'The Joker's Wild'

[bandit957]

Anyone else remember this game show? I actually used to watch this each evening when I was growing up in the early '80s, when it was hosted by the late Jack Barry. I remember when it moved from Channel 9 to Channel 5.

I remember a contestant named Al who collected soap. I remember him being invited back on the show to "rectify" an error. I also remember a contestant named Miya who accidentally broke the lever for the "Face the Devil" feature. I remember a contestant named Phil whose eyes would automatically blink with each syllable Jack spoke.

I also remember the wampum incident. Just before a round of gameplay, Jack told one of the contestants something like, "I hope you know a lot about wampum." It turned out wampum was an answer to one of the questions! The whole thing looked shady, and Jack had to apologize for being so unprofessional. I also remember once when Jack accidentally gave away an answer and tore up the card.

Some of the categories for the questions included "fictional children", "literary locales", Julius Caesar, and Peter Sellers.

[Big John]

Joker! Joker! Joker!

[Roadrunner75]

Anyone else remember this game show? I actually used to watch this each evening when I was growing up in the early '80s, when it was hosted by the late Jack Barry. I remember when it moved from Channel 9 to Channel 5.

I remember a contestant named Al who collected soap. I remember him being invited back on the show to "rectify" an error. I also remember a contestant named Miya who accidentally broke the lever for the "Face the Devil" feature. I remember a contestant named Phil whose eyes would automatically blink with each syllable Jack spoke.

I also remember the wampum incident. Just before a round of gameplay, Jack told one of the contestants something like, "I hope you know a lot about wampum." It turned out wampum was an answer to one of the questions! The whole thing looked shady, and Jack had to apologize for being so unprofessional. I also remember once when Jack accidentally gave away an answer and tore up the card.

Some of the categories for the questions included "fictional children", "literary locales", Julius Caesar, and Peter Sellers.

Yup, I remember it.  But I rarely watched it.

[DandyDan]

It was back to back with Tic Tac Dough with Wink Martindale in the early 80's on Channel 9 in the Twin Cities.  I would watch them and then watch cartoons.

[Rothman]

Definitely remember it.

It was created by the same guys that produced the infamous Twenty One.

[1995hoo]

I remember the show in general but not really any details. Main thing I remember is the way he said "JO-ker!" when one appeared.

[jp the roadgeek]

I remember it.  Pretty sure I watched it on (W)WOR Channel 9 in NYC once we got cable.  By that time, Bill Cullen was hosting, as Barry had passed away. 

[SP Cook]

Definitely remember it.

It was created by the same guys that produced the infamous Twenty One.

And clearly just as rigged. 

[US71]

I vaguely remember Jokers Wild. I remember Press Your Luck more....and Concentration with Hugh Downs.

[Life in Paradise]

When I was a kid (70s) and my family stopped in Vegas while on a long trip, we sat in for one of their shows.  I had never heard of the show, and didn't see it on TV for years after that.  Almost forgot about it until I saw this thread.

[nexus73]

There were so many game shows on TV at one time.  Get the movie "Quiz Show" and see what they were like in the Fifties.  You will also learn about the scandal which took place back then.

Rick

[Mr. Matté]

As I was not born during the original runs (except for the Pat Finn "As you know TJW is a game of definitions" era), I remember watching the GSN reruns.

When I was a kid (70s) and my family stopped in Vegas while on a long trip, we sat in for one of their shows.  I had never heard of the show, and didn't see it on TV for years after that.  Almost forgot about it until I saw this thread.

Joker's Wild always taped in LA (CBS TV City during its 3-year run on the network, other random studios in its syndie years). Maybe.you saw Las Vegas Gambit? Hollywood Squares and Let's Make a Deal each also taped a season there.

[bandit957]

I vaguely remember my parents watching 'Gambit'.

I remember being afraid of Dennis James back when he hosted the evening version of 'The Price Is Right'. That's because he always looked like he was about to jump out of the screen. So one evening, I had to sit in the living room and watch a whole episode so I could overcome my fear.

[Henry]

Being born in a decade that saw a boatload of game shows debuting on all of the Big Three networks, I do remember TJW, although not as well as the others.

Off the top of my head, I can remember seeing The Price is Right, Match Game, Now You See it and Tattletales on CBS; Password Plus, Wheel of Fortune, Blockbusters, Card Sharks and Concentration on NBC; and Family Feud, Second Chance (the precursor to Press Your Luck) and The $10,000/$20,000 Pyramid on ABC.

[bandit957]

I remember 'Whew!' This was a very short-lived game show around 1979.

[Life in Paradise]

As I was not born during the original runs (except for the Pat Finn "As you know TJW is a game of definitions" era), I remember watching the GSN reruns.

When I was a kid (70s) and my family stopped in Vegas while on a long trip, we sat in for one of their shows.  I had never heard of the show, and didn't see it on TV for years after that.  Almost forgot about it until I saw this thread.

