Board Games in the 1940s

1940s-board-games

I looked at a 1942 catalog and wished the board games were the same price they are now. I could afford to buy enough games to fill whole bedroom.

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It’s not because I am rich (I’m not). It’s because board games in the 1940s were not expensive at all!

Because I am an old man, I was asked to make a list of my favorite board games from the 1940s and its kind of hard to remember which ones were in the ’30s and which ones were in the ’50s, but I love board games more than anyone and these were the ones my mama and papa bought for me.

57-Game Carrom Board

This was popular with my whole family because there were so many games. Backgammon and Chinese Checkers were our favorites. There were games on both sides of the board. And it had those cool billiard style nets on the corners.

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Jim Prentice Electric Football Instructions (1942)

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Those were around $5 bucks. There was a bigger one but we didn’t have that one.

Jim Prentice Electric Football

This isn’t the same as the electric football that most people think of. The one I had when I was a kid was completely different. But still, I had it and loved it. It is hard to explain but I found the rules online and put a picture somewhere on this page.

I also had the electric baseball game. My uncle got it for me I remember.

Of course we had Ricochet and Monopoly but I’m sure those games were before the ’40s.

Oh one more that gets everyone giggling and I still have it.

Veda the Magic Answer Man

This one was very interesting because it gave everyone a supernatural type of feeling. It was eerie, but fun too.

There are 4 question/answer sheets that are two-sided. You turn Veda to a question and then set him on the mirrored answer disc and he points to the answer.

I think those were some of the best board games in the 1940s.

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7 thoughts on “Board Games in the 1940s

  1. Charles Dyche

    I am trying to find the name of a game I use to play as a kid in the 60’s, and I think the game was already old.
    There was a game board of the U.S. with cities I think connected by railroad. The object was to capture the criminal you were looking for based on the clues in a card. All I left of the game is one card, approx 3″ by 6″. This card is of Baby Face Malone who is wanted for murder of Lucy Bates on Feb. 25, 1935 in Wheeling W. Va.
    It tells where he lived and that he was last seen near the freight yards and where the trains were going. Does anyone know anything about this or where I may find any info?

    Reply
  2. Hilary

    Hello, I am searching for a board game from 1948 called Huggin’ the Rail. I am having trouble finding a complete game (used is obviously fine). Any advise or assistance is greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for you help.
    Kindest Regards,
    Hilary

    Reply
  3. Karen Beall

    I am trying to find 2 board games I played ca. 1942-44: Rainbow Game and Elsie, Elmer and Beulah (the Bordens game I think).

    Any help?

    Reply
  4. Don Fleeger

    I am remembering a board football game that I played in the late 1940s. The game was played with three dice. Center piece for the game was a small glass football that looked like it was on a tee.. I am interested in purchasing.

    Reply
  5. CICELY A GLAZE

    I’m looking for aboard game that we played during the war. It involved shipping and the furthest port and most difficult to reach was Mumansk. The easiest was Dutch Harbor. I was vet young during the war 5-9 yrs old. My husbands father was a merchant mariner at that time and he has never heard of it. Does anyone remember it?

    Reply
  6. James Tracy

    I’m looking for instructions to “Tom Hamilton’s pigskin football” game. I would take a copy.

    Reply

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