Origins and early years

Businessman Harold "Matt" Matson and the husband-and-wife duo of Ruth and Elliot Handler founded Mattel as Mattel Creations on January 20, 1945, in a garage in Los Angeles. The name "Mattel" is a portmanteau of "Matson" and "Elliot". The company began selling picture frames and later dollhouse furniture made from frame pieces. Suffering from poor health, Matson