In one of my recent points I offered a handful of tips on how to protect your Barbies. Since it’s tough to limit this advice to a limited number of tips, I’ve expanded on that post to include a few more. Here they are:

Avoid Fluorescent Light

While natural light is bad for your Barbie collection, fluorescent light can be even worse. It can be damaging to dolls, especially to some vinyl dolls which can turn greenish over time if exposed to close fluorescent lights. Thankfully most homes use incandescent light which is much more agreeable to your doll collection. However, be careful when storing dolls in a storage unit or perhaps the downstairs basement!

Keep Your Dolls in Packaging When Possible

Whether you keep your dolls in their original packaging or take them out to enjoy, it’s important to protect them as much as possible. Of particular note is to protect them from the accumulation of dust. In addition, removing the dolls from packaging can also expose them to other hazards like pets, bugs and other things. Although it’s a personal choice, it may be wise to lean toward keeping your important dolls in their packaging whenever possible.

Keep Your Dolls In Closed Cabinets

Although this may not be as important when you’re keeping your dolls in their packaging, it’s still a good idea to store your dolls in enclosed cabinets. This will not only give you the opportunity to display them in an attractive manner, but also add an additional layer of protection to avoid any mishaps.

Avoid Acidic Chemicals

Unfortunately, there are a wide range of acidic chemicals that can damage dolls, their costumes and the packaging in which they come. Therefore if you want to preserve your collection’s value, you need to be aware that acids in the wood of storage cabinets, in some cardboards (doll boxes) and even in wrapping pager may damage your prized possessions. So whenever possible use acid-free tissue to wrap dolls placed in boxes, and avoid dolls and costumes having direct contact to varnished woods.

Keep Packaging Loose

In the attempt to protect dolls, many people believe that wrapping their treasures in air-tight plastic bags or boxes would be a good idea, but this should be avoided at all costs. If there is any moisture in the bag or box, mold can form on the dolls. If you must store in plastic, make sure that there is ventilation so that air circulates into the bag or box.

As every doll collector may know, there are many tricks to the trade and these are just a few that may be able to help you keep your collection in good condition and looking good for years to come.

No matter if one collects Barbie dolls for personal pleasure, to remember times gone by or simply for a child in their family, everyone will want to protect their precious finds. Whatever your motivation, it’s also important to recognize that assembling a Barbie collection is an investment and you should take steps to protect that investment. Commonly associated with antiques, modern dolls like Barbie need preservation too! As a result I’ve assembled ten recommendations to keep your dolls protected and looking good for years to come; here are the first five:

Avoid Sunlight

We all enjoy sunlight, however nothing fades doll costumes as quickly as natural sunlight. Everyone has probably passed by a store window and seen an outfit faded by contact with direct sunlight and the same thing can happen to not only Barbie’s clothing, but also the dolls themselves. Therefore, try to avoid storing dolls in rooms with bright natural sunlight, and if you must store dolls in a bright room, at least keep direct sunlight off the dolls.

Do Not Smoke Near the Dolls

Smokers and non-smoking collectors will agree that they can almost always tell whether a doll has been stored in a home with a smoker. Not only does smoke damage the outfit, but the entire doll smells which can diminish its value. In short, you’ve worked too hard to assemble a collection to be damaged by smoke. Moreover, if the collection is destined for a daughter or granddaughter, you wouldn’t want to give them a collection that smells like an ashtray would you?

Keep Pets Away

This may sound like a basic rule of thumb, but while many collectors may have a special place or room to store their collection, few consider how their pets may gain access to their prized Barbies. I hate to say it, but I fell victim to leaving a vintage 60s Barbie in an accessible place only to have my dog ruin it. So consider where and how a doll is stored to avoid interaction with pets.

Bugs and Dolls Don’t Mix

Another tip may also be among the obvious, but keep bugs away from your doll collection. Attracted primarily to fabric, wool and similar materials, moths can do a number on your precious Barbie doll outfits. In addition, if you collection other dolls made of other materials like cloth and wood you should be especially vigilant, because just a few really do a great deal of damage.

Avoid Extreme Hot and Cold

Although many may not think about what extreme changes of temperature might do to their collection, you should be aware that it can damage dolls. Heat degrades plastics and can damage composition; very cold temperatures can craze or crack papier mache. So storing your collection in an unheated or air conditioned closet or building is not a wise idea. Your dolls should be kept at temperatures that you are comfortable in, in a temperature controlled part of your home and not an attic or garage.

In closing, assembling a solid Barbie doll collection requires a substantial amount of work, but by employing these tips you can ensure that your collection will stay in good shape for a long time. I’ll cover five additional tips in another upcoming post.

Recently I discovered that Ryan O’Neal was asked to participate in Dancing with the Stars, however he declined due to an injured knee. However after reading a bit further, I found that Farrah Fawcett’s ex-boyfriend may have used his knee as an excuse for a bigger reason.

