logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2021
9m 4s

The secret history of Monopoly

Bbc World Service
About this episode

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)

Up next
Yesterday
The man who said ‘no’ to Disney
In 1941, Walt Disney made a tempting offer to a fellow pioneer of the animation industry, Quirino Cristiani - the author of the first animated feature film.Cristiani was an Italian immigrant raised in Argentina who built a career creating animated political satires in the early d ... Show More
9m 55s
Jul 10
Ni Una Menos women’s movement in Argentina
On 3 June 2015, tens of thousands of people gathered in the capital, Buenos Aires, and in dozens of cities and towns demanding an end to violence against women. There were demonstrations in Chile and Uruguay in solidarity too. Argentina was reporting a female murder rate of one e ... Show More
9m 31s
Jul 9
Argentina’s national genetics bank created to identify stolen babies
In 1982, Argentine geneticist Victor Penchaszadeh was living in exile in New York when he received a call that would change the course of his career. Two founding members of the campaign group, the Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo, were asking for his help to find their kidnappe ... Show More
10m 41s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2022
Do Not Pass Go
There's more to Monopoly than you might think. It's one of the best-selling board games in history — despite huge economic instability, sales actually went up during the pandemic — and it's been an iconic part of American life at other pivotal moments: a cheap pastime during the ... Show More
50m 55s
Jan 2023
Do Not Pass Go (2022)
There's more to Monopoly than you might think. It's one of the best-selling board games in history — despite huge economic instability, sales actually went up during the pandemic — and it's been an iconic part of American life at other pivotal moments: a cheap pastime during the ... Show More
50m 58s
Jan 2019
How the Monopoly Board Game Became a World War II Escape Kit
Monopoly is a pretty divisive game, and people tend to either love it or hate it. However, for hundreds of Allied POWs captured during World War II, Monopoly became more than a mere diversion -- it became, instead, their ticket to freedom. Join the guys as they explore the strang ... Show More
28m 52s
Jan 2023
The story of "Monopoly" and American capitalism
Monopoly is one of the best-selling board games in history. The game's staying power may in part be because of strong American lore — the idea that anyone, with just a little bit of cash, can rise from rags to riches. Mary Pilon, author of The Monopolists: Obsession, Fury, and th ... Show More
22m 25s
Jun 2020
The Monopoly Game
Joshua Leo and Christy VanArragon look at one of the world's most popular games - Monopoly! It uses ideas of big business, and land ownership. But what was the original idea? 
15m 2s
Sep 2021
Monopoly Money
October 1, 1904. Show up at a newsstand this morning, and you'll see that the October issue of McClure's magazine has hit the shelves. Alongside it, newspapers advertise what’s inside: "Ida M. Tarbell renders her final judgment of Rockefeller's Trust." It’s the 19th and last inst ... Show More
33m 29s
May 2020
Business Battles | Monopoly: Winner Takes All | 2
It's 1902 and political campaigner Lizzie Magie is fighting a losing battle. For years, she’s pushed the idea of a land-value tax, but fewer and fewer people are listening.So she’s going to try something new to spread the word. She’s going to make a board game – and not just any ... Show More
27m 5s
Aug 2023
841. A Conversation about MONOPOLY 🎲🏠💰 with Anna Tyrie
Monopoly is one of the most famous board games of all time.It's sold in more than 114 countries and has been printed in more than 47 languages.It's famous for causing arguments and taking forever to finish!But it is a fantastic and fascinating game, so let's talk about it.In this ... Show More
1h 38m
Mar 2020
SYSK Selects: How Monopoly Works
Since more than 1 billion people have played it, you’re probably familiar with the board game Monopoly, but we bet you don’t know its secret origins as a left-wing socialist teaching tool. Join Josh and Chuck as they chase it down in this classic episode. Learn more about your ad ... Show More
1h 3m
Apr 2021
40. History as Entertainment
From re-enactment to reinforcing capitalism through the board game Monopoly. Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland examine the history of games and the portrayal of history in games. A Goalhanger Films & Left Peg Media productionProduced by Jack DavenportExec Producer Tony Pastor *Th ... Show More
45m 21s