Monopoly: At 80, it just keeps ‘Go’-ing

Todd Leopold
By Todd Leopold, CNN
5 minute read
Updated 12:03 PM EDT, Thu March 19, 2015
Think of a concept, and there's probably a Monopoly board for it. That's true even for other games, like "The Legend of Zelda," a Monopoly version of which came out late last year. It's just one of the permutations of the popular board game, which celebrates its 80th birthday this year.
Think of a concept, and there's probably a Monopoly board for it. That's true even for other games, like "The Legend of Zelda," a Monopoly version of which came out late last year. It's just one of the permutations of the popular board game, which celebrates its 80th birthday this year.
USAopoly
City versions of Monopoly have been commonplace for decades, but in recent years there have been subtleties. For example, this edition is devoted not just to London but to the London Underground. Covent Garden station, incidentally, is the Boardwalk equivalent.
City versions of Monopoly have been commonplace for decades, but in recent years there have been subtleties. For example, this edition is devoted not just to London but to the London Underground. Covent Garden station, incidentally, is the Boardwalk equivalent.
London Underground Edittion
Can you have a whole Monopoly game devoted to Disney villains? Why not? Yeah, perhaps they should all go to jail, but do you want to tell Cruella de Vil that?
Can you have a whole Monopoly game devoted to Disney villains? Why not? Yeah, perhaps they should all go to jail, but do you want to tell Cruella de Vil that?
Disney
In the Monopoly version of "A Christmas Story," "A Major Award" and "Triple Dog Dare" take the place of Chance and Community Chest. Boardwalk? That's a BB Gun, of course. (Don't shoot your eye out.)
In the Monopoly version of "A Christmas Story," "A Major Award" and "Triple Dog Dare" take the place of Chance and Community Chest. Boardwalk? That's a BB Gun, of course. (Don't shoot your eye out.)
USAopoly
The "Doctor Who" edition of Monopoly includes various Doctors' Tardises in place of the railroads. "Take a ride on the Tardis," indeed.
The "Doctor Who" edition of Monopoly includes various Doctors' Tardises in place of the railroads. "Take a ride on the Tardis," indeed.
USAopoly
Coca-Cola has been a part of the pop-cultural landscape even longer than Monopoly, and you could probably fill a board with just the soft drink's famous slogans. The Coca-Cola Classic Ads Edition has a few, not to mention some of the images to go along with them.
Coca-Cola has been a part of the pop-cultural landscape even longer than Monopoly, and you could probably fill a board with just the soft drink's famous slogans. The Coca-Cola Classic Ads Edition has a few, not to mention some of the images to go along with them.
USAopoly
The Crazy Cash Edition actually requires batteries -- because it includes a machine that spews Monopoly money and other items. "Construct crazy hotels, trade properties and collect rent to keep the cash flowing," says the promotional copy. Just like real life!
The Crazy Cash Edition actually requires batteries -- because it includes a machine that spews Monopoly money and other items. "Construct crazy hotels, trade properties and collect rent to keep the cash flowing," says the promotional copy. Just like real life!
Monopoly
Then there's Monopoly Hotels, in which the most two-dimensional game rises into the sky -- with rents to match. It's just like playing New York.
Then there's Monopoly Hotels, in which the most two-dimensional game rises into the sky -- with rents to match. It's just like playing New York.
Hasbro
The Canadian edition of Monopoly is just like the American edition but far more polite. The street names have changed over the years, though instead of reflecting increasingly expensive neighborhoods like the American edition, in the 1982 and 2000 editions, they simply go from east to west across the country. The 2010 edition allowed players to vote on their favorites and increased rents by a factor of 10,000. That explains the credit cards.
The Canadian edition of Monopoly is just like the American edition but far more polite. The street names have changed over the years, though instead of reflecting increasingly expensive neighborhoods like the American edition, in the 1982 and 2000 editions, they simply go from east to west across the country. The 2010 edition allowed players to vote on their favorites and increased rents by a factor of 10,000. That explains the credit cards.
Hasbro
The Night Sky Edition turns the focus to the heavens, with planets, moons and other celestial bodies taking the place of the humble Atlantic City streets.
The Night Sky Edition turns the focus to the heavens, with planets, moons and other celestial bodies taking the place of the humble Atlantic City streets.
USAopoly
The Planet Earth Edition turns attention to some of our planet's landmarks, including such places as the Tibetan Plateau, the Great Barrier Reef and Antarctica.
The Planet Earth Edition turns attention to some of our planet's landmarks, including such places as the Tibetan Plateau, the Great Barrier Reef and Antarctica.
USAopoly
The Here & Now game has two editions: a World Edition, which spotlights cities all over the globe, and a U.S. Edition, which focuses on American locales. Fans will probably be surprised by the Boardwalk choices, which were decided by fan voting. Let's just say the U.S. slot isn't taken by either New York or Los Angeles.
The Here & Now game has two editions: a World Edition, which spotlights cities all over the globe, and a U.S. Edition, which focuses on American locales. Fans will probably be surprised by the Boardwalk choices, which were decided by fan voting. Let's just say the U.S. slot isn't taken by either New York or Los Angeles.
Hasbro
And then there are those who would just rather make up their own version of a Monopoly board. For them, there's the Make Your Own Edition. No, the rules still don't allow you to flip the board over when you lose.
And then there are those who would just rather make up their own version of a Monopoly board. For them, there's the Make Your Own Edition. No, the rules still don't allow you to flip the board over when you lose.
Hasbro
Monopoly's alternate versions

Story highlights

Monopoly celebrates 80th anniversary on Thursday

Popular board game actually has origins in early 20th century

Game has inspired catchphrases, made streets famous, prompted different rules

CNN  — 

Is there anything Monopoly can’t do?

