Rare and Controversial Early Monopoly® Game Acquired by Strong National Museum of Play® in Rochester, New York

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Rare and Controversial Early Monopoly® Game Acquired by Strong National Museum of Play® in Rochester, New York June 30, 2010 For Immediate Release Contact: Susan Trien, 585-410-6359 [email protected] Rare and Controversial Early Monopoly® Game Acquired by Strong National Museum of Play® in Rochester, New York Who really invented Monopoly? A rare and unique early version of Monopoly®, used as evidence in a controversial, 10-year legal copyright battle over the iconic American game‟s true inventor, has been acquired by Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York—home of the National Toy Hall of Fame®. The museum is pleased to announce that the second oldest known version of the world‟s most popular board game ever has been added to its world-renowned collections of play-related objects: a folk-art Monopoly game created by a member of the Heap family between 1910 and 1917 when the family lived in Altoona, Pennsylvania. The Heap board game also has the distinction of being the oldest Monopoly game with all its playing pieces intact including hand-made money, property cards in color groupings, and houses and other “improvement” buildings. The Heap game was an important piece of evidence in a Monopoly copyright dispute that began in 1974 and spanned a decade. To briefly summarize the copyright disagreement: Pennsylvanian Charles Darrow claimed to have invented the game of Monopoly and sold the rights to Parker Brothers in 1935. In 1973, Ralph Anspach, a professor of economics, invented a game called Anti-Monopoly™; and, in 1974, became embroiled in a lawsuit for trademark infringement brought against him by the General Mills Fun Group. While Anspach never drew a “Go to Jail!” card in his legal battle over the Monopoly copyright—his case dragged on for 10 years, eventually landing in the Supreme Court. In his own defense, Anspach uncovered a number of earlier versions of Monopoly—what he referred to as “folk art” games that were introduced long before Charles Darrow‟s 1930s “invention”; among them, the Heap version, recently purchased by Strong National Museum of Play. The existence of this hand-drawn and colored pre-Monopoly game provided evidence that Darrow, popularly credited as the inventor of Monopoly, was not the actual inventor after all, and helped lead to Anspach‟s ultimate judicial victory. —more— 2—Monopoly According to Strong curator Nic Ricketts, “John Heap, grandson of the inventor of the Heap game, also testified at Anspach‟s trial and remembered playing this game as a child as early as 1913 and calling it „monopoly.‟ This important new acquisition helps us to show the history of one of the nation‟s most popular games ever, and one of the iconic toys that is honored in our own National Toy Hall of Fame.” Strong National Museum of Play owns approximately 65 additional Monopoly sets and related games; among them a rare, early version by Charles Darrow, hand-colored on oilcloth rollup board— one of only two such existing versions of the game (and the one in best condition). Strong is contemplating a special display of both the Heap and the early Darrow Monopoly games during the museum‟s National Toy Hall of Fame induction on November 4, 2010. Strong National Museum of Play is the only museum in the world devoted to the study of play and is home to the world‟s most comprehensive collection of play-related objects including games, toys, dolls, and electronic games. You can learn more about the museum and visit its online collections at www.museumofplay.org. A Brief History of Monopoly® Monopoly, the most popular board game in history, began life as The Landlord‟s Game in 1904. Elizabeth Magie devised the game to point out the social pitfalls of unequal wealth among people. But instead, players greedily collected huge piles of money and property, delighting in opponents‟ financial troubles. Circulated informally at first, the game only gained popularity when Pennsylvanian Charles Darrow produced the first commercial version in 1934. By that time, several changes had worked their way into Magie‟s educational tool. Players could raise rents by “building” houses and hotels, and creating a “monopoly” of properties allowed incredibly steep rents. Squash the competition and drive up profits—not bad, eh? Darrow produced 5,000 copies of Monopoly at his own expense and sold them through a Philadelphia department store. Hearing of his success, Parker Brothers bought the rights in 1935 and sales soared. At the height of the Great Depression, Monopoly was the best selling game in the country. Since then, Monopoly has appeared in 40 countries and 25 foreign languages. The original game used property names familiar to residents of Atlantic City, New Jersey. But after 1994, Parker Brothers began producing versions representing major cities throughout the country. .
