Toy monster : the big, bad world of Mattel

Select an Action

Title:

Toy monster : the big, bad world of Mattel

Author:

Oppenheimer, Jerry.

ISBN:

9780470371268

Publication Information:

Hoboken, N.J. : Wiley, c2009.

Physical Description:

viii, 280 p. ; 24 cm.

Contents:

The Barbie war and the Handler-Ryan era -- Barbie's untold heritage -- A shocking cover-up -- From weapons of mass destruction to Barbie, and the knocking off of a German doll -- Putting the "Matt" in Mattel, and how the toymaker became a hotbed of aggressive hotheads -- Real-life Barbie dolls -- Horrific scandal, controversy, and the indictments -- A Civil War and a Hollywood romance -- A bloody tragic ending -- A drama princess and the Barad era -- "Miss Italian America" -- From "He-Man" to Home Depot -- A fearsome and firing diva and the great whistleblower debacle -- The Princess Diana Fiasco, praying for success, and Demi plays Barad -- Another whistleblower in the ranks, Toyland's worst acquisition, and the end of a reign -- Toy terror, the Bratz attack, and the Eckert era -- The processed cheese savior -- Barbie's aging, Eckert's making excuses, and the Bratz pack is booming -- Toy terror 2007 -- An outrageous apology -- "Like something out of The Exorcist" -- Keep it out of the news! -- Don't diss Barbie, and the toy trail of the century: Bratz vs. Barbie.

Corporate Subject:

Mattel, Inc.

Subject Term:

Toy industry -- United States.

Holds:

Available:*

Library	Call Number	Status
Searching... Park Grove Library (Cottage Grove)	338.768872 OPP	Searching... Unknown
Searching... R.H. Stafford Library (Woodbury)	338.768872 OPP	Searching... Unknown

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

An eye-popping, unauthorized expos? of the House of Barbie

From Boise to Beijing, Mattel's toys dominate the universe. Its no-fun-and-games marketing muscle reaches some 140 countries, and its iconic products have been a part of our culture for generations. Now, in this intriguing and entertaining expos?, New York Times bestselling author Jerry Oppenheimer places the world's largest toy company under a journalistic microscope, uncovering the dark side of toy land, and exploring Mattel's oddball corporate culture and eccentric, often bizarre, cast of characters.

Based on exclusive interviews and an exhaustive review of public and private records, Toy Monster exposes Mattel's take-no-prisoners, shark-infested corporate style. Throughout this scrupulously reported, unauthorized portrait, you'll discover how dangerous toys are actually nothing new to Mattel, and why its fearsomely litigious approach within the brutal toy business has helped their products dominate potential rivals such as Bratz.

Introduces you to the larger-than-life personalities that have shaped Mattel's eccentric world Offers an inside look- from an experienced author-at the scandals that have been a part of this iconic company Jerry Oppenheimer is also the author of Madoff with the Money , an in-depth look at Bernie Madoff the man and his billion dollar scam

Engaging and accessible, Toy Monster shows you why today's toy business isn't always fun and games.

Author Notes

JERRY OPPENHEIMER has written eight biographies of major American icons, from Martha Stewart and Barbara Walters to the Clintons and Kennedys, and has worked in all facets of journalism, from national investigative re-porting in Washington, D.C., to producing TV news and documentaries. He's quoted in magazines such as Vanity Fair , and is a frequent guest on national TV interview and syndicated magazine shows, including Good Morning America , Entertainment Tonight , Extra , Anderson Cooper 360° , Nancy Grace , BBC News, Fox News, and more.

