Handcrafted M*A*S*H Boardgame, Created by Alan and Arlene Alda (ca. 1973)....

Description

Handcrafted M*A*S*H Boardgame, Created by Alan and Arlene Alda (ca. 1973). Vintage original (153) piece board game including (1) 18.5" x 18.5" foldable game board (originally a chessboard) with a Monopoly-style layout printed on cardstock. The center features a black-and-white image of a medical chopper landing, from the iconic opening sequence from M*A*S*H, with stylized "The M*A*S*H G*A*M*E" in the series' distinctive, military-stenciled font. Game squares include humorous actions such as: "CHOPPERS!", "RADAR EATS THE ENTIRE MESS TENT. GO BACK 2 SPACES." and "HOTLIPS TRANSFERS HAWKEYE'S NURSE. HAWKEYE FINALLY GETS SOME SLEEP. ADVANCE 2 SPACES." A printed copyright line reads "© Alan Alda and Arlene Alda, 1973." Also included are (17) "Chopper!" cards, (13) "Off-Duty" cards describing player actions and penalties, (121) red cross game cards, (1) pair of standard translucent red dice, and (6) game tokens consisting of 1.75" x 1.25" x 0.75" polished wooden blocks with affixed photos of main cast members, including Hawkeye Pierce (Alan Alda), Trapper John (Wayne Rogers), "Hotlips" Houlihan (Loretta Swit), Henry Blake (McLean Stevenson), Frank Burns (Larry Linville) and Radar O'Reilly (Gary Burghoff). The interior box lid features a typed rules sheet affixed to the top and a label reading: "THE M*A*S*H G*A*M*E" was created by Alan Alda and Arlene Alda for ________ Christmas, 1973," with Lafferty's name handwritten in cursive in the blank space. The box, measuring 19" x 13" x 2.75", is made of ridged snakeskin-textured cardboard and bears an external sticker reading "THE M*A*S*H G*A*M*E." This game was custom-made by Alan Alda and his wife Arlene, and gifted to American television producer Perry Lafferty, who was responsible for greenlighting M*A*S*H on CBS. Items exhibit signs of age and use, including adhesive failure (resulting in detached cast photos and loose instructions), water damage, dirt, and handwritten phone numbers on the exterior of the box. Comes with a COA from Heritage Auctions.

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