Author Topic: $25K Pyramid - Undefeated Champion (Read 16893 times)

Sonic Whammy · « **on:** August 14, 2009, 01:01:47 AM »

I am in awe of the ability I saw in champ Barbara Schnell from this past week on 25K. Consider that in her 5 days on the show, she not only broke the daytime record at the time with $58,950 (plus her other gifts), but her maingame play was unmatched.

10 matches played. 10 matches won. She went to the winner's circle after every single game.

Does anyone ever recall another contestant doing that? That's a heck of an accomplishment. Deserving of the all time title.

Jay Temple · « **Reply #1 on:** August 15, 2009, 02:32:52 AM »

Paging Brendan ...

Vahan_Nisanian · « **Reply #2 on:** August 15, 2009, 01:02:28 PM »

Also, semi off-topic question here, but related to Pyramid:

Who were the biggest NON-TOURNAMENT winners on both the Dick Clark AND John Davidson versions of The $100,000 Pyramid respectively?

That Don Guy · « **Reply #3 on:** August 15, 2009, 09:47:42 PM »

I think somebody on 10K won 11 straight matches.

(Of course, in the 10K and 20K days, it was harder to get a long streak since you left the show once you won in the Winners Circle.)

-- Don

Jay Temple · « **Reply #4 on:** August 16, 2009, 12:29:47 AM »

I believe there were at least two NY-era winners with 13 wins, one who finally won and one who was defeated.

Ian Wallis · « **Reply #5 on:** August 17, 2009, 10:48:47 AM »

Quote

I believe there were at least two NY-era winners with 13 wins, one who finally won and one who was defeated.

There was one I remember from around '76 - a gentleman who won like 12 games in a row before finally nailing the $20,000 (and before anyone wonders, all of his opponenets were women).

I don't remember the other occasion where this occurred.

Don Howard · « **Reply #6 on:** August 17, 2009, 02:56:26 PM »

Within a day or so of the final cancellation of The $25,000 Pyramid, didn't someone retire undefeated with just a shade above $60K?

Sonic Whammy · « **Reply #7 on:** August 17, 2009, 06:46:45 PM »

[quote name=\'Don Howard\' post=\'223211\' date=\'Aug 17 2009, 02:56 PM\']Within a day or so of the final cancellation of The $25,000 Pyramid, didn't someone retire undefeated with just a shade above $60K?[/quote]
Bingo. And I wouldn't be surprised if Barbara's record held for those 2 1/2 years until that next to last day.

Still, in THIS version of the show, I'll be keeping a lookout to see if anyone else can pull off such a streak.

pyrfan · « **Reply #8 on:** August 17, 2009, 11:51:20 PM »

[quote name=\'gameshowlover87\' post=\'223120\' date=\'Aug 15 2009, 01:02 PM\']Also, semi off-topic question here, but related to Pyramid:

Who were the biggest NON-TOURNAMENT winners on both the Dick Clark AND John Davidson versions of The $100,000 Pyramid respectively?[/quote]
Sorry I missed the page. I was on the other line.

There were four contestants on "The $25,000 Pyramid" who won all 10 of their games. One was the aforementioned Barbara Schnell. The first was Travis Swords, whose reign was in August 1985. I'll hold off on the other two names, because depending on how long GSN keeps showing the $25K reruns, you guys might get to see them for yourselves, and I don't wanna spoil it. On the Clark $100K, only Ellen Gurstell won all 10 of her games, in January of 1986. There were no 10-game winners on Davidson's version, though there were a few 9-timers.

On Clark's $100K, the biggest non-tournament winner was Kathy Reksteiner, who won $66,450. She also must hold the record for most bonuses, winning five out of five 7-11s and four out of five Mystery 7s. On Davidson's $100K, the top money-winner who didn't win a tournament was Nancy Wold, who accumulated $39,900. Neither contestant participated in a tournament, by the way.

Brendan

CarShark · « **Reply #9 on:** August 18, 2009, 07:19:36 PM »

[quote name=\'pyrfan\' post=\'223260\' date=\'Aug 17 2009, 11:51 PM\']On Clark's $100K, the biggest non-tournament winner was Kathy Reksteiner, who won $66,450.[/quote]Is THIS her?

pyrfan · « **Reply #10 on:** August 19, 2009, 01:51:08 AM »

[quote name=\'CarShark\' post=\'223323\' date=\'Aug 18 2009, 07:19 PM\'][quote name=\'pyrfan\' post=\'223260\' date=\'Aug 17 2009, 11:51 PM\']On Clark's $100K, the biggest non-tournament winner was Kathy Reksteiner, who won $66,450.[/quote]Is THIS her?
[/quote]
It is, indeed. Contrary to one comment on the page, though, she wasn't the champ before and after the tournament. She finished her fifth appearance three days before the seventh tournament started.

Brendan

Kevin Prather · « **Reply #11 on:** August 19, 2009, 02:40:44 AM »

[quote name=\'pyrfan\' post=\'223356\' date=\'Aug 18 2009, 10:51 PM\']It is, indeed. Contrary to one comment on the page, though, she wasn't the champ before and after the tournament. She finished her fifth appearance three days before the seventh tournament started.[/quote]
I'm sure it's been asked at some point, but I'll ask again. Has anyone ever qualified for the tournament, had their run interrupted by that tournament, then come back?

clemon79 · « **Reply #12 on:** August 19, 2009, 02:43:38 AM »

[quote name=\'Kevin Prather\' post=\'223360\' date=\'Aug 18 2009, 11:40 PM\']I'm sure it's been asked at some point, but I'll ask again. Has anyone ever qualified for the tournament, had their run interrupted by that tournament, then come back?[/quote]
Wasn't the lovely Heather Davis just such a contestant?

Don Howard · « **Reply #13 on:** August 19, 2009, 10:07:14 AM »

[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'223361\' date=\'Aug 19 2009, 02:43 AM\'][quote name=\'Kevin Prather\' post=\'223360\' date=\'Aug 18 2009, 11:40 PM\']I'm sure it's been asked at some point, but I'll ask again. Has anyone ever qualified for the tournament, had their run interrupted by that tournament, then come back?[/quote]
Wasn't the lovely Heather Davis just such a contestant?
[/quote]
She was and, I believe, the only.

Dbacksfan12 · « **Reply #14 on:** August 19, 2009, 04:53:14 PM »

Since I'm not clear on the rules; I'll ask a hypothetical:

Let's say that someone wins in the WC two days before a tournament is set to begin, and they qualify. They win the $100,000. Would they then be allowed to come back after the tournament to continue their run and perhaps qualify again?