Reviews (2)

Publisher's Weekly Review

Oppenheimer (Just Desserts) takes a tour of Mattel's seamier side, highlighting its dubious corporate practices and kooky cast in this scathing portrait to be published to coincide with Barbie's 50th anniversary. Drawing on personal interviews and public sources, Oppenheimer paints a bleak picture of the peculiar practices of the adults running the toy company-including the "playboy" Jack Ryan, known as the "Father of Barbie" and rumored to be sexually obsessed with his creation, and Mattel cofounder and white-collar criminal Ruth Handler, who took credit for Barbie's invention. The author chronicles the "Doll Wars"-the fierce competition and eventual litigation between Mattel and the creators of the rival Bratz line, as well as 2007's "Black Friday the 13th," when potentially deadly magnets and lead paint in the company's most popular toys led to two massive recalls. Executive scapegoats and backpedaling resulted in public lashing from the media and intense public mistrust. Fast-paced and engaging, this exposE will absorb readers until the last page and will forever change the way they think about the company. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Library Journal Review

Journalist and pop biographer Oppenheimer (e.g., Front Row; Anna Wintour) here covers the more sensational side of the toy industry with this unauthorized company history of Mattel. He begins by focusing on Jack Ryan, who was hired by Mattel for research and development and who claimed to be the "Father of Barbie." Much is made of Ryan's sexual peccadilloes, including requiring his wives and girlfriends to hew as closely to Barbie's physical characteristics as possible, going so far as encouraging them to have plastic surgery and take diet pills. The book continues through the history of Mattel, including the rise and fall of Jill Barad (CEO from 1996 to 2000) and her replacement by Robert Eckert, former Kraft CEO. It also outlines the changing marketplace, including the creation of the He-Man action figure, the uproar caused by the emergence of the competing Bratz dolls, and the recent liability suits brought by parents of children tragically injured or killed through lead paint and tiny magnets in Mattel products. Marking the dark side behind the decline of yet another iconic American company, this is a tabloid-style book covering tabloid topics. Purchase only where there is interest.-Susan Hurst, Miami Univ. of Ohio, Oxford (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Part 1 The Barbie War and the Handler-Ryan Era	p. 1
Chapter 1 Barbie's Untold Heritage	p. 3
Chapter 2 A Shocking Cover-Up	p. 13
Chapter 3 From Weapons of Mass Destruction to Barbie, and the Knocking Off of a German Doll	p. 19
Chapter 4 Putting the "Matt" in Mattel, and How the Toymaker Became a Hotbed of Aggressive Hotheads	p. 37
Chapter 5 Real-Life Barbie Dolls	p. 51
Chapter 6 Horrific Scandal, Controversy, and Indictments	p. 65
Chapter 7 A Civil War and a Hollywood Romance	p. 81
Chapter 8 A Bloody Tragic Ending	p. 89
Part 2 A Drama Princess and the Barad Era	p. 103
Chapter 9 "Miss Italian America"	p. 105
Chapter 10 From "He-Man" to Home Depot	p. 121
Chapter 11 A Fearsome and Firing Diva and the Great Whistleblower Debacle	p. 135
Chapter 12 The Princess Diana Fiasco, Praying for Success, and Demi Plays Barad	p. 147
Chapter 13 Another Whistleblower in the Ranks, Toyland's Worst Acquisition, and the End of a Reign	p. 161
Part 3 Toy Terror, the Bratz Attack, and the Eckert Era	p. 181
Chapter 14 The Processed Cheese Savior	p. 183
Chapter 15 Barbie's Aging, Eckert's Making Excuses, and the Bratz Pack Is Booming	p. 193
Chapter 16 Toy Terror 2007	p. 201
Chapter 17 An Outrageous Apology	p. 213
Chapter 18 "Like Something Out of the Exorcist"	p. 227
Chapter 19 Keep It Out of the News!	p. 235
Chapter 20 Don't Diss Barbie, and the Toy Trail of the Century: Bratz vs. Barbie	p. 247
Author's Note on Sources	p. 265
Selected Bibliography	p. 267
Acknowledgments	p. 269
Index	p. 273

Available:*

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

Summary

Author Notes

Reviews (2)

Publisher's Weekly Review

Library Journal Review

Table of Contents

Helpful Links

Research Links

Contact

Events and Rooms

Follow Us

Today's Hours