I hate to admit it, but I was completely consumed by McDonald’s resurgence of Monopoly. For those who don’t frequent the drive-thru; diners collect Monopoly pieces (stickers) with purchases for a chance to win various prizes. Luckily, I got sick of Big Macs before I had to call 1-800-GAMBLER. Though the contest had me on the verge of a clogged artery or debt, it sparked the idea for this week’s article.
Monopoly has expanded from a tangible board to a virtual world with Monopoly GO!, but did you know that the game’s origin story of a “down-on-his-luck business man creating a board game to help his family during The Great Depression” was just a farce? The idea for the real estate empire pastime is actually credited to Lizzie Magie, an Arlingtonian.
(Portrait of Lizzie Magie)
In the 1880s, Magie found her way to D.C. from Illinois pursuing a career as a stenographer and typist. During this time, Magie also patented her first invention– a machine part that helped papers move smoothly through typewriter rollers. By the end of the century, this young inventor became increasingly interested in anti-monopolist theories. Specifically, she admired Henry George, who believed that a “single tax” on land value should fund all government projects. This would shift the tax burden to landlords. Magie’s strong stance inspired her to create an educational game for her friends & colleagues on her adopted theory on land monopolies.
(The Landlord’s Game & Magie-Phillips)
Dubbed The Landlord’s Game, the Monopoly predecessor’s first patent was filed in 1904. After two decades and various iterations, the game gained popularity in Northeast and Mid-Atlantic college communities. By 1935, Magie (Now Lizzie Magie Phillips) was living in Clarendon and sold her patent to the Parker Brothers for $500. That very same year, Monopoly and its rags-to-riches tale hit the market – Magie received no recognition. With her written out of the narrative, the concept, or “propoganda” as referred to by some, of promoting a single land value tax was lost on the new players. Blame it on the Parker Brothers or human nature – it is just far more fun to buy up all the properties and bankrupt the other players!
Learning more about Lizzie Magie and her creative strategy to spread economic ideologies, I couldn’t help but draw comparison to current housing outcries. It seems as if Magie and the early 20th century Arlingtonians were facing the same frustrations—high rents and lack of affordable property. The buzz words and proposed solutions may have evolved, but the sentiment seems to have been shared by our county ancestors. So I wonder, if we applied the theories floating around today to a family-friendly board game would it help pick our best solution, or expose the worst? Possibly act as a risk-free practice run? From portable mortgages to Missing Middle, if we couldn’t play nicely with fake money and thimbles, would we at least have a deeper understanding than what the headlines and comment sections provide? Food for thought – just no more Big Macs.
