Scrabble & MacLean’s Junior Bootery
My Mom’s old Scrabble game came out this weekend. The copyright date on the inside of the box is 1949, but the maker’s game catalog (Selchow & Righter Company, Dept. M 200 5th Ave., New York 10, N. Y.) lists the dates 1867 and 1953. It also lists such gaming delights as:
- Super Market: “The Red-Light Green-Light Shopping Game … In Super Market shoppers are limited to a strict budget which they must spend for food either in the super market or neighboring stores. While en route to the shopping areas on foot, or by taxi, traffic signals must be observed.” No. 56, $1.00
- Huggin’ The Rail: “The Realistic Auto Race Game … There’s no hoggin’ the game in Huggin’ The Rail because the Lane-Locator will swing a racer from the inside lane to the outside and it’s really a battle for position right up to the exciting finish line.” No. 46, $2.25
- Assembly Line: “Assemble Cars Like The Motor Czars … [It’s] the most realistic and fascinating game ever devised. … Board depicting Ford, Plymouth, Chevrolet, and Studebaker assembly lines.” No. 61, $3.00
Also interesting are the cards contained within (front, back)– sponsored by MacLean’s Junior Bootery — that list words to cram your brain with between episodes of Scrabble. The “Tan ‘N Whites” are “For every lad wearing shoes these are a must for Spring. So popular we stock five variations.” (From $5.95) Also of note is a shoe not pictured above: “Nothing sparkles like black patent leather. This sparkler goes all out to please with the daintiest of nylon lacework. For Tiny Tots–thrillin’ Teens and in-betweens.” ($5.95 - $6.95 - $7.95)
MacLean’s Junior Bootery has (had?) two great Pennsylvania locations: 700 West Ave. Jenkintown and 47 N. Easton Rd. Willow Grove.
August 1st, 2005 at 11:23 am
Very interesting! A great gimmick to sell shoes.
August 1st, 2005 at 4:05 pm
Somedays, I wonder what the world was like before video games…
“Hey, Jim, I know we’ve been tasked to come up with a new game that’ll really grabs the kids’ attention. You know, something that’ll really fly off the shelves! Well, I was out picking up some cabbage last night - they had it on sale down at Kelso’s - for the wife’s tasty casarole when it hit me: we could make a game all about shopping! Players would have a budget and they’d have to spend it on food! You know, they’d have to find the really swell deals in order to win. Oh, and they’ll get caught in traffic going from one store to the next as they search for those deals! We could even, I don’t know, throw in some coupons or something to make it truly wild! Yeah, I know, maybe that’s a little too much. We couldn’t have the kids getting out of control or anything, not like the madness we created with the game ‘File Cabinet’…”
…and somedays I hide from those nightmares.
August 1st, 2005 at 4:39 pm
Awesome, Vince. :)
It’s always mystifying to find a game that involves simulating something that most people consider to be a chore.
August 2nd, 2005 at 11:28 am
Like zoning land. But I’ll admit it: I’m a zoning fan. I am. Can’t get enough of it.
August 2nd, 2005 at 11:35 am
At least cool stuff happens when you zone land skillfully. :) It’s hard to say whether cool stuff happens in Super Market, or even in The Sims when you have successfully evacuated your sim’s bladder for the third time in five minutes.