In 1959 , Mattel introducedBarbie , named by Mattel co - founder Ruth Handler for her daughter . Barbie was an instant – and endless – attain with girls . Her popularity direct people to begin seeking a like toy dog and the same success for male child [ source : Mattel ] .
It did n’t take long for Stan Weston , an acquaintanceship of Handler who was also in the toy concern , to consider up a way that Barbie – with her interminable supply of clothes and accessory – could become a toy for boys . As Weston read about military history , the idea of a soldier doll came to him . The doll could have a smorgasbord of military uniforms from around the world . It would need elevator car and armored combat vehicle and all variety of other ironware . At the 1963 Toy Fair , Weston pitch his idea to Hasbro ’s Vice President of Development Don Levine , and the residue , as they say , is history . Weston received $ 100,000 for the G.I. Joe melodic theme , and Levine ran with it .
Levine strike the term " action figure " for his institution , recognizing the drawbacks to trying to market a boy ’s dolly . The term suit the toy , because G.I. Joe was specifically designed to get into " activeness - pack " situation . The original G.I. Joe made his debut in time for the 1964 Christmas toy - purchasing season [ source : Hasbro ] . He was 12 inches ( 30 centimeters ) tall and had 21 go role . Joe ’s uniforms lay out the Army , Navy , Marines and Air Force . As his popularity grew , he was made usable around the world with uniform representing many commonwealth , and he had more equipment than any footling son could wreak with in a lifetime .
G.I. Joe went on to become a Marvel comic - book graphic symbol and a movie hero . He continues to be a strong seller today – although mostly in a smaller size of it than the original – and was inducted into the Toy Hall of Fame in 2004 [ source : Toy Hall ] . G.I. Joe was also voted the most popular miniature of the last 100 years in a pate behave by the Children ’s Museum of Indianapolis [ seed : Weston ] .
