Mystery Date was a board game released in 1965 and marketed to little girls. Players took turns opening a little plastic door in the middle of the board to reveal their potential dream date. To score points the outfit you had collected through individual wardrobe item cards, had to be an appropriate match for the hunky male behind the door – swimsuit for the beach date, formal wear for the dance, etc.

If you look closely on the left hand side you will see that the game is intended for girls 6-14 years old, making it the perfect choice for moms who want to prepare their little girls to act appropriately when a strange 20 to 35-year-old man shows up at the door. Judging by the 1960s TV commercial “acting appropriately” means either squealing with delight or swooning. Hmm. Who invented this game?

You might think that this questionable game grew out of favor over the years but Mystery Date was reissued in 1970, 1999, and in 2005. And – I’m not sure – but I believe that the 1999 version includes a man in a trench coat with his pockets full of candy. (“Sigh!”)

Anyway, although I borrowed the name for my poem, it has nothing to do with the game. Just thought you might enjoy this bit of Milton Bradley history.

This is Milton

Check out the Mystery Date commercial (with a very catchy jingle) from the ’60s http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=mystery+date+commercial&FORM=VIRE3#view=detail&mid=8CAF3495948ECD58DFE78CAF3495948ECD58DFE7