TCW Podcast Episode 133 - Rolling Dice with the Parker Brother's

We look at the history of the company Parker Brothers.  Originally a board game company founded in the 1880's we follow the company's growth though the century.  This family owned business was eventually bought by General Mills in 1963, and was brought into the ever expanding non-food properties of the conglomerate.  Starting off with electronic games in the 70's, Parker Brothers would eventually enter the video game Industry near the beginning of the Great Video Game Crash.  They were somewhat successful despite difficulties.  However even they were not able to survive the crash, and were eventually divested by General Mills.   They ultimately ended up in the hands of Hasbro where they are today.

Codename Sector Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEcKucKnc5Y

Codename Sector Explanation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_oQMvnVXHs

Merlin Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OX94QT_yxyI

Parker Brother's Merlin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXJddQzMZpg

The Virtual Wizard (Play Merlin On-Line): https://www.theelectronicwizard.com/

Plastic Galaxy The Story of the Star Wars Toys: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAeGakhoAEk

Parker Brother Frogger and The Empire Strikes Back Commercials: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0UqjVykGxY&feature=emb_logo

Empire Strikes Back Atari Explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SkWIPKFrxk&feature=emb_logo

Frogger Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSxdDv3PiTI

Q'bert Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXG5OwKBkuY

Q'bert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdnYB9o3IWU

Popeye commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxtHjC-0qxY

Popeye Atari 2600: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2e1idOr3_c

Parker Brothers Commercials: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePlPd-WBaZs

Tutenkham Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjxLvvPCPIY

Spider-Man Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSxszeqiGyg

G.I. Joe Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyonxGSO8aY

G.I. Joe Cobra Strike Explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eQIoazUrdw

New episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month!

TCW Email: [email protected] 

Twitter: @tcwpodcast

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theycreateworlds

Alex's Video Game History Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com

Alex's book is available for preorder and should be released through CRC Press in December 2019: http://bit.ly/TCWBOOK1

Intro Music: Josh Woodward - Airplane Mode -  Music - "Airplane Mode" by Josh Woodward. Free download:http://joshwoodward.com/song/AirplaneMode 

Outro Music: RolemMusic - Bacterial Love - http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Rolemusic/Pop_Singles_Compilation_2014/01_rolemusic_-_bacterial_love 

Copyright: Attribution: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/