Alte Spiele

Alte Spiele -- Games of Old -- Jeux d'Autrefois 1975 Calendar

This was a 1975 promotional calendar from printing press manufacturer Roland Offset. it contained six roll-and-move style games from the 1800s.

From the first page: "Present-day games have contemporary goals: The imagination envisions planetary flight and the psycho tests of the psychologist are dinner table discussion. In this context, who would like to hazard his fortune on a throw of dice? Even in cases where chance is permitted, workaday personal and occupational practices persist - the neighbor is shunted aside or his property gloatingly purchased at auction...

All of this was not evident at the beginning of our rushing century. All one wanted to do at the end of the day was to relax. Television, radio, record player and cinema were unknown. The first motorists purchased their fuel at the apothecary and the operator of a magic-lantern illuminated his coloured glass slides with a kerosene lamp. The village squares were still the site of public wells, although some well-to-do people already had gaslight. Geese were allowed to graze the entire summer. Skiing was just beginning to be recognized as a sport. A race track for horses in the city was a novelty. And a locomotive engineer was admired by all the boys: 'What a man!'

Games of old reflect this world of the small adventures, where it was an event if a train derailed or even when a fowl flew its coop. Then in those days games were modern and exciting. Even for their producers..."

January/February - "The Ski Race" March/April - "The Tramway" May/June - "We Take The Train" July/August - "The Goose Game" September/October - "The Automobile Race" November/December - "Commerce And Trade"