Joker's Wild always taped in LA (CBS TV City during its 3-year run on the network, other random studios in its syndie years). Maybe.you saw Las Vegas Gambit? Hollywood Squares and Let's Make a Deal each also taped a season there.

I did go to LA on one of those trips, but I was sure that it was in Vegas when I saw Joker's Wild, and I'm fairly sure it was not on the network at that time.  I also know that it was Joker's Wild, and not LV Gambit.  After looking this up on Wikipedia, I'm guessing that I might have been there for the experimental time with KTLA in 1971, since that time frame matches up better to my travels.  I know that I wasn't at CBS's facility, but I only toured at Universal at that time.  I guess it is possible that they shot some of the KTLA trial in Vegas.  The article didn't say. I do believe that it was Jack Barry that was hosting the show.

[Takumi]

I remember 'Whew!' This was a very short-lived game show around 1979.

Never heard of it (before my time), but its Wiki page says it was the announcing debut of Rod Roddy, and that Alan Thicke, of all people, composed the music for it.

[US71]

I remember 'Whew!' This was a very short-lived game show around 1979.

I remember a Who,What,Where game. The Emcee would give a clue and 3 players would bid.

[Big John]

I remember 'Whew!' This was a very short-lived game show around 1979.

I remember a Who,What,Where game. The Emcee would give a clue and 3 players would bid.

Then in 1990 there was The Challengers which was based on that.

[nexus73]

Before there was the "Heidi Bowl" game, which led networks to never again cut away from a pro football game, a game show called "The Match Game" with Gene Rayburn as host went into a series of tie after tie after tie.  This happened as the clock was running down on the next game show to come on.  Guess what?  NBC did not cut away from that!  It was the only time I ever saw a game show go past its scheduled time.

"Concentration" with Hugh Downs as host had a show in the Sixties in which young geniuses were the contestants.  One of them immediately picked a pair.  He saw one blank and one with a very small piece of the puzzle.  That kid immediately gave the answer.  I was shocked then.  No adult player had ever even come close to doing such a thing.  Maybe that was a rigged game for the young ones participating and one forgot to go along with the scheme!

Rick

[Big John]

It was the only time I ever saw a game show go past its scheduled time.

Rick

Press Your Luck had a contestant Michael Larson who memorized the movement of the board and kept winning money and a free spin at every turn and there wasn't enough time to show the game it its time slot so that episode lasted 2 days, so it was close.  BTW the producers more randomized the board right after that.

[allniter89]

Dish Network has added a new channel "Buzzr" ch 245, which primarily shows old-time game shows. Match Game 74, Match Game 77, Card Sharks, a 1 hr show Match Game in the 1st half hour then Hollywood Squares, Password Plus, Concentration & many more. Some of the shows are idiotic ie Match Game. I enjoy Concentration & Password Plus and a few others. Its funny now that the big prize is a Chevette & Vega.

[In_Correct]

Anyone else remember this game show? I actually used to watch this each evening when I was growing up in the early '80s, when it was hosted by the late Jack Barry. I remember when it moved from Channel 9 to Channel 5.

I remember a contestant named Al who collected soap. I remember him being invited back on the show to "rectify" an error. I also remember a contestant named Miya who accidentally broke the lever for the "Face the Devil" feature. I remember a contestant named Phil whose eyes would automatically blink with each syllable Jack spoke.

I also remember the wampum incident. Just before a round of gameplay, Jack told one of the contestants something like, "I hope you know a lot about wampum." It turned out wampum was an answer to one of the questions! The whole thing looked shady, and Jack had to apologize for being so unprofessional. I also remember once when Jack accidentally gave away an answer and tore up the card.

Some of the categories for the questions included "fictional children", "literary locales", Julius Caesar, and Peter Sellers.

I have watched The Joker's Wild. It is a game show that was originally hosted by Allen Ludden. Through the years it was on local television, C.B.S., and first run syndication, with a few spin off programmes. The set design and music changed gently every few years. Until some time in the very early 1980s, they changed it again to a much more updated look (even more resembling a casino with blue neon running lights around the giant slot machine, these lights not unlike the Bullseye game show, and the million dollar logo on the million dollar version of the The Joker's Wild.) 

The other reason why they changed the set is to make it portable. They lost their studio and moved to shared space. I still want to know the exact date that the blue running lights appeared.

I also want to know how the slot machine functioned. I would like to see photographs of the machinery used behind the rear projection screens.

The Joker's Wild made new episodes after the 1980s, but they now resemble an average game show set, not a casino.

...

As for other game shows:

I want to know how they were able to animate The Whammies when appearing on Press Your Luck if game shows are magnetic taped. Also one thing that I hated is when Peter Tomarken cut off the Whammy's scenes early. (especially the explosion one)

Truth Or Consequences is hosted by Bob Barker, filmed, with kinescope, and also in colour.