Recommended publications
  • The Monopolists Obsession, Fury, and the Scandal Behind the Worlds Favorite Board Game 1St Edition Pdf, Epub, Ebook
    THE MONOPOLISTS OBSESSION, FURY, AND THE SCANDAL BEHIND THE WORLDS FAVORITE BOARD GAME 1ST EDITION PDF, EPUB, EBOOK Mary Pilon | 9781608199631 | | | | | The Monopolists Obsession, Fury, and the Scandal Behind the Worlds Favorite Board Game 1st edition PDF Book The Monopolists reveals the unknown story of how Monopoly came into existence, the reinvention of its history by Parker Brothers and multiple media outlets, the lost female originator of the game, and one man's lifelong obsession to tell the true story about the game's questionable origins. Expand the sub menu Film. Determined though her research may be, Pilon seems to make a point of protecting the reader from the grind of engaging these truths. More From Our Brands. We logged you out. This book allows a darker side of Monopoly. Cannot recommend it enough! Part journalist, part sleuth, Pilon exhausted five years researching the game's origin. Mary Pilon's page-turning narrative unravels the innocent beginnings, the corporate shenanigans, and the big lie at the center of this iconic boxed board game. For additional info see pbs. Courts slapped Parker Brothers down on those two games, ruling that the games were clearly in the public domain. Subscribe now Return to the free version of the site. Help Learn to edit Community portal Recent changes Upload file. After reading The Monopolists -part parable on the perils facing inventors, part legal odyssey, and part detective story-you'll never look at spry Mr. Open Preview See a Problem? The book is superlative journalism. Ralph Anspach, a professor fighting to sell his Anti-Monopoly board game decades later, unearthed the real story, which traces back to Abraham Lincoln, the Quakers, and a forgotten feminist named Lizzie Magie who invented her nearly identical Landlord's Game more than thirty years before Parker Brothers sold their version of Monopoly.
    [Show full text]
  • Part I: Introduction
    Part I: Introduction “Perhaps the sentiments contained in the following pages are not yet sufficiently fashionable to procure them general favor; a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defense of custom. But the tumult soon subsides. Time makes more converts than reason.” -Thomas Paine, Common Sense (1776) “For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst and provide for it.” -Patrick Henry (1776) “I am aware that many object to the severity of my language; but is there not cause for severity? I will be as harsh as truth. On this subject I do not wish to think, or speak, or write, with moderation. No! No! Tell a man whose house is on fire to give a moderate alarm; tell him to moderately rescue his wife from the hands of the ravisher; tell the mother to gradually extricate her babe from the fire into which it has fallen -- but urge me not to use moderation in a cause like the present. The apathy of the people is enough to make every statue leap from its pedestal, and to hasten the resurrection of the dead.” -William Lloyd Garrison, The Liberator (1831) “Gas is running low . .” -Amelia Earhart (July 2, 1937) 1 2 Dear Reader, Civilization as we know it is coming to an end soon. This is not the wacky proclamation of a doomsday cult, apocalypse bible prophecy sect, or conspiracy theory society.
    [Show full text]
  • THE LANDLORD's GAME (LLG): Precursor to Monopoly / by Richard Biddle 8 October, 2019
    THE LANDLORD’S GAME (LLG): Precursor to Monopoly / By Richard Biddle 8 October, 2019 The TV game show Jeopardy on September 5, 2019 posed this fact for its contestants’ response: THE ORIGINS OF THIS POPULAR HASBRO BOARD GAME GO BACK TO THE 1904 THE LANDLORD’S GAME. Of course, the correct answer was: “What is Monopoly?” But what was the original basis for THE LANDLORD’S GAME? The answer to this question is much less known. Over the past 15 years, I have lectured numerous times on the little known history of the origin of Monopoly, on the basis of my personal experiences. The history of the LANDLORD’S GAME is part of the material I incorporate. My involvement and fascination with the game started at age 5 when my 8 year-old brother first got me to play our 1936 edition of Monopoly. As I recall, my brother read the Monopoly “rules” in his favor, taking advantage of the fact that I was a pre-reader. It was a rare day if I won, and then it was usually the result of my cheating and lying about how I won, because the “rules” of the game were rigged against me. I quickly learned that there were a host of possible strategies to utilize in winning. I believe I witnessed some cheating in an adult Monopoly competition about 10 years ago. THE LANDLORD’S GAME is the precursor to and basis for the Monopoly game. Elizabeth Magie (in 1902-1903) invented the games as a means to educate people about Henry George’s political economics.
