Lee Leagiton, president of L. Cee Enterprises and his wife and vice-president, Connie Rose-Leagiton, have certainly not “advanced upon an appendage”* with their new game: Paraphrase…put another way. They have rather struck the spi-ke on the noggin. Paraphrase is a unique and exciting word game that challenges players to recognize cleverly reworded phrases, clichés and other idiomatic expressions. [Read below to see how well you recognized the two “paraphrases” in the preceding paragraph.]
According to Connie and Lee, the seeds from which Paraphrase sprung were planted during a “long and boring, seven hour drive from New Jersey to Virginia. It was spontaneous and fun, just something to break the monotony.” But long after the Leagiton’s returned home, they found themselves still playing this game they’d made up on the road, “It was almost obsessive. We played it all the time. When we were alone, when we had friends over.” One night while relaxing in bed, it struck them: maybe what they had come up with was a valid, viable and marketable game idea. Why wouldn’t others have as much fun with their paraphrase game as they and their friends were having? Months of research and plain, hard work followed. Finally, about a year ago, after several versions and refinements Paraphrase put another way was born.
! In addition to providing hours of good, old fashioned — sometimes boisterous — fun for families and friends, Paraphrase also provides a vigorous cerebral workout and exercise of one’s English language skills.
Paraphrase is much more than parlor fun. And the Leagitons, quick to recognize the game’s inherent value as an educational and language arts tool, have included the educational community in their marketing efforts. As a result, Paraphrase has already stirred interest among secondary and college level educators; and fraternal and sororal organizations.
Much of Connie and Lee’s marketing activities have thus far been concentrated in the Central New Jersey and Baltimore areas. However, they will be introducing the competitively priced word game to retail and wholesale buyers in the New York community, June 28 through July 1, at Black Expo USA, The Javitz Center, New York City. L. Cee Enterprises also markets the game through direct sales, the Paraphrase House Party Plan and selected retail outlets. Address inquiries to: L. Cee Enterprises, 500 Auten Road, Somerville, New Jersey 08876. Telephone (908) 874-4510.
*hit the nail on the head/gone out on a limb
See the complete issue of ROUTES, A Guide to Black Entertainment July 1, 1991 as PDF.
