Author Topic: Most Impressive Set Piece Created (Read 13595 times)

Chief-O · « **Reply #45 on:** July 07, 2010, 10:42:58 PM »

I just got to thinking---it's possible he may be using the term studio to refer to the separate set. But I----and I'd bet Brandon as well---just want to make sure.

tyshaun1 · « **Reply #46 on:** July 07, 2010, 10:57:32 PM »

[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'243811\' date=\'Jul 7 2010, 02:56 PM\']Damn sight taller than that, isn't it? I remember a couple of occasions where Peter approached the board for some schtick or another, and I remember it dwarfing him.[/quote]
Peter wasn't the tallest guy in the world, either; I'd figure around 5'7" or 5'8". From memory of attending a taping in 1986, where they allowed us on the set for a time, the board I'd say was around 18 feet high including the flowing light fixture surrounding the board. It's the only set piece that I recall looked as huge in person as it did on TV.

Tyshaun

BrandonFG · « **Reply #47 on:** July 07, 2010, 11:00:26 PM »

[quote name=\'Chief-O\' post=\'243839\' date=\'Jul 7 2010, 10:42 PM\']I just got to thinking---it's possible he may be using the term studio to refer to the separate set. But I----and I'd bet Brandon as well---just want to make sure.[/quote]
It's possible. I am curious as well.

dmota104 · « **Reply #48 on:** July 07, 2010, 11:05:33 PM »

[quote name=\'TheInquisitiveOne\' post=\'243826\' date=\'Jul 7 2010, 07:47 PM\']Hello strangers!

I have to go off the board and pick one of my faves...$ale of the Century with Jim Perry.

While it holds a candle to the other entries in this thread, I liked how they used a turntable for sideshows (i.e. the Instant Bargains) and then devoted another entire studio for whatever bonus round was around at the time. The "rainbow buzzer" era was cheesy, but when the set designers went all gold, I was mesmerized by what I saw. I kinda still am.[/quote]

I always enjoyed the big door at the center of the set. Definitely gave SotC that futuristic look.

Also enjoyed the light wall from MG-HSH and the blue neon lights that surrounded TJW's slot machine.

Matt Ottinger · « **Reply #49 on:** July 07, 2010, 11:26:39 PM »

[quote name=\'TheInquisitiveOne\' post=\'243826\' date=\'Jul 7 2010, 08:47 PM\']While it holds a candle to the other entries in this thread, I liked how they used a turntable for sideshows (i.e. the Instant Bargains) and then devoted another entire studio for whatever bonus round was around at the time.[/quote]
[quote name=\'Chief-O\' post=\'243829\' date=\'Jul 7 2010, 09:17 PM\']Herr Ottinger, you were there once upon a time----could you please confirm/deny this?[/quote]
Twenty-four year old memory, don't fail me now!

In the first place, of course it was all in the same studio. I think our inquisitive friend just misspoke and meant a completely different staging area. As I recall, there wasn't anything particularly amazing about it. The playing area was relatively small (all those old sets looked so much larger on TV than in person), and the prize area was simply set up behind it, just like you saw on TV. I played before there were bonus games, but as I recall, those subsequent games were hardly extravagant enough to need a lot of space.

I can tell you that from the contestants' perspective, the set wasn't very impressive looking. On our side (which the camera never saw) there was exposed plywood and ratty carpeting. Up close, nothing looked nearly as impressive as it appeared on TV.

BTW, last year I had the amusing opportunity to be reunited with the contestant area from the show. It's now one of the items in Bob Boden's collection.

golden-road · « **Reply #50 on:** July 07, 2010, 11:52:33 PM »

[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'243844\' date=\'Jul 7 2010, 10:26 PM\']BTW, last year I had the amusing opportunity to be reunited with the contestant area from the show. It's now one of the items in Bob Boden's collection.[/quote]

Are you referring to podiums, backdrops et al?

Matt Ottinger · « **Reply #51 on:** July 08, 2010, 12:01:53 AM »

[quote name=\'golden-road\' post=\'243846\' date=\'Jul 7 2010, 11:52 PM\'][quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'243844\' date=\'Jul 7 2010, 10:26 PM\']BTW, last year I had the amusing opportunity to be reunited with the contestant area from the show. It's now one of the items in Bob Boden's collection.[/quote]
Are you referring to podiums, backdrops et al?[/quote]
I always hate to use the word "podium" because there's inevitably a wise-ass ready to say that's not what you're supposed to call them. Words have meanings and all that. But I'm referring to the desk piece, the single...well, OK, "podium" that all three players sat behind. Nothing else.

BrandonFG · « **Reply #52 on:** July 08, 2010, 12:34:05 AM »

[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'243844\' date=\'Jul 7 2010, 11:26 PM\']BTW, last year I had the amusing opportunity to be reunited with the contestant area from the show. It's now one of the items in Bob Boden's collection.[/quote]
I'm jealous.

/Other than PYL, possibly one of the coolest contestant, uh..."staging areas" from the 80s
//Okay, EVAH!

TheInquisitiveOne · « **Reply #53 on:** July 08, 2010, 03:16:07 AM »

Hey...

First off, I am