The True Story Behind 'Monopoly'

By Steve Kraske,

Published December 17, 2015 at 1:38 PM CST

For decades, every game of Monopoly came with the same origin story — a man named Charles Darrow, desperately struggling to support his family during the Great Depression invents a game to provide some entertainment. The problem? It isn't true.

Guest:

Mary Pilon is a journalist and the author of The Monopolists: Obsession, Fury, and the Scandal Behind the World’s Favorite Board Game.

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Up To Date Great Depression entertainment

Steve Kraske

When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.

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Lisa Rodriguez

Slow news days are a thing of the past. As KCUR’s news director, I want to cut through the noise, provide context to the headlines, and give you news you can use in your daily life – information that will empower you to make informed decisions about your neighborhood, your city and the region. Email me at lisa@kcur.org.

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