The Fascinating Story Behind Scrabble

Let me tell you all about the captivating history of the word game Scrabble. It all began in the early 1930s when an architect called Alfred Butts decided to create a new board game. Butts wanted to make a game that combined elements of anagrams and crossword puzzles, something that would challenge players to think creatively and strategically.

After a lot of hard work and tinkering, Butts came up with the first version of Scrabble. He initially called it “Lexiko” and later “Criss-Cross Words.” To make the game even more exciting, Butts assigned point values to each letter based on their frequency in the English language. This ingenious scoring system added a competitive element to the game and made players strive to use high-value letters to score more points.

However, Scrabble didn’t become an instant hit. Butts faced several rejections from game manufacturers who were skeptical about its appeal. But he didn’t give up. Eventually, in 1948, the game caught the attention of James Brunot, who saw its potential. Brunot made a few modifications and changed the name to Scrabble. He also invested in manufacturing and selling the game himself.

Scrabble gained popularity slowly but steadily, thanks to word-of-mouth and enthusiastic players. It wasn’t until 1952 that the game really took off. One influential player, the president of Macy’s department store, began stocking the game, and it quickly became a best-seller during the Christmas season. From there, Scrabble soared in popularity and has continued to be a beloved game for people of all ages.

Today, Scrabble is played by millions of people worldwide. Its allure lies in its ability to entertain while challenging players’ intellectual abilities. It’s a game that requires strategic thinking, vocabulary skills, and a healthy dose of luck. Whether you’re a casual player or a die-hard Scrabble enthusiast, the game offers a unique and enjoyable experience every time you play.

So, the next time you sit down to play Scrabble, take a moment to appreciate its rich history. Remember that behind this simple but engaging word game is a story of perseverance, creativity, and the power of words.

I remember the time when the Great Depression hit and I found myself unemployed. I had been working as an architect, but with no jobs available, I had to get creative to make ends meet. That’s when I came up with the idea of inventing a board game.

I knew I had to do some research and figure out what kind of game to create. As I looked into it, I noticed that games generally fell into three categories: number games like dice and bingo, move games like chess and checkers, and word games like anagrams.

I wanted to make a game that combined the excitement of crossword puzzles and anagrams, with an added element of luck. I called it Lexico at first, but after some thought, I settled on the name “Criss-Cross Words”.

When I look at the front page of The New York Times, I can’t help but wonder how often each letter of the English language is used. So, I decided to dig deeper and find out. It turns out that vowels are used more frequently than consonants, and among the vowels, E takes the lead as the most popular one.

After uncovering this fascinating information, I started thinking about how I could turn it into a game. So, I assigned different point values to each letter, based on how often they appear. But I didn’t stop there. I also had to decide how many of each letter should be included in the game.

Now, let me tell you about the letter S. It’s a bit tricky because it’s used quite often. However, I made a deliberate choice to include only four S’s in the game. Why? Well, I wanted to challenge players and make sure the game wasn’t too easy by allowing too many plurals.

Guess what? I got it just right! The tile distribution and letter values that I designed based on my analysis have stood the test of time. For almost three generations and billions of games played, they have remained valid. It’s incredible to see how a simple cryptographic study of our language can create such a long-lasting and beloved game.

When I think back to the origins of the first Criss-Cross Words game, it amazes me to imagine the meticulous process that went into creating it. The boards themselves were not mass-produced; instead, they were carefully hand drawn using architectural drafting equipment. It’s hard to fathom the level of dedication and attention to detail that must have been involved in reproducing those one-of-a-kind designs through the process of blueprinting, and then painstakingly pasting them onto folding checkerboards.

But that’s not all. The tiles, too, were completely crafted by hand. Each one was meticulously hand-lettered and then delicately glued onto quarter-inch balsa wood. Once the glue had dried, the wooden tiles were meticulously cut to perfectly match the squares on the board. It’s truly remarkable to think about the time and effort that went into creating every single tile.

Of course, the story doesn’t end there. Initially, the game struggled to find a home with established game manufacturers. But the creator, Alfred Butts, didn’t lose hope. He refused to give up on his creation and instead sought the help of a game-loving entrepreneur named James Brunot. Together, they worked tirelessly to refine the rules and design of the game, determined to turn their vision into a success.

And succeed they did. With their combined efforts, they transformed the game into what we now know as Scrabble. A fitting name, considering its origins. The word “Scrabble” means “to grope frantically”, a perfectly apt description for the intense mental battles and strategic jousting that take place on the game board. In recognition of their achievement, the name was officially trademarked in 1948, forever securing its place in history.

I want to share with you the fascinating story of how Scrabble, the iconic word game, came to be. It all started in an old schoolhouse in Dodgington, Connecticut, where Mr. Brunot and his friends worked tirelessly to create the very first Scrabble games. They painstakingly stamped each letter onto wooden tiles, one by one. The boards, boxes, and tiles were then manufactured in other locations and sent to the factory for assembly and shipping.

The early years were tough. In 1949, Mr. Brunot and his team produced 2,400 sets of Scrabble but ended up losing $450. However, they didn’t give up. Slowly but surely, Scrabble started gaining popularity among a small group of players. Then, in the early 1950s, something remarkable happened. The president of Macy’s stumbled upon the game while on vacation and instantly fell in love with it. He wasted no time and ordered a batch of games for his store. And just like that, the demand for Scrabble skyrocketed. People from all walks of life wanted to get their hands on a Scrabble set, and stores across the country couldn’t keep up with the demand.

In 1952, the Brunots realized they couldn’t keep up with the demand for their games. They teamed up with Selchow and Righter Company, a well-known game manufacturer, to sell their games in the United States and Canada.

Even Selchow and Righter had to increase their production to meet the overwhelming demand for Scrabble. Everyone seemed to want a set of the game as it gained attention in national newspapers, magazines, and on TV. In 1972, Selchow and Righter bought the trademark Scrabble from Brunot, giving them exclusive rights to all Scrabble Brand products and entertainment services in the United States and Canada.