6 SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | DECEMBER 2025
By Suzette Strauss, Resident
In the fall of 2025, a tragedy occurred here at SDV— one that
left a room full of people with nothing
to do or shout and squeak about on
the second and fourth Monday nights
of the month. Yes, the beloved B-I-N-
G-O machine popped out its last ball.
Oh, the sorrow when the news got out
on the Community Blast. My husband
and I had only just begun to play, so
thankfully we were not as devastated
as some. Then the day came, when
at the monthly Board of Directors
meeting, it was announced that a new machine was approved, as
it was a budgeted item. Though December of 2025 only allowed
one appearance of the new machine, this month it's back in full
swing.
To celebrate, I thought I would share some fun facts about
B-I-N-G-O. The inventor of the modern-day B-I-N-G-O was
Hugh J. Ward. He introduced it in the 1920s, then patented the
game and in 1933 wrote a book on the rules. The game is said to
have evolved from a game played in Italy around 1530 called, "Il
Giuoco del Lotto d'Italia." I can think
of another game that likely came from
Italy, perhaps the Lotto?
Cleveland, OH is home to the largest
B-I-N-G-O products manufacturer in
the world, Arrow International, Inc. It
is said that the game was made popular
by a toy salesman from New York
named Edwin S. Lowe. I wonder how
many patterns were popular in his day.
I found sites that offered 200 patterns,
yikes!
Our story ends, or really begins again, in January 2026 where
you can come to the Lodge on the second and fourth Monday
nights at 6 pm for a chance to win. And just in case you don't
walk away with cash, you can always leave singing the famous
chorus, "And Bingo was his name-o."
B-I-N-G-O Is Back!
