When I saw TT in person in '77, they were doing five shows a day. IIRC they did three shows, a meal break, then two shows. The audience for the last two shows were different but some people hung around from the earlier tapings and got in. G-T did have people looking to make sure the same people did not get in again and again. They didn't want people making a living from being audience members at TT.
You were paid after the tapings, one section at a time. There apparently was only one check making machine. The checks were payable to "bearer" and were with Crocker Bank. I went for two days. One day had A-listers Bob Newhart, Dick Martin and Totie Fields with their respective spouses. The next day was Bobby Van & Elaine Joyce, Jack Albertson & Adam Arkin. I sat in the banana section both days. I got checks totaling close to $40.00.
Announcer Gene Wood did the warm-up and told everyone to be quiet when the celebs were giving their answers, because if an answer was heard, the question would be thrown out for your section, and everyone in your section "would be waiting for you in the parking lot." Everyone understood this.
