

Barbie has had more than 75 jobs. Her first was a teen-aged fashion model.

Barbie's official web site is www.barbie.com