The Landlord's Game.
Posted: Sun Aug 18, 2013 9:54 am
I am always in search of the "story behind the story" so I was delighted when I found this ...
When Monopoly was first conceived in 1933, the games alleged inventor Charles Darrow, wanted players to use items from around the home as playing pieces. But it was a suggestion by his niece that the pieces be charms from a charm bracelet.
However it could be that citizen Darrow ripped off a game invented by a Maryland actress named Elizabeth Magie which was called “The Landlord’s Game" and which was released in 1906. It looked remarkably similar to Monopoly with blocks named after a property and also featured Chance cards. The games most expensive properties were Fifth Avenue, Broadway & Wall Street.
For almost thirty years after Magie made her first board from an old piece of pressed wood, the Landlord’s Game was played under an assortment of names – Monopoly, Finance & Auction. It was shared freely as invention in the public domain and was in effect, the property of anyone who learned to play it.
Landlord's Game board.
When Monopoly was first conceived in 1933, the games alleged inventor Charles Darrow, wanted players to use items from around the home as playing pieces. But it was a suggestion by his niece that the pieces be charms from a charm bracelet.
However it could be that citizen Darrow ripped off a game invented by a Maryland actress named Elizabeth Magie which was called “The Landlord’s Game" and which was released in 1906. It looked remarkably similar to Monopoly with blocks named after a property and also featured Chance cards. The games most expensive properties were Fifth Avenue, Broadway & Wall Street.
For almost thirty years after Magie made her first board from an old piece of pressed wood, the Landlord’s Game was played under an assortment of names – Monopoly, Finance & Auction. It was shared freely as invention in the public domain and was in effect, the property of anyone who learned to play it.
Landlord's Game board.