    [Show full text]
  • Parker Brothers Real Estate Trading Game in 1934, Charles B
    Parker Brothers Real Estate Trading Game In 1934, Charles B. Darrow of Germantown, Pennsylvania, presented a game called MONOPOLY to the executives of Parker Brothers. Mr. Darrow, like many other Americans, was unemployed at the time and often played this game to amuse himself and pass the time. It was the game’s exciting promise of fame and fortune that initially prompted Darrow to produce this game on his own. With help from a friend who was a printer, Darrow sold 5,000 sets of the MONOPOLY game to a Philadelphia department store. As the demand for the game grew, Darrow could not keep up with the orders and arranged for Parker Brothers to take over the game. Since 1935, when Parker Brothers acquired the rights to the game, it has become the leading proprietary game not only in the United States but throughout the Western World. As of 1994, the game is published under license in 43 countries, and in 26 languages; in addition, the U.S. Spanish edition is sold in another 11 countries. OBJECT…The object of the game is to become the wealthiest player through buying, renting and selling property. EQUIPMENT…The equipment consists of a board, 2 dice, tokens, 32 houses and 12 hotels. There are Chance and Community Chest cards, a Title Deed card for each property and play money. PREPARATION…Place the board on a table and put the Chance and Community Chest cards face down on their allotted spaces on the board. Each player chooses one token to represent him/her while traveling around the board.
    [Show full text]
  • Anti-Monopoly, Inc. V. General Mills Fun Group, Inc.: Ending the Monopoly on Monopoly
    Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review Volume 17 Number 4 Article 6 9-1-1984 Anti-Monopoly, Inc. v. General Mills Fun Group, Inc.: Ending the Monopoly on Monopoly Thomas J. Daly Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/llr Part of the Law Commons Recommended Citation Thomas J. Daly, Anti-Monopoly, Inc. v. General Mills Fun Group, Inc.: Ending the Monopoly on Monopoly, 17 Loy. L.A. L. Rev. 1021 (1984). Available at: https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/llr/vol17/iss4/6 This Notes and Comments is brought to you for free and open access by the Law Reviews at Digital Commons @ Loyola Marymount University and Loyola Law School. It has been accepted for inclusion in Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons@Loyola Marymount University and Loyola Law School. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ANTI-MONOPOL Y, INC. v. GENERAL MILLS FUN GROUP, INC.: ENDING THE MONOPOLY ON "MONOPOLY" I. INTRODUCTION In Anti-Monopoly, Inc. v. GeneralMills Fun Group, Inc. (4nti-Mo- nopoly I1),1 the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals held that the trade- mark registration of MONOPOLY2 for Parker Brothers' popular real estate board game was invalid because the term had become "ge- neric."3 This followed an earlier decision by the Ninth Circuit in the same case Qinti-Monopoly J),4 which set out the basic test to be used to determine if MONOPOLY was "generic." These decisions have received criticism from commentators 5 and trademark lawyers,6 have provoked alarm among trademark owners,7 and have prompted political activity aimed at amending the Lanham Trademark Act.' This response is due to the court's departure from 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Anti-Monopoly Law
    October 2002 China’s Draft Anti-Monopoly Law Paul, Weiss has recently obtained a draft of the Anti-Monopoly Law (the "AML") of the People's Republic of China ("PRC" or "China") dated February 26, 2002. We attach for your information the Paul, Weiss translation of the draft AML, and provide in this memorandum an initial analysis of the draft AML and other PRC statutes related to anti-monopoly review and regulation. The current draft is apparently not the final version, but as the AML has been in the drafting process since 1994, we believe it represents something close to the principles that will be reflected in the legislation if and when it is finally adopted. I. Outline of the AML A. General The AML governs three types of activities: (a) "activities restricting competition in market transactions" within China, (b) the "abuse of administrative powers to restrict competition" within China, and (c) activities outside China that violate the AML and that restrict or affect competition within China.1 In general, it regulates the activities of "operators," defined in Article 4 to mean legal persons and other organizations and individuals engaged in the production and operation of commodities or services. Article 4 further states that the term "commodities" under the AML includes services. Finally, "market" for purposes of the AML means a geographical area within which operators compete with respect to a given commodity over a certain period of time.2 A key element of the AML is its provision in Chapter 6 for the establishment of a new government agency charged with enforcement.
