Jack Ryan (designer)
Encyclopedia
John W. "Jack" Ryan was an American designer noted for creating the popular image of the Barbie
doll and being the sixth husband of Zsa Zsa Gabor
. He had a brother, Jim Ryan, who also was an inventor.
, worked for Raytheon
as an engineer, and then moved to Mattel
where he was head of research and development.
Jack Ryan worked at Raytheon
as an engineer designing Sparrow
and Hawk missiles
. Mattel hired him for his "space-aged savvy" and knowledge of materials.
Ryan was an eccentric man. For example, he purchased a mansion (known as The Castle) shortly after he began working for Mattel. He installed many creations and inventions into The Castle. He would also start many that were left unfinished. After Mattel started lowering his royalties, Jack had to sell The Castle for under 2 million dollars.
Ryan did a lot for Mattel, and he considered himself the 3rd in charge next to the Handlers (Ruth
and her husband Elliot
) who were Mattel's founders and owners. Ruth Handler had put him in charge of re-thinking the design of a German doll called, Bild Lili to create the Barbie doll. Mattel eventually obtained the rights to the Lili dolls and Barbie went on to become the best selling doll of all time and recently celebrated her 50th anniversary.
Evidence of his "space-aged savvy" can be seen in the designs of many of the toys he created for the Mattel line. For instance, the V-RROOM! X-15 velocipede
(commonly referred to as a tricycle
) which was named after the North American X-15
rocket-powered aircraft that were made for the USAF, the NASA
, and the USN. His name also appears on the patent documents of the V-RROOM! bicycles of the 1960s as well as the V-RROOM! toy engines that simulated real motorcycle engine sounds.
At Mattel, Ryan also designed the mechanics of the Chatty Cathy
dolls. Ryan worked at Mattel for 20 years.
Ryan was also known for providing room and board to UCLA students who would in turn work at the many charity events he held at his The Castle.
Ryan sued Mattel and won claiming for unpaid royalties.
One story concerning Jack Ryan and his marriage to Zsa Zsa Gabor is that as their marriage was falling apart, he apparently disassembled her Rolls-Royce in attempt to make her a custom limousine and, according to court records, refused to put it back together again.
Barbie
Barbie is a fashion doll manufactured by the American toy-company Mattel, Inc. and launched in March 1959. American businesswoman Ruth Handler is credited with the creation of the doll using a German doll called Bild Lilli as her inspiration....
doll and being the sixth husband of Zsa Zsa Gabor
Zsa Zsa Gabor
Zsa Zsa Gabor is a Hungarian-born American stage, film and television actress.She acted on stage in Vienna, Austria, in 1932, and was crowned Miss Hungary in 1936. She emigrated to the United States in 1941 and became a sought-after actress with "European flair and style", with a personality that...
. He had a brother, Jim Ryan, who also was an inventor.
Career
Ryan graduated from Yale UniversityYale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, worked for Raytheon
Raytheon
Raytheon Company is a major American defense contractor and industrial corporation with core manufacturing concentrations in weapons and military and commercial electronics. It was previously involved in corporate and special-mission aircraft until early 2007...
as an engineer, and then moved to Mattel
Mattel
Mattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from...
where he was head of research and development.
Jack Ryan worked at Raytheon
Raytheon
Raytheon Company is a major American defense contractor and industrial corporation with core manufacturing concentrations in weapons and military and commercial electronics. It was previously involved in corporate and special-mission aircraft until early 2007...
as an engineer designing Sparrow
AIM-7 Sparrow
The AIM-7 Sparrow is an American, medium-range semi-active radar homing air-to-air missile operated by the United States Air Force, United States Navy and United States Marine Corps, as well as various allied air forces and navies. Sparrow and its derivatives were the West's principal beyond visual...
and Hawk missiles
MIM-23 Hawk
The Raytheon MIM-23 Hawk is a U.S. medium range surface-to-air missile. The Hawk was initially designed to destroy aircraft and was later adapted to destroy other missiles in flight. The missile entered service in 1960, and a program of extensive upgrades has kept it from becoming obsolete. It was...
. Mattel hired him for his "space-aged savvy" and knowledge of materials.
Ryan was an eccentric man. For example, he purchased a mansion (known as The Castle) shortly after he began working for Mattel. He installed many creations and inventions into The Castle. He would also start many that were left unfinished. After Mattel started lowering his royalties, Jack had to sell The Castle for under 2 million dollars.
Ryan did a lot for Mattel, and he considered himself the 3rd in charge next to the Handlers (Ruth
Ruth Handler
Ruth Handler was an American businesswoman, born to Jewish-Polish immigrants Jacob and Ida Moskowicz, the president of the toy manufacturer Mattel Inc., and is remembered primarily for her role in marketing the Barbie doll....
and her husband Elliot
Elliot Handler
Elliot Handler was the co-founder of Mattel. With his wife, he was a developer of some of the biggest-selling toys in American history, including Barbie dolls, Chatty Cathy, Creepy Crawlers and Hot Wheels....
) who were Mattel's founders and owners. Ruth Handler had put him in charge of re-thinking the design of a German doll called, Bild Lili to create the Barbie doll. Mattel eventually obtained the rights to the Lili dolls and Barbie went on to become the best selling doll of all time and recently celebrated her 50th anniversary.
Evidence of his "space-aged savvy" can be seen in the designs of many of the toys he created for the Mattel line. For instance, the V-RROOM! X-15 velocipede
Velocipede
Velocipede is an umbrella term for any human-powered land vehicle with one or more wheels. The most common type of velocipede today is the bicycle....
(commonly referred to as a tricycle
Tricycle
A tricycle is a three-wheeled vehicle. While tricycles are often associated with the small three-wheeled vehicles used by pre-school-age children, they are also used by adults for a variety of purposes. In the United States and Canada, adult-sized tricycles are used primarily by older persons for...
) which was named after the North American X-15
North American X-15
The North American X-15 rocket-powered aircraft/spaceplane was part of the X-series of experimental aircraft, initiated with the Bell X-1, that were made for the USAAF/USAF, NACA/NASA, and the USN. The X-15 set speed and altitude records in the early 1960s, reaching the edge of outer space and...
rocket-powered aircraft that were made for the USAF, the NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
, and the USN. His name also appears on the patent documents of the V-RROOM! bicycles of the 1960s as well as the V-RROOM! toy engines that simulated real motorcycle engine sounds.
At Mattel, Ryan also designed the mechanics of the Chatty Cathy
Chatty Cathy
Chatty Cathy is a doll manufactured by the Mattel toy company from 1959 to 1965. The doll was first released in stores and appeared in television commercials beginning in 1960. Chatty Cathy celebrated her 50th birthday in 2010....
dolls. Ryan worked at Mattel for 20 years.
Ryan was also known for providing room and board to UCLA students who would in turn work at the many charity events he held at his The Castle.
Ryan sued Mattel and won claiming for unpaid royalties.
One story concerning Jack Ryan and his marriage to Zsa Zsa Gabor is that as their marriage was falling apart, he apparently disassembled her Rolls-Royce in attempt to make her a custom limousine and, according to court records, refused to put it back together again.