If space toys were the turkey at Christmas then games were the cranberry sauce. I loved them as a kid as did my four older brothers and sisters and I collect them now simply as beautiful things. Games by Parker Brothers, Milton Bradley, Ideal and Waddingtons were all staples of Sixties' Christmases and provided baby-boomer families like ours with hours of wholesome fun around the living room table where Dads wore tank-tops and kids slurped tupperware beakers of sarsaparilla.
These scenes of domestic mirth were often beautifully captured on the box art of games - like this Hats Off by Peter Pan Playthings. This was a updated version of Spears Flying Hats utilising the white-hot science of spring-loaded launchers sending the plastic hats whizzing through the air. There's something charming about the washed-out pastel colours of this box art and like the gleeful boy on the lid of the Century 21 Zero-X their faces shine with the optimism of the age.
What were your favourite games?
Yes ,indeed games were a highlight of the holidays.When a new game was recieved in our household as a gift,I would invite every neighborhood kid within shouting distance over for a tournament.Often these marathons would go late into the night and my parents,generous souls, would allow the whole lot to stay the night.I'm partial to Monopoly,since I live in the Atlantic city area.My 9 year old daughter has recently discovered Trouble,the game with the die inside the plastic bubble.I'm glad that she identifies with a classic game such as this,instead of dismissing it as "old like dad".
ReplyDeleteI recall playing Battlin' Tops, Mouse Trap and Haunted House a lot. Kept losing the Tops under the sofa.
ReplyDeleteThe one game I wish I hadn't been given though was Escape from Colditz. Took ages to play and so we always ended up going for the 'do or die escape run' as it was going on far too long.
Ever heard of The Star of Africa?
ReplyDeletehttp://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/5130/afrikan-tahti
This is one true classic board game created in 1949, and not least in its native Finland. The quest is to find the Cullinan Diamond, avoiding robbers and other obstacles. The gem tokens are really beautiful. This is the game to play over and over again, and never grow tired of it.
Cheers Arto
Star of Africa is something I've never played before,but I had a look at it online and decided my friends and I would have had a great time with it.Speaking of games with jewels, we once had a fantastic game called The Mummy Speakswhich featured a pyramid shaped board ,a Sphinx,gems and of course a mummy that spoke instructions to the gamers.Also ,we liked glow in the dark games.One was Parker Bros.Screetch,a match-the- symbols type game shaped like and owl,and the immortal Barnabas Collins game where you assembled little glowing skeletons;All great fun in the dark!
ReplyDeleteSorry, the first game was called "voice of the mummy" not "the mummy speaks"
ReplyDelete