    [Show full text]
  • MONOPOLY EXPRESS INSTRUCTIONS F MONOPOLY 101 Hasbro Design Centre (STU) Design Centre Hasbro
    ITEM CODE First 42787 Artwork Originator: Hasbro Design Centre (STU) File Name: Express Instructions 101 Line Year: 2005 APPLY Artwork Start: 19.05.05 APPROVAL Product: Monopoly Express LID BASE CARTON GAMEBOARD RULES NOTE Repro Start: 00.05.05 Instructions CARDS DIECUT SHEET DECALS HERE! Calcul de vos gains 5. Si vous avez obtenu un hôtel, à Astuce Si vous aimez les jeux de dés, tentez Lorsque vous décidez d'arrêter les lancers de dés, condition d’avoir déjà 4 maisons, Plus les propriétés sont chères, plus elles sont rares. votre chance en jouant à Yahtzee ! € additionnez vos gains durant ce tour : vous avez touché 5 000 . Sur chaque dé propriété figurent plusieurs propriétés alors réfléchissez-bien avant de le placer sur le plateau, car il pourrait vous manquer lorsque 1. Pour chaque groupe de couleur complet sur N’oubliez pas, vous perdez tout l’argent gagné vous aurez besoin de compléter d'autres groupes. le plateau, additionnez les montants indiqués durant ce tour, si vous avez rempli les 3 cases sur le plateau. Allez en prison. express Gares, services publics et groupes de 2. Si vous avez des groupes incomplets lorsque Passez alors la piste de lancer au joueur suivant, couleur à collecter : vous décidez d’arrêter votre tour, choisissez le remettez les maisons au centre si vous en avez, et groupe de la plus grande valeur et additionnez retirez tous les dés du plateau. = 2 500 = 1 800 la valeur de chaque dé à votre total. Vous n’avez droit qu’à un seul groupe incomplet. Victoire = 800 = 2 200 Le premier joueur qui empoche une fortune de = 600 = 2 700 3.
    [Show full text]
  • Grade 6 ELA Lessons, Week 3 (Daoud) Monday: Grammar
    Grade 6 ELA Lessons, Week 3 (Daoud) Monday: ● Grammar: Subject-Verb Agreement ​Link Here ● Finalize Activism Project/Submit for Feedback (email, pictures, hardcopy) ● Read 30 minutes Tuesday: ● Read Monopoly article ​Link Here ● Look up definitions to the following words definitions. Write the word, part of speech, and definition on a ​seperate piece of paper. ​Refer to the article to see how the word is used. Trailblazer Patent Booted Tribute Relevant Crude Accrue Economist Dualistic Franchise Wednesday ● Complete Reading Comprehension Sheet ​Link Here ● Do Vocab Review Activity ○ Kahoot (internet users) ​Link Here ○ Crossword PDF ​Link Here ○ Read 30 minutes Thursday ● Begin writing for this week’s Creative Writing Prompt ○ You discover a hidden door in your house. No one else can see it. Where does it lead? How did it get there? What do you experience when you finally go through? ● Read 30 minutes Friday ● Finish Creative Writing Prompt. Edit your story by: ○ Reading aloud ○ Fix spelling/grammar/punctuation errros ○ Fix any awkward wording ○ Fixing plot holes. (is your story easy to follow?) ● Optional: Create an illustrated cover for your story. ● Read 30 minutes ● Complete Weekly Reading Logs. ​Link Here Have questions? ​Please reach out via email (​[email protected]​) or Remind. Need hardcopies? ​Call the HMS office to request them to be delivered via bus route or for office pick up at (​360) 277-2302.​ Need assistance or would like to schedule a conference call? ​Email me to set up an appointment using Zoom! My office hours are from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Grammar: Subject-Verb Agreement Subject-verb agreement simply means that the number of subject and verb must agree in number.