The Real Reason: Nancy Grace

Citing his distaste for legal commentator Nancy Grace, O’Neal apparently used an injury to postpone an appearance on the ABC Primetime program to avoid having to be around her. According to sources surrounding the TV gossip show TMZ, O’Neal feels that Grace has been unfair when reporting on his son Redmond’s battle with substance abuse. Moreover, Grace has suggested that O’Neal is an unfit parent whose behavior has most likely contributed to the younger O’Neal’s drug habit.

Ryan O’Neal to Compete Next Season

In an interview with Access Hollywood, O’Neal claims that after having his knee surgically repaired. “I have one good knee. I had it redone. So I decided if I was really gonna do the show I should have my knee redone because the first one really works,” said O’Neal. He went on to predict victory “”I will win. I will win. If the gods are with us, I will win. I’m a pretty good dancer.” So it should be interesting for those that watch the show.

Frankly, I would think that by now Ryan O’Neal would understand how Hollywood works. Either he has been oblivious over the last 30+ years or he just has too  much time on his hands. Or, he’s a bad dancer looking for an excuse …

I recently encountered a short video that featured Farrah Fawcett  she worked to have all of her fantastic memorabilia cataloged. Walking through a storage room, Farrah discusses a wide range of events and items that became important parts of her live. While speaking with Nate Sanders, she shows him one of the disputed Warhol paintings and states that she has two. This would suggest that the painting that Ryan O’Neal claims he owns may have been taken from Farrah’s affects after her death. Regardless, enjoy the video:

In a recent  Piers Morgan interview, Ryan O’Neal tearfully suggested that all of the stress and upheaval surrounding his family may have contributed to Farrah’s ultimately terminal condition. In fact, O’Neal calls out his daughter Tatum in particular as one family member that created an exceptional amount of turmoil.

Why is O’Neal discussing this more than two years after Farrah’s death? I think that it’s a sad attempt to generate rating for his own version of a reality show “The O’Neals.” I could never figure out the nature of the relationship between Ryan O’Neal and Farrah Fawcett, so if you know please tell me about it in the comments.  Frankly the more I see this guy in the media, the more disgusted I feel. It seems like Farrah is his only remaining claim to fame and he’s doing his best to milk it for all it’s worth.

Take a look at the video of O’Neal’s interview and tell me what you think:

Farrah Fawcett’s celebrity was raging in the late 70’s when she had the opportunity to meet and hang out with the who’s who of American pop culture. I was pleasantly surprised when I recently found a great article that puts Farrah in the middle of the pop culture world. Granted the article focuses on Jennifer Rubell’s journey to becoming an artist, but it offers several enticing glimpses into the type of life and celebrity Farrah led at the height of her fame. The article is really entertaining: It’s OK to Eat the Art but here are just a few snippets to whet your appetite:

• Farrah Fawcett
• Ryan O’Neal
• Liza Minelli
• Steve Rubell (Owner of Studio 54)
• Andy Warhol
• Air Conditioning
• Roaring fire
• Marijuana Joint

That’s all you get before I could be sued for copyright infringement. Frankly I’ve covered all the good stuff, but I think the article is certainly worth a read (even if it’s not about Farrah).

I’m sorry to report that Elliot Handler, co-founder of the Mattel toy company passed away in July at the age of 95. As many may know, it was Mr. Handler’s wife Ruth that developed the Barbie doll which is the foundation for what the company is today. For anyone familiar with Mattel or the Handlers, their story is an incredibly interesting one.

The Handlers started Mattel in 1945 and continued to be actively involved until 1975 when they were forced out. The company continues to operate a toy empire that is among the largest in the world.

Triumph and Tragedy

From the outset, Mr. Handler and his wife encountered great adversity and triumph. A struggling art student and designer of lighting fixtures when, Mr. Handler started making costume jewelry and dollhouse furniture in his garage in Southern California. Ultimately hitting on a realistic-looking miniature piano that caused a furor at the New York toy fair, orders for 300,000 of them soon led to tragedy when it was discovered that the Handlers had mispriced the toys, losing about a dime on each one.

Despite the setback, the Handlers soon encountered another opportunity to rebound. Approached by a music arranger, the couple developed small musical devices that were placed into toys like into jack-in-the boxes, plastic ukuleles and dolls. The toys soon became a hit and paved the way for the future of Mattel.

Elliot Right Brained, Ruth Left

Between the couple, it was reported that Elliot Handler was the more traditionally creative of the two, while Ruth drove the business decisions. In fact, it was Ruth that said that Mattel needed to develop a plastic doll that looked like a mature woman — with a small waist, long legs and a bosom that could put an eye out — her husband and others demurred. She insisted, and named the product after their daughter, Barbie.

Developed Hot Wheels

Years later, Mr. Handler became focused on die-cast toy cars. The company recruited designers from auto companies like General Motors, and perfected a manufacturing process for plastic wheels that could spin fast. Since then, more than 10,000 different Hot Wheels models have been manufactured, including “King ’Kuda,” “Evil Weevil” and the “Beatnik Bandit.”

Mr. Handler’s passing is certainly the end of an era and I must thank him on behalf of millions of kids.

