Word Search History
The concept of the word search puzzle, also referred to as WordSeek, WordFind, WonderWord, and others, was initially introduced by Norman E. Gibat through his publication in the Selenby Digest on March 1, 1968, in Norman, Oklahoma. However, it's believed that Pedro Ocón de Oro, a Spanish puzzle creator, had already been publishing "Sopas de letras" (Spanish "Soup of Letters") before that date. There's a strong possibility that James Patrick Carr from Villa Grove, Illinois, developed this puzzle before 1968. Carr named his puzzles "Slate R Straight," and they were later stolen by a copyright/patent company he had shared his idea with. Evidence suggests that puzzles by Carr existed in Villa Grove High School event brochures predating Gibat's 1968 publication.
The Selenby Digest was a compact, free-distributed want-ad digest available at Safeway and other local stores. Its original dimensions were 8.5 by 5.5 inches.
The puzzle quickly gained popularity locally, leading to the creation of several more versions. Some educators in Norman requested copies for classroom use, and one even distributed them nationwide to friends at other schools. It's likely that one of these copies eventually found its way into the hands of a syndicator.
Word search puzzles have also enjoyed widespread appeal online, with Facebook games like the 2013 Letters of Gold. Additionally, digital and tabletop versions such as Boggle, Bookworm, Letterpress, Ruzzle, Wonderword, Wordament, WordSpot, and Word Streak with Friends offer a variety of challenges. The mid-1970s CBS game show "Now You See It" was a television adaptation of a word search puzzle.
Hidden Messages
In some instances, word search puzzles conceal secret messages. One method involves creating the secret message by listing all the words written backwards in the puzzle. Another method uses the letters not present in any word to form the secret message, which is more common in complex puzzles where many letters are utilized. Kappa Publishing is particularly renowned for this technique, often naming their magazines "The Magazine with the Last Message" or similar titles.
Another variation includes a trivia question at the puzzle's bottom. Similar to a traditional word search, participants must circle or cross out words from a given list. Additionally, there's one or more hidden word or phrase not included in the list, which often answers the trivia question at the bottom of the page.
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The Selenby Digest was a compact, free-distributed want-ad digest available at Safeway and other local stores. Its original dimensions were 8.5 by 5.5 inches.
The puzzle quickly gained popularity locally, leading to the creation of several more versions. Some educators in Norman requested copies for classroom use, and one even distributed them nationwide to friends at other schools. It's likely that one of these copies eventually found its way into the hands of a syndicator.
Word search puzzles have also enjoyed widespread appeal online, with Facebook games like the 2013 Letters of Gold. Additionally, digital and tabletop versions such as Boggle, Bookworm, Letterpress, Ruzzle, Wonderword, Wordament, WordSpot, and Word Streak with Friends offer a variety of challenges. The mid-1970s CBS game show "Now You See It" was a television adaptation of a word search puzzle.
Hidden Messages
In some instances, word search puzzles conceal secret messages. One method involves creating the secret message by listing all the words written backwards in the puzzle. Another method uses the letters not present in any word to form the secret message, which is more common in complex puzzles where many letters are utilized. Kappa Publishing is particularly renowned for this technique, often naming their magazines "The Magazine with the Last Message" or similar titles.
Another variation includes a trivia question at the puzzle's bottom. Similar to a traditional word search, participants must circle or cross out words from a given list. Additionally, there's one or more hidden word or phrase not included in the list, which often answers the trivia question at the bottom of the page.
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