The secret history of Monopoly
In 1904, an American lady called Lizzy Magie patented a board game that became what we now know as Monopoly. But 30 years later, an unemployed man was credited with inventing it.
In 1904, a left-wing American feminist called Lizzy Magie patented a board game that evolved into what we now know as Monopoly. But 30 years later, when Monopoly was first marketed in the United States during the Great Depression, it was an out-of-work salesman from Pennsylvania who was credited with inventing it. Louise Hidalgo has been talking to American journalist Mary Pilon about the hidden history of one of the world's most popular board games, and to the economics professor Ralph Anspach who unearthed the story.
Picture: A family playing a game of Monopoly in the 1930s (Credit: SSPL/Getty Images)
Last on
More episodes
Previous
Broadcasts
- Fri 31 Dec 2021 08:50GMT麻豆社 World Service
- Fri 31 Dec 2021 12:50GMT麻豆社 World Service
- Fri 31 Dec 2021 18:50GMT麻豆社 World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
- Fri 31 Dec 2021 23:50GMT麻豆社 World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- New Year's Day 2022 03:50GMT麻豆社 World Service except Australasia
Podcast
-
![]()
Witness History
History as told by the people who were there
