Board Games: Then and Now

There’s a local board game boom underway, as KCRW’s Saul Gonzales reported from the couches of LA’s first board game cafe, GameHaüs. Just hearing that sound of the roll of the dice, made us feel nostalgic. Here’s our top 6 old-school, cardboard classics. What’s yours?

1. Scrabble was invented by an out-of-work Architect during the great depression in 1938.

Here is a commercial from 1990. Is Scrabble still “America’s Good Time Game?”

2. Risk was originally published in France under the name “La Conquête du Monde” (“The Conquest of the World”).

This commercial from 1987 is dated, but the game has enjoyed some impressive longevity. It has taken on Star Wars, Halo, Transformers, and even Doctor Who themes.

3. Mousetrap’s been around since 1963, but the 1990’s (seen below) was the real heyday. Warning: The catchy jingle cannot be unheard.

4. Operation: driving players out of their mind since 1965. BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

5. Monopoly is often mistakenly taken for a version of New York City. But the history of the game can be traced back to 1903, and the original version was based on Atlantic City, New Jersey.

6. Cranium’s creator believed the world needed a new game to sharpen skills and talents.