Greetings, all. Someone asked me about my experience as a contestant on The $20,000 Pyramid in June of 1978. I attempted to respond privately, but my e-mail did not go through. Therefore, I am posting my response here.
Pyramid really grabbed my interest when I was a teenager. I attended many tapings of the show in New York City. I saw all three first season $25K wins, the first $50K win and many others. As it became my favorite television program, it was just a matter of time until I turned 18 and could audition.
Though I won no money, it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience from the audition process to the taping. Shortly after my show aired, I asked if there was any way I could get a 3/4\" copy of the show, these being the days before VCR's. I was told I couldn't and that the tapes were to be erased. My \"prize\" came 20 years later when I was looking through the website of someone with a huge video collection and found a week of Pyramid shows from 1978 with Lois Nettleton and Dick Cavett. I immediately e-mailed this fellow, asking him to look at the Thursday show and see if the male contestant was me. Much to my surprise, my episode was among the shows not erased and being rerun on GSN.
I received a copy of my show a few years ago. What a gift it was to see myself at nineteen. I looked great and played the game well. I lost to Ruth Lavasek, who was on a roll that day. In fact, she went on to become the highest money winner without hitting a WC jackpot. I had a lot of fun during the whole process of getting on the show, my loss notwithstanding. Additionally, I have a rerun. My show was run on GSN once that I know of.
There isn't much else to tell unless you have a specific question(s). If you do, please feel free to send me e-mail.
All the best,
David Mikelberg (GSFan)
