Board Games: Dice, Tokens, and Memories
by Barbara Miller Beem
Sponsored
It’s February, the shortest month of the year, even though sometimes it feels like the longest one. Outside, the weather is frightful. Inside, the fire is so delightful (provided you have a fireplace, of course). But do we really want to let it snow, let it snow, let it snow?
On the other hand, this is a good time to consider how to spend quiet hours at home, especially when it involves enjoying old things—something that requires no batteries, electric cords, or internet connection. You could read a book. Or take a nap. And then there are board games.
When it comes to board games, I’ve noticed that people either love them or hate them, with little room in between. But still we continue to play them; games such as backgammon,
chess, and checkers have, for thousands of years, stood the test of time. Meanwhile, in just the past two hundred years, thousands of board games have been manufactured.
More than 100 million copies of Milton Bradley’s “Battleship” have been produced since its introduction some 50 years ago. It remains a favorite.
Courtesy of The Strong, Rochester, New York
Back in the day, while growing up in houses that lacked central air conditioning, my friends and I kept cool by sitting still, playing seemingly unending games of Monopoly. Years later, new members of the Beem family were judged by whether or not they were proficient at the game Upwards. And although Clue is not, nor has it ever been, my favorite, I will play it under duress—but only if I can be Miss Scarlet. On the other hand, I stand my ground when it comes to Chutes and Ladders. Don’t even suggest it.
“Trivial Pursuit” has challenged players for more than 40 years. The game was recently one of two inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame at The Strong National Museum of Play.
Courtesy of The Strong, Rochester, New York
But here’s the thing: Even though board games face a lot of competition these days from flashier distractions, they continue to remain popular. Need proof? Check out the 2025 inductees into the National Toy Hall of Fame, under the roof of the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York. Two of last year’s three inductees were board games. Imagine that: Battleship and Trivial Pursuit beat out the Star Wars lightsaber and the scooter. Better luck next time, Tickle Me Elmo.
Sponsored
Even though many of today’s games are played on handheld electronic devices with unknown opponents, they lag behind in two departments. They lack the nostalgic value of vintage board games, and they are not nearly as interesting in terms of aesthetic appeal. Just ask my friend Christine.
As a young child, Christine was especially intrigued by one old pinball game in particular, one “much treasured” by her grandmother. Years later, when she found one exactly like it at a garage sale, there was no hesitation. “I had to have it,” she recalled. But it didn’t stop there, as she began scooping up various vintage games, primarily ones with strong graphics.
Today, Christine has amassed an impressive collection of old games, ones made of metal, plastic, and, of course, wood. Best of all, they are on display where she can enjoy them—if not play them—every day.
This 50-year-old backgammon set is far too swanky to remain closed up and stashed in a closet.
Among the treasures in her collection is an early edition of Monopoly, set up in mid-game mode and encased in a coffee table for safekeeping. What she refers to as a “collage of pinballs and tin games” shares space with a Pachinko game, complete with its big wooden wheel. Then there are quirky examples she couldn’t resist, including a copy of the game Careers, which suggested that little girls could grow up to become ballerinas, teachers, or stewardesses. An old tube of Pick-Up Sticks is appealing for its colorful graphics. And then there’s an “old odd” game of Cootie. I’d forgotten about that one.
Not stashed in a closet, Christine’s games are treated as artwork—a personal touch that defines her living space.
I’m inspired. And I’m newly determined to find Queen of the Prom, a game featuring Mattel’s Barbie doll. Great fun—especially if your name is, er, Barbie.
I have yet to find one at a yard sale, flea market, or antiques mall, and my personal copy is long gone. Buying one online just doesn’t feel right. But should I ever spy one, at a reasonable price and in decent condition, it’s going to be hanging on my wall within a week of its purchase.
The final word on the subject of board games is that you can play vintage games, and you can use them as decorative home accessories, but there’s a third way to keep the game magic alive. Just as Bakelite mahjongg tiles, as well as typewriter keys, have been reused and repurposed, so can Scrabble tiles. With a bit of imagination and the necessary crafting supplies, tiles can be fashioned into personalized magnets, coasters, ornaments, and jewelry, including earrings, bracelets, and necklaces. The same goes for game tokens. Don’t overlook the weapons in Clue.
A vintage cribbage board such as this one, when not in use, could double as a wall hanging.
One more thing. Apologies to Jules Styne (music) and Sammy Cahn (lyrics) for making light of their 1945 hit, best remembered through Dean Martin’s 1959 recording. As it happens, I am only two degrees of separation from the popular crooner. But that’s a story for another day.
“Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!”
Talk to me at: thecharmjoac@gmail.com
