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)
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- Christmas Day 201908:50GMTBBC World Service
- Christmas Day 201912:50GMTBBC World Service
- Christmas Day 201913:50GMTBBC World Service News Internet
- Christmas Day 201916:50GMTBBC World Service Australasia
- Christmas Day 201918:50GMTBBC World Service except Australasia, East and Southern Africa, South Asia & West and Central Africa
- Christmas Day 201921:50GMTBBC World Service South Asia
- Christmas Day 201923:50GMTBBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Boxing Day 201903:50GMTBBC World Service UK DAB/Freeview & Online only
- Boxing Day 201904:50GMTBBC World Service Australasia, Americas and the Caribbean, South Asia & East Asia only
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