JGT Power Rankings Return

The Fall Invitational is right around the corner, at which time the numbers will speak for themselves. In the meantime, however, we’re gonna go BCS style and pick out our top teams heading into this week subjectively. Here goes:

1. Steak Em Up. After two wins last week, the most successful team in quizzo history* looks to head into the Autumn Invitational red hot. If anybody needs me, I’ll be rooting for them to lose this week.

2. Duane’s World. Two wins in the past 3 weeks put these perennial powerhouses in the #2 spot. And I’m sure they would have recorded perfect scores those two weeks if Mike Minion had played. If you don’t believe me, ask him.

3. The Jams. This is pretty much a toss up. In the last 6 weeks at the Vous, the Jams have won 3 times and Magnus has won 3 times.

4. Magnus ver Magnusson. The question about the top Rendezvous teams is, “Will they ever participate at an Invitational and prove their mettle against top competition?”

5. L. Ron Hubbard’s Diabetics. The loss of Bob to Thunderbird University and Marshall to the suburbs has hurt this squad, but they proved that they can still bring the pain with an impressive two player win at UA on Thursday.

6. Million Dollar Robot Baby. Over the years, this franchise (formerly known as Narcotyzing Dysfunktion) is the only team that has consistently rivaled the Steak. I don’t know how he does it, but Matt the Peter really knows how to whip this squad into shape.

7. Tug My McGraw. A win two weeks ago at CTH, followed by a 3rd Place finish last week. If this team got a sports fanatic on their squad, I think they could consistently compete with the Steak. Furthermore, team member Chet Bumsted is the only person in Philly with an aloha shirt collection as impressive as mine.

8. Team Popesack. Three wins in the last four quizzes at North Star Bar, they have established themselves as the team to beat at the newest JGT venture.

9. Why Can’t Us. A first, 2nd, and 3rd place finish in the past 3 weeks at Ugly American, this team is always in the mix at UA.

10. Taking it to the Max. A first place finish at O’Neals this past week in their first quiz launched these guys onto the national spotlight. If and when Savage Ear gets off their lazy asses and play quizzo again, it will be interesting to see if they have new rivals.

*which is as much of an insult as it is an honor. What nerds.

Big Money Tuesday

Big money on the line tonight at two quizzes without definitive front runners. We kick it off at O’Neals at 8 p.m. $3.50 margaritas and a $50 gift certificate for the winners. Been a little quiet the past couple of weeks. Could be a great shot for your team to make some noise.

On to the City Tap House at 10:15 p.m. Also been quiet the last couple of weeks, but that should change now that the kids are back in town. $100 gift certificate for the winning team. Oh, and this week’s wild card round will be science-related, at least on Tuesday/Wednesday.

Charles Darrow: Mount Airy’s Millionaire Monopoly Thief?

We had a question this week about the board game Monopoly. As I often do, while researching the question, I got sucked into reading more about the history of the game. It’s incredibly fascinating, and it’s got Philly all over it, so I thought you might dig it too. (If you’re a fan of local history, check out quizzo regular GroJlart over at Philaphilia or check us out at Phillysportshistory.com.)

The Great Depression hit Germantown (now Mt. Airy) resident Charles Darrow hard. He lost his job as a domestic heater salesman, and with a bunch of free time on his hands, started tinkering around on a piece of oilcloth with a new game that was formulating in his mind. He tinkered with rules, made little houses and hotels, and invited friends over to try his new game. They were enthralled. With little money of their own during the Great Depression, the idea of playing a game that gave them money and power was an instant hit. Darrow saw that he had created something special, and started selling the game out of his house. Orders came pouring in, so he went to Parker Brothers to see if they could manufacture it for him. They weren’t interested, so he sold it to Wannamaker’s himself. The game flew off the shelves in Philadelphia that holiday season. Parker Brothers reconsidered, bought the game from Darrow, and paid him royalties that within a year had made him a millionaire. See, a little elbow grease and originality, and the American Dream can come true for anyone!

At least that’s the official story that Parker Brothers told for 40 years after the game was invented. And parts of it are true. But like most stories, it was a hell of a lot more complicated than the “official” version. Darrow positively did not create the game. He was just the guy who hustled it and made the money off of it. The woman who invented it, Lizzie Magie, is like the dude who invented chicken nuggets according to DeAngelo in the Wire. A quick history of the game after the jump, according to About.com:

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$1 Corn Dogs, $2 Beers, $3 Fries and Philly’s Best Quizzo Tonight

Some great deals at quizzo tonight. We start at Ugly American, where you can pretty much eat and drink plenty for $10. $1 Corn Dogs, $2 Lagers, and a brand new special starting this week, $3 French Fries. That’s in addition to the fries I’ll be giving away. They’ll also be rocking $3 Kenzingers. Action starts at 8 p.m., and this is one bar where there is no dominant team. Why Can’t Us will certainly give you a run for your money though.

On to the Bards, where French Fry Faceoff typically turns into craziness. $2 Lager Lights and $3 Lagers. Quizzo starts at 10:15 p.m. Phillies game will be on at both bars. So if you want to watch some Phillies, play some quizzo, and partake in two of the best beer specials in Philly, come on out to quizzo tonight!

1920s Quiz on September 25th!

We’ve got an awesome event lined up for September 25th at National Mechanics. We’re going to be doing an all 1920s quiz, with questions about the drinks, the styles, the music, the politics, and the celebrities of the Jazz Age. We’ll have prizes to give away for best 1920s outfit, we’ll have 1920s era drinks, and we’re going to have some incredible live music, with the Blackbird Society Orchestra (above) a 1920s-style jazz band (To listen to them click here)! Then, after the show and the quiz are done, we’re going to settle in and watch the season premiere of Boardwalk Empire on the big screen. So prepare to travel back in time with us on the 25th. I am quite honestly as excited about this quiz as I have been about any quiz I’ve ever hosted. This is gonna be really, really cool.