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Polygon

The History of Fun explores the hidden backstories behind the things you enjoy. This season, we’re diving into the amazing origins of your favorite holiday traditions. Join Polygon’s Russ Frushtick, Allegra Frank, and Chris Plante each week as they embark on a new quest to uncover these common-yet-mysterious customs. Produced by Polygon and the Vox Media Podcast Network.

The History of Fun

Ever wonder who came up with the idea for Monopoly? Or where the Chuck E. Cheese robots come from? Or what caused the downfall of the Beanie Babies? Join Polygon's Russ Frushtick, Allegra Frank and Chris Plante on a weekly journey of discovery called The History of Fun.
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Welcome to The History of Fun

Ah, Monopoly, the game that lasts forever and makes you hate your friends. In their first episode, Russ Frushtick, Allegra Frank and Chris Plante explore the origins of the Parker Bros. game from hell.
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Monopoly: A Brief History

Whether you spent time there as a child or it just haunts your dreams when you close your eyes at night, Chuck E. Cheese is a mainstay of American culture. Today we explore the hidden wonders / horrors of Chuck E. Cheese and its famous singing robots.
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Chuck E. Cheese: A Brief History

On today's episode, Allegra takes the reigns and walks Russ and Chris through the dangerous origins of the game most known as Dodgeball. Where did it come from? Who is fighting against it? Why was Chris Plante such a target in elementary school? All will be revealed.
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Dodgeball (aka Deathball): A Brief History

In today's episode we explore our very first video game: Super Mario Kart. Yes, the very first entry in the long-running Mario Kart series isn't exactly the most beloved, but it's good to know where it all came from, right? Right?
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Super Mario Kart: A Brief History

In this episode, Chris Plante delves into the seedy underbelly that was the production of Street Fighter: The Movie, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. He promises drugs, booze and celebrity scandal. In short, Ryu would be ashamed.

I feel like no one reads this, but in case you're super bored and reading this instead of the bathroom graffiti, maybe you wanna take a minute to review our lovely podcast on Apple Podcasts / iTunes? It would mean so much to us!
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Street Fighter (The Movie): A Brief History

In this episode, Allegra Frank explores the skyrocketing highs and the horrifying lows of the Beanie Baby phenomenon of the mid-90s. Where did they come from? Where did they go? Will they ever return in greater numbers? Yes, before there was BitCoin, there were Beanie Babies.
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Beanie Babies: A Brief History

This week we explore one of the most well-known shooters of all time: GoldenEye 007 on the N64. Join us as we dig deep into the insanely disaster-prone, understaffed team that managed to pull off the impossible.
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GoldenEye 007: A Brief History

If you've never heard of it before, prepare to be introduced to one of the most incredible and over-the-top theme parks in the history of the world: Tokyo DisneySea. Take it away, Chris Plante!
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Tokyo DisneySea: A Brief History

The world has never seen a device quite like the N-Gage. Actually, that's not true. There was a second one. Why, oh, why, you ask? Allegra Frank is on the case!
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N-Gage: A Mercifully Brief History

Chris Plante dives deep into the fascinating origins of Trick or Treating.
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Trick or Treating: A Brief History

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