11 August 19

Yesterday (10 August) marked the 130th birthday anniversary for Charles Darrow (1889-1967), usually credited as the inventor of Monopoly®. Actually the basic ideas for the game come from "The Landlord's Game," invented in 1903 by Lizzie Magie (Elizabeth J. Phillips), who wanted to teach the evils of concentrating land ownership in private monopolies. Darrow learned about the game in 1932. He modified the rules a bit and designed the game board to feature the streets of Atlantic City, NJ, obtaining his own patent in 1935. Parker Brothers soon became the monopolizers of Monopoly®.