Farrah’s Story, the 2009 made for TV movie that documented Farrah Fawcett’s battle with cancer, violated many of the guidelines laid out by the ailing star during the planning of the project. According to business partner Craig Nevius, NBC had taken over creative control of the project and steered it in directions that while resulted in a popular hit, conflicted with how Farrah Fawcett wanted the movie to present her battle.

Squabbling Friends

In what appears to be a squabble between various people close to Farrah, NBC turned over control of the production to the actress’ best friend Alan Stewart and onetime boyfriend Ryan O’Neal when it had been originally given to Nevius. Having anticipated the possibility that she may become too ill to finish the project, Farrah had signed an agreement to allow her business partner to control the direction of the movie. Nevius added:
“She had foreseen this possibility and assigned creative control to me. Last April she signed an agreement empowering me to make the creative decisions.”

Against Farrah’s Wishes

There were many aspects of the production that conflicted with the 70’s sex symbol’s riches. Originally entitled “Wing and a Prayer,” it was Farrah’s wish to avoid including Farrah’s son Redmond as well as focus on aspects of the medical issues that she faced to support others like her. Unfortunately it appears that her choice to work with NBC proved to be a mistake, even after the network had assured her that the story would be hers to tell.

Gratuitous Ratings Attempt

In the end, it appears that many of the changes made to Farrah’s story were made in an attempt to boost ratings at the expense of the true story. First, NBC had transferred the project from its entertainment division to the network’s news division, which rushed to feature it as a special during May ratings sweeps. In the process, new footage was hurriedly shot over the last several weeks that wouldn’t normally have been included. Second, the program was formed into a documentary which was directly in contrast to Farrah’s wishes of a diary. Lastly, a substantial portion was devoted to former “Charlie’s Angels” costars Jaclyn Smith and Kate Jackson, who are featured in the final edit. Even Farrah noted in the production that “I was only on the TV show for one season.”

I don’t think that it’s  It’s not too much of a stretch to assume that her former costars were added at the last minute to add sex appeal and hike TV ratings.

Reality Taken Out for Entertainment

In short, it appears that Farrah’s Story was gutted for entertainment value. Based on comments by Craig Nevius, Farrah has wanted to use the special to address important medical issues that were ultimately only glossed over in the final production. Chemotherapy sensitivity tests, anal pap smears, the FDA drug approval process and other subjects were all under consideration to be included in the story. Unfortunately, the result was a watered down video that attracted criticism on a wide range of levels.

Ultimately it’s not what Farrah Fawcett would have wanted.

After doing some trolling through Ebay on the hunt for some special Barbie dolls and related items, I thought that it might be interesting to call out a couple items that I run across on the blog. While I’m crazy for Farrah Fawcett Barbie, there are plenty of other Barbie doll related items that I would really enjoy having. Here are a couple items that I saw this month that I’d love to have.

1970 Malibu Francie

Francie came in several configurations over the course of her decade-long run, beginning with a straight leg model (1966-1968) and a “bend leg” doll (1966-1967). “Twist ‘N Turn” dolls were issued beginning in 1967, then with a short flip hairstyle from 1969-1970 and finally in a no-bangs hairstyle in 1971. All of these dolls were available in blonde or brunette.

This one is the blond versino,  Stock # 1068. I’d love to have it but at a Buy Now Price of $200 it’s a bit beyond my budget at the moment.

1969 Good Lookin’ Ken Doll

This Ken doll looks like it’s in incredible condition. Offered by the same Ebay seller as the Francie doll, it looks like they have some nice, vintage stuff that anyone could appreciate. I especially like the graphics on the box. In addition, I believe the 1969 Good Lookin’ Ken doll was the introduction of a new head mold after a different configuration from prior years. If you want all of the crazy details, check out the February 2011 Edition of Keeping Ken.

Unfortunately, this great example of a vintage Ken doll is even more expensive: $400. Well, I guess I’d better start saving if I’m ever going to be able to afford a piece like this.

In a move related to the battle over ownership of the infamous Farrah Fawcett painting, Ryan O’Neal is suing the producer of Chasing Farrah. In the suit, O’Neal is claiming Craig Nevius is guilty of defamation and libel because Nevius is spreading false stories about him that are “malicious and defamatory.” Typically, Ryan O’Neal claims he’s been damaged in excess of $1million.

For those unfamiliar with the situation, the University of Texas is suing O’Neal because they claim he is hiding a painting that was given to them in the actress’ will. O’Neal claims that Warhol gave him the Fawcett print an it has always belonged to him. Furthermore O’Neal is suing Nevius because he states that the University only pursued the suit because Nevius had told the press that he had stolen the print.

Nevius sees it quite differently though:

“In regard this latest lawsuit as a desperate attempt by Ryan O’Neal to further harass me into silence. I believe this is less about the portrait of Farrah Fawcett by Andy Warhol than it is about certain actions and events that occurred during the last few years of Farrah’s life which I have knowledge of and that he (and others) would prefer me to never speak about.”

Frankly, this entire episode makes me sick. If the painting belonged to Farrah, then it would have been included in the list of property to be distributed. And if Ryan O’Neal was left out of the will then it’s his tough luck. Just my opinion.