91³Ô¹ÏÍø

Concept    From 1934 

Monopoly

Categories: Sport / Games

Monopoly

Evolved from a number of property games but had reached its final form by 1934. Initially marketed with New York place names by Parker Brothers very successfully in America. Waddingtons were granted a licence to market it in the UK and the only change they made was to 'Londonise' the place names.

The early history of the game, in America, is detailed in a book, The Monopolists by Mary Pilon. In 1903 the board and the rules to the game were invented by Elizabeth Magie, a politically engaged woman who was concerned about exploitation by wealthy land-owners. She actually had two sets of rules for her Landlord's Game: one which rewarded those who created monopolies and another which rewarded those who created wealth. Either way the board was the same and very recognisable to Monopoly players today: if you ran out of money you were sent to the Poor House, in one corner, another corner had the Mother Earth square where you collected $100 wages for the work you had performed. She patented the game in 1903 and it gradually gained popularity.

In the 1930s Charles Darrow was introduced to the game by friends, made a copy of it, gained a patent for that in 1935 and sold the rights to a games manufacturer, Parker Brothers. When Magie, now Mrs Phillips, discovered what had happened she was angry but never managed to obtain satisfactory redress.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Monopoly

Commemorated ati

Co-op bank - Monoploy

Victor and Marjorie came to London from Leeds specifically to select names fo...

91³Ô¹ÏÍø

Other Subjects

Harold Abrahams

Harold Abrahams

Track and field athlete. Coached by Scipio Africanus Mussabini. Olympic champion in 1924 in the 100 metres sprint, a feat depicted in the 1981 film Chariots of Fire.  Born in Bedford in 1899, son ...

Person, Sport / Games

1 memorial
King Cole

King Cole

Cricketer, whose real name was Bripumyarrimin. He was a member of the Australian Aboriginal cricket team that toured England in 1868. He died from tuberculosis and was buried at Victoria Park Cemet...

Person, Sport / Games, Australia

1 memorial
World Cup

World Cup

International football competition, founded by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). Apart from 1942 and 1946, it has been held every four years since its inception. Origina...

Event, Sport / Games

2 memorials
Paralympic Flame - 2012

Paralympic Flame - 2012

The relay began with four flames kindled on the highest peaks of the four nations of the United Kingdom, which were then brought to their respective capital cities for special events honouring the ...

Event, Sport / Games

2 memorials
St Jude's Institute Football Club

St Jude's Institute Football Club

Boys' football club, based at the St Jude's Institute, a mission hall founded by the Reverend Stanley Bolt, vicar of the local church. The club merged with the Christ Church Rangers, to form the Qu...

Group, Sport / Games

1 memorial