Over the course of its 80-year life, it’s been played underwater, underground, in space (OK, just the tokens) and on giant game boards. It’s used chocolate and featured real money. There have been games that barely lasted the night and marathon contests that went on for weeks.

Not bad for a game that, according to lore, maker Parker Brothers originally rejected for containing “52 fundamental errors.”

March 19 marks the official 80th anniversary of the world’s best-selling board game, now manufactured by Hasbro. Its circuitous history, like its game board, has been filled with several interesting turns. Here are a few:

It wasn’t original

Legend has it that Charles Darrow, an unemployed salesman, invented the game in his kitchen in 1930. But the roots of Monopoly actually date back a few more decades, to a game called the Landlord’s Game created by Elizabeth Magie in 1903.

The Landlord’s Game was meant to be educational, illustrating economist Henry George’s belief – inspired by the Gilded Age – that property ownership by individuals is inherently unfair. Magie’s game was an underground success, leading to a number of offshoots, including the one that Darrow tweaked. Parker Brothers bought her patent for $500 in 1935, closing the loop.

As for Darrow, he was inspired in 1932 by a version created by a New Jersey Quaker community that made Atlantic City the locale of the game. Darrow added colors and other design elements – “a look and feel to his board that would prove immensely appealing,” writes Philip E. Orbanes in “Monopoly,” a 2006 history of the game.

Darrow’s game was initially rejected by Parker Brothers for three errors – not 52 – but when his independent sales took off, Parker Brothers bought the game from him. The date? March 19, 1935.

It’s been a huge success

The numbers are staggering. Monopoly has been translated into 47 languages. It’s played in 114 countries. It’s sold more than 275 million copies.

Hasbro prints $30 billion in Monopoly money each year, and well more than $3 trillion has been printed since 1935. Not bad considering each standard game comes with $20,580 – though it’s in the rules that the bank can never go broke, so make up some scrip if you need it.

Incidentally, the Monopoly Man – named Rich Uncle Pennybags – was likely based on mustachioed financier J.P. Morgan.

Take a walk … in Pierre, South Dakota?

Even before numerous editions of Monopoly were widely licensed, there were local board variations depending on the country. Boardwalk, for example, is Mayfair in Britain, Schlossallee in Germany, Kalverstraat in the Netherlands and Rue de la Paix in France, after major streets in London, Berlin, Amsterdam and Paris. Other streets have also drawn from local geography.

The new “Here & Now” U.S. edition, however, opened the voting to enthusiasts – and Pierre (population 14,000), the capital of South Dakota, won pride of place as Boardwalk. (Lima, Peru, won the World Edition.)

Pierre was one of 60 cities in the running, Mayor Laurie Gill said, and was “in the bottom of the pack” when she was informed of the contest. Being a competitive sort, she was determined to push Pierre past perhaps more logical cities such as New York or Los Angeles.

“It’s our energy and the fact we engaged our citizens,” she told CNN. “I was doing radio and press releases and working with our school district, and our Chamber of Commerce utilized social media. It became a big deal here.”

One consideration for visitors: Pierre is on the Missouri River, but it lacks a literal boardwalk. (There are paths.) Still, given the city’s triumph, you probably wouldn’t want to play Monopoly against an energized Pierre resident.

Meet me tonight in Atlantic City

Pierre may be doing better than Atlantic City, which has struggled since the mid-2000s to return to its gambling heyday. Still, the New Jersey resort does have Monopoly to thank for some of its fame – not that it was appreciated at one time.

In the early ’70s, a city commissioner proposed renaming Mediterranean and Baltic avenues, since both had other names in different parts of town. The idea caused an uproar among Monopoly fans and the idea was eventually shot down.

“Baltic and Mediterranean are the streets we know,” wrote one commissioner. “Without them, we could never pass Go.”

You don’t really know the rules

Do you put money from Chance and Community Chest in the center of the board and collect it when landing on Free Parking? Not in the rules. Do you give $400 for landing on Go instead of $200? Not in the rules. Do you allow secret side deals? Uh-uh. (Admittedly, there is now a set of “House Rules” that allow for variations, but they’re not official.)

Catchphrases and movies

The dismissive line “Do not pass Go, do not collect $200,” which has worked its way into a few songs, is from Monopoly. And the game also gave us the term “Monopoly money,” as in worthless currency.

There aren’t many movies featuring the game, but “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” has a famous scene with William Redfield and Danny DeVito arguing over DeVito’s play. Stay tuned, though: a Monopoly movie is back on after several years in Hollywood purgatory.

So forget the classic definition of “Monopoly money.” Hasbro has taken quite a bunch to the bank.

Pick up the pieces

The original set featured a top hat, iron, shoe, thimble, battleship and cannon. Over the years, some pieces have been retired – including a purse, rocking horse and lantern – and others have been added. The latest? A bag of money and a cat. And they’re all still made of metal, just as they’ve been for decades.

Winning!

Want to win at Monopoly? Though there’s some chance involved (pardon the pun), the low-rent light blues and the mid-market oranges are the most desirable, according to a study done for Maxine Brady’s 1974 “The Monopoly Book.” The oranges and reds are the most likely to be landed on. The more upscale greens will pay off eventually, but they’re expensive to develop, so you’d better have another form of cash flow in the short term.

Or you could just do what millions have done since Darrow’s day: Land on someone else’s hotel, get mad and turn over the game board. Hey, it worked in college.

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