In response to #2, any idea when the Joker's Jackpot was dropped? From what I understand, both it and the "Jokers and Devils" endgame went at the same time, and that is when "Money and Devils" started (the one used for the duration of the 1977-1986 run). Also, I've heard that the switch was purportedly sometime in 1974...
My own question about CBS-era TJW: Any idea when Perrey & Kingsley's "The Savers" would have been axed as theme music and replaced by Alan Thicke's "Joker's Jive"? Once again, I've heard sometime around 1974, but nothing more precise... Thank you in advance!
Going by hazy memories from when I was a kid...but to the best of my recollection, the theme was changed sometime during the last season. I want to say late summer of 1974, or it could have been sometime that fall. I remember tuning into the show one day and heard this new theme and I was surprised, so it could have been on Columbus Day when there was no school (and having not seen the show since Labor Day) - but I'm sure it was sometime around that time.
As for the Joker's Jackpot, when GSN ran the first 8 months of the CBS version a decade ago, I was surprised to see the JJ lasted as long as it did. I thought it was only the first few months. I do remember several contestants racking up the $25,000 limit (and Jack making a big deal about it) sometime in '73 - late summer (just before school started, maybe) and I was sure there was no Joker's Jackpot then. I think they could stay on as long as they won, or until they reached $25K. So I'm saying by summer '73 it was gone.
Anyone have any clearer memories than that?