Password, the 1960s colour version, with Betty White having brown hair.

The extremely rare early 1970s I've Got A Secret, with giant "A" in the title as the stage door.

Treasure Hunt, with two different versions, not unlike Deal Or No Deal.

Tattle Tales, with its slogan of "celebrity gossip" would make it an early T.M.Z.. Also my favourite theme version is the early 1970s.

Block Busters, the early 1980s version.

Also ... Now You See It, the 1970s version. This version deserved to be on the air much longer than one season. It could have matched Wheel Of Fortune and Jeopardy! ...

The earlier colour versions of Beat The Clock (not including more recent ones such as PAX)

I did not start watching any What's My Line? and To Tell The Truth until they started changing set designs. They only did so in the final year of What's My Line?, and has not been on the air since

To Tell The Truth's 1980s version should have been on the air longer, but a better set design (that could have been done in the 1970s or earlier) is the early 1990s version.

I have only seen the first few episodes of Chain Reaction.

GO is a game show that was on the air for a few months. Its theme music is more of a sports theme music, with the game show host being a news anchor, Kevin O'Connell, before he got his A.M.S. Seal Of Approval. The set design is simple: put "GO" every where.

I watched Family Feud some times in reruns, and some times first aired. I remembered the Ray Combs version, but not clearly. When they revived Family Feud a few years later, Louie Anderson is the host, which I mistaken him for a terribly aged Ray Combs. I was even more confused be cause I did not know at the time that Ray Combs died a few years earlier, and that it was Richard Dawson that aged terribly.

Not much of a fan of Match Game nor Hollywood Squares, part of the reason is (at least for match game) is the design of the game show set is annoying. The Match Game Hollywood Squares Hour is much more impressive, also the early 1990s version of Match Game.

The Better Sex is a game show that has as a part of the opening segment, the host and hostess appearing in a pre recorded segment where they are arguing. When ever they act like they are speaking, the music has a babbling chorus.

I much preferred the original NON Nickelodeon Double Dare, with Alex Trebek, and the impressive game board and also the opening segment.

The music was remixed and reused for Card Sharks after. In the late 1980s, they brought back Card Sharks again, with a completely different style and music.

The Hollywood Squares (or just Hollywood Squares) that I have watched (when it was making new episodes, not reruns) is the Whoopi Goldberg version.

As for Wheel Of Fortune I comment that the new puzzle board could have been introduced much earlier. The technology was there, which means that the hostess job is not necessary. Keep her anyways. However, I criticize Pat Sajak. Pat Sajak hates being hugged, while Steve Harvey (hosting Family Feud, not Wheel Of Fortune, but still a game show host) has not objected.

...

What I do not like is how many game shows have been lost. They are basically gone for ever. Some examples are early Wheel Of Fortune and Jeopardy! ... both of these are over rated. I prefer the original hosts of these game shows.

One version that I am interested in seeing episodes of is the revised Jeopardy! in the late 1970s. It was on the air for a few months and was criticized for removing Final Jeopardy! ... but is still good enough. The music and the sound effects orchestral and mechanical and are much more suspenseful, and not electronic. For example: Even the introduction segment has tons of action. It was possible to magnetic tape on a home device, especially in the late 1970s. Perhaps more episodes will surface.

...

There are many game shows I did not type about yet. Perhaps I will type more later. I do not have much time to watch game shows, even currently airing ones. Most of the episodes I watched years after they first aired. Other times as typed earlier, I watched them first aired such as Whoopi Goldberg version of Hollywood Squares, and several of the Family Feud versions.

Some game shows such as Let's Make A Deal, I have not watched. Time to wrap this up and watch Let's Make A Deal probably for the first time.

[Big John]

Dish Network has added a new channel "Buzzr" ch 245, which primarily shows old-time game shows. Match Game 74, Match Game 77, Card Sharks, a 1 hr show Match Game in the 1st half hour then Hollywood Squares, Password Plus, Concentration & many more. Some of the shows are idiotic ie Match Game. I enjoy Concentration & Password Plus and a few others. Its funny now that the big prize is a Chevette & Vega.

That sounds like GSN before they became the all Family Feud channel.

[jp the roadgeek]

Dish Network has added a new channel "Buzzr" ch 245, which primarily shows old-time game shows. Match Game 74, Match Game 77, Card Sharks, a 1 hr show Match Game in the 1st half hour then Hollywood Squares, Password Plus, Concentration & many more. Some of the shows are idiotic ie Match Game. I enjoy Concentration & Password Plus and a few others. Its funny now that the big prize is a Chevette & Vega.

That sounds like GSN before they became the all Family Feud channel.

It's also available through the STIRR and Pluto TV streaming platforms for free.  The Hollywood Squares portion of the Match Game/Hollywood Squares hour is hosted by Jon "Bowzer" Bauman in his regular persona.  Seems strange not seeing him flex and open his mouth wide all the time.