Möbius-Strip Crosswords
This article explores the history of crossword puzzle design, specifically focusing on Robert Guilbert Sr. and his 'Möbius-strip' infinity puzzle. It clarifies misconceptions regarding the origins of his puzzle-game, 'Pago Pago,' and his contributions to the crossword community.
Why it matters
It provides historical context for niche cultural pastimes and highlights the importance of accurate bibliographic record-keeping.
Randall Rothenberg in the New York Times (1988-08-10) writes that although “Puzzle Makers Exchange Cross Words” about the fall of ERNE and ESNE and the rise of XEROX and PEACE PLAN, one Robert Guilbert Sr.
was ignorant of the dispute two years ago when he developed a competitive crossword game called Pago Pago and first became aware of crossword fans’ passion for the pastime.
“Guilbert invented the crossword-based game Pago Pago” is repeated in a news-or-magazine article reprinted sans bibliographic data on a blog from 2012-03-14. That article begins “Robert Guilbert Sr. wants to open a Crossword Puzzle Hall of Fame. Or — as Guilbert might say from force of habit — a museum, shrine, repository, gallery or pantheon of immortals.” (If you know where this article originally came from, tell me and I’ll update this post!) Anyway, that’s all I can find in print about Pago Pago.
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