Barbie's Ken turns 50!

On March 11, 1961, America's most fashionable teenager finally met her match. Introduced two years after Barbie, Mattel's Ken Carson was just a good-looking boy in red swim trunks with a crewcut. Here's a history of Barbie's longtime boyfriend


Original Ken (1961) 
First introduced at the American International Toy Fair on March 11, 1961, Ken Carson made his debut in a red bathing suit and sandals. The original doll was sold for just $3.50 and marketed as Barbie's boyfriend.


Ken & Barbie 
Barbie and Ken's iconic relationship ended in 2004, which Mattel announced the pair had split. The news rocked tabloids and news sites alike, and as Barbie became an independent, single woman, Ken fell behind until late 2010, when he opened his own Twitter account and hatched a public plan to win Barbie back — which he did in early 2011, just in time for Valentine's Day.

Sweet Talkin Ken (2011)
After Ken and Barbie's split in early 2004, Ken finally emerged from a few years of silence with a new digital presence and campaign to win Barbie back. With his new Web savvy attitude, fans were able to learn more about Ken Carson (He's a Dodger's fan and loves his new iPad) and were even allowed to give him tips on how to win Barbie's heart.

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,2058555,00.html#ixzz1GU8CiYr8