The Barbie Liberation Organization swaps voice boxes

1993

The Barbie Liberation Organization, sponsored by RTMark, bought talking Teen Talk Barbie and G.I. Joe dolls, surgically swapped their voice boxes, and returned them to store shelves in an action they called 'shopgiving'. Between 300 and 500 dolls were altered. On Christmas Day 1993 children found Barbies growling 'Dead men tell no lies' and G.I. Joes chirping 'I love to shop with you'. The group published instructions encouraging others to replicate the surgery.