November 5 – Play Monopoly Day

Posted on November 5, 2017

Hit movies often start with big "no, thanks" from several major studios.

American Graffiti became a monster hit - but only after
United Artists, Fox, Warner, MGM, and Paramount all
turned down the movie project.

Best-seller books often start as a pile of rejection slips, too.

Before Harry Potter became a huge industry with multiple
books, movies, and other products, it was a manuscript
that got turned down by 12 publishers.

And perennial favorite games, too, can start with "pass" from game manufacturers.

Apparently Parker Brothers said "no, thanks" to publishing the real estate game Monopoly - until they saw how well the game was selling during the Christmas of 1934.

Even when the Parker Brothers executives changed their minds and decided to manufacture the game, they thought it was a fad - not be a big seller, long term. I mean...a real estate game? 

But actually Monopoly is often considered the best-selling game in history. This game helped to make Parker Brothers a giant in its industry.

It was on this date in 1935 that Parker Brothers released Monopoly onto the market.

For more on the history of Monopoly, including the intellectual theft that made enriched the thief more than the original game designer, check out this earlier post.

Here are some versions of Monopoly with which you could celebrate Play Monopoly Day:

Monopoly is available with credit cards or electronic banking,
rather than play money made out of paper.

Monopoly is available in a variety of video game formats.

The original Monopoly was based on Atlantic City. Almost every
other big city - or country - has created a version to celebrate
their own street names.

Monopoly versions have been created for everything from
favorite places to favorite video games and sports, from favorite TV
shows to favorite movie franchises. Take a peek:

There's even a Monopoly game you can customize with
your own buildings and locations.

Also on this date:

Colon Day in Panama 

Anniversary of the Cry for Independence in El Salvador

Artist Howard Terpning's birthday

Anniversary of the Day of Giving for victims of Hurricane Sandy

Guy Fawkes Day

Anniversary of the discovery of x-rays

Anniversary of China's first lunar satellite

National Men Make Dinner Day

Birthday of Ghazan, ruler of the Ilkhanate 

Daylight Savings Time Ends

Pumpkin Destruction Day

Plan ahead:

Check out my Pinterest boards for:

• November holidays
• November birthdays
• Historical anniversaries in November

And here are my Pinterest boards for:

• December holidays
• December birthdays
• Historical anniversaries in December