Monopoly Get Out of Jail Free Card
We must have played the board Monopoly hundreds of times together, we even have it on a computer game, but never had I thought about the origins of the “Get Out of Jail Free” card you can get. I was looking for something totally different on the interweb & found myself finding it’s beginnings. I found a couple of uses made for the card.
Intrigued I was so read on for more.
Britain’s First National Lottery
In 1567, the prize in Britain’s first national lottery, commissioned by Queen Elizabeth I and Sir Frances Drake to raise funds for England’s navy, it included a get out of jail free card, just like in the Monopoly game, which the winner could use to excuse any but the most serious crimes.
Not sure I agree with that one!
FBI Most Wanted
Also in 1967, James Robert Ringrose, one of the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives, presented a Get Out of Jail Free card to FBI agents after he was arrested.
I bet he didn’t get away with it. Do you know anymore interesting times it has been used?
Anyhow a bit of information to store away to until you need to amaze someone with a fact.
Granddad Al
Have you seen our latest giveaways?
Queen Elizabeth I Photo credit: Internet Archive Book Images via VisualHunt.com / No known copyright restrictions
Sir Frances Drake Photo credit: Internet Archive Book Images via Visualhunt.com / No known copyright restrictions
Most Wanted Photo credit: Boston Public Library via Visual Hunt / CC BY-NC-N
Interesting post. We love monopoly and have lots of different versions
Nice fact! I would never imagine it being part of a National Lotery! I will share these data in my next dinner party! 😉
Still chuckling I played The Millenium Monopoly and we still got excited to win its alternative card. Bought the Simpson’s monopoly but prefer original x
Very interesting!
No I never thought of monopoly like that either
Rather intriguing
I was surprise when Al told me about it. Jane. x
Thats really interesting, i love monopoly but have never thought much about the content of the game before.
Glad you thought it was as interesting as I did. Al.