    [Show full text]
  • Toward a New Model for US Telecommunications Policy
    Adjusting Regulation to Competition: Toward a New Model for U.S. Telecommunications Policy t Howard A. Shelanski This Article explains the monopoly rationalefor conventional approaches to telecommunications regulation, demonstrates how the U.S. telecommunications market has changed since the Telecommunications Act of 1996, and then examines whether, in the light of those changes, the conventional approach remains an appropriate paradigm for U.S. telecommunications policy. This Article finds that the general answer is no, and that ex ante regulation that depends for its rationale on monopoly market structure should give way to ex post intervention against specific, anti- competitive acts on the model of conventional antitrust and competition policy. The Article finds, however, that certain kinds of regulation-notably interconnection-still have a role to play in advancing telecommunications policy objectives. This study's conclusions thus challenge the argument that policymakers should wait until market conditions become more competitive to deregulate. But it also challenges claims that the market has developed to the point that Congress should eliminate all industry-specific regulation and regulatory authority in the U.S. telecommunications market. This Article insteadproposes eliminating ex ante regulation that depends on monopoly for its rationale in favor of ex post competition enforcement, but makes allowance for other regulation in those specific circumstances where experience proves such intervention necessary and effective for protectingconsumer
    [Show full text]
  • Gaming for Learning Name 5 Games You Know
    Gaming for Learning Name 5 games you know. Were these games board games, sports, computer, etc? Are they single player or multiplayer? How many of you had Monopoly on your list? Monopoly World’s Most Popular Game Over 1 billion people have played it! 37 languages Various novelty versions Monopoly definition: the exclusive possession or control of the supply of or trade in a commodity or service. Monopoly - Invented by... Invented in 1933 by Charles Darrow or Lizzie Magie in 1903?! Lizzie Magie’s version Patented in 1904, “The Landlord’s Game” Designed to be an education game as a protest to heads of the economy - Set #1: Anti-monopolist - rewarded when wealth was created - Set #2: Monopolist - goal was to create monopolies and crush opponents - Wanted to teach Set #1 was morally sound - Set #2 became more popular! Made $500 on the game Charles Darrow’s version First released in 1935 with Hasbro Brothers (since bought by Parker Brothers) Heavily based on The Landlord’s Game First game designer to make a million dollars ($$$) and his family continues to receive royalties Why does this matter? Most games evolve from an earlier version, similar to Monopoly. - Grand Theft Auto … we’re on version 5 - Warcraft … started on the computer and now available on many game consoles - Angry Birds … released in 2009 and over 3 BILLION downloads by 2015, when official Angry Birds 2 version released Gaming for Learning Gaming is used to - convey messages - teach people - have fun Became popular when indoor electricity was available - Social time indoors Designing a game is HARD.
    [Show full text]
  • For Immediate Release More Than 400 Word Experts To
    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contacts: John D. Williams Jr. (631) 477-0033 ext. 14 (516) 658-7583 (cell) [email protected] Katie Schulz (631) 477-0033 ext. 15 (631) 291-1033 (cell) [email protected] MORE THAN 400 WORD EXPERTS TO COMPETE FOR $10,000 FIRST PRIZE AT NATIONAL SCRABBLE® CHAMPIONSHIP IN DALLAS AUGUST 7-11TH Dallas, TX – They say everything is bigger in Texas, and beginning August 7th, more than 400 people with some of the largest vocabularies in the world will gather at the 2010 National SCRABBLE® Championship (NSC) at the Hotel InterContinental Dallas. These word wizards will come from 42 states and four countries and range from School SCRABBLE prodigies to multiple National and World SCRABBLE® champions. First prize is $10,000 and “bragging rights” for the hundreds of SCRABBLE aficionados who will be descending upon Dallas. “Approximately 40 million people play the SCRABBLE game on a leisurely basis, however SCRABBLE is a lifestyle for our competitors,” says Chris Cree, a veteran top expert and co-president of the North American SCRABBLE® Players Association (NASPA), organizers of this year’s event. There are 200 official SCRABBLE tournaments every year that are overseen by NASPA. -more- Players at the highest level memorize the 120,000 word Official SCRABBLE® Players Dictionary and often devote several hours a day to studying. All the competitors know that the championship will be a marathon, not a sprint. There is no elimination, and everyone plays a staggering 31 games over four and a half days. SCRABBLE experts and enthusiasts everywhere are encouraged to follow the live online coverage at www.scrabbleplayers.org.
    [Show full text]
  • 42749 Rules Monopoly
    HOTELS If you owe the Bank more than you can pay, even by selling off buildings and mortgaging property, You must have four houses on each property of a you must turn over all assets to the Bank. The Bank complete color-group before you can buy a hotel. You will immediately auction all property so taken, may then buy a hotel from the Bank to be built on any except buildings. property of that color-group. Remove your token from the board once bankruptcy To build a hotel, you must ask the Bank to exchange the proceedings are completed. four houses on the chosen property for a hotel as well as make the payment printed on the Title Deed. WINNING It can be very advantageous to build hotels because very The last player remaining in the game wins. large rents are charged for them. ONLY ONE HOTEL MAY BE BUILT ON ANY ONE ABRIDGED VERSIONS OF THE GAME PROPERTY. Short Game (60 to 90 Minutes) SELLING PROPERTY There are five changed rules for this version of the game: ® Undeveloped properties, railroads and utilities (but 1. During PREPARATION, the Banker shuffles then not buildings) may be sold to any player as a private deals three Title Deed cards to each player. These transaction for a sum agreeable to the owner. No property, BRAND are free – no payment to the Bank is required. Property Trading Game from Parker Brothers ® however, may be sold to another player if any buildings 2. You need only three houses (instead of four) on each stand on any property of that color-group.
    [Show full text]