BLOCKHEAD was invented by Gerald (G.W.) D’Arcey and self-published in 1952 under G.W. D’Arcey company, San Jose, CA. The original box was approximately 6” x 14” and illustrated primarily in yellow and black; D’Arcey’s second box was a small 6” x 6” multicolor box; both are very scarce. After two years, D’Arcey sold the complete rights for BLOCKHEAD to Saalfield Publishing, not anticipating the game would be around for over 50 years. Various editions were produced over the years, including an Executive Edition, which used more stylish packaging, and a Big Blockhead edition, with blocks about four times the usual size. The family once built giant set; the elder D’Arcey (his sons are also a game inventors) said games were part of the fabric of society and life, and affect how people interact. D’Arcey even received a letter from Churchill saying how good BLOCKHEAD was.
BLOCKHEAD has the distinction of being one of few classic games that has remained virtually unchanged after half a century. In an age of plastic, BLOCKHEAD still retains its textured, wooden pieces. The term “blockhead” came from the Dutch “blok,” meaning a fool.
Jerry D’Arcey also invented Coup-d’etat (1966), Cross Up Poker (1968), and Plug-A-Jug (1969). Coup-d’etat was the foundation for Dragonmaster, as reworked by Michael Gray in 1981.
HOW TO PLAY
Blockhead is a game of balancing skill for one or any number of players of any age from three to ninety-three.
The aim is to help build a precariously balanced pile of these different shaped blocks without causing it to tumble, and so avoid being a blockhead.
1. Dump the blocks on a table. Use the flat block titJed “Blockhead” as a base.
2. First player takes ci colored block and places it on the starter block. No succeeding block may touch the starter block.
3. Second player takes another block and places it on top the first in any manner he chooses.
4. Third player adds a block on the second block, or places it on the first beside the second if he wishes. (There is no penalty if the pile collapses during the first three turns. The game is merely begun over.)
5. Then each player in turn adds a block to the pile. He may place it on any block and in any position he chooses.
6. Each player may use only one hand. He must not touch any block except his own. If only his block falls from the pile, he may try again with that block or choose another.
HOW TO SCORE
The first time a player causes the pile to tumble he is a SQUARE. The second time he is a CHARACTER. The third time he is a BLOCKHEAD! and is out. The play may continue until all the players are blockheads except one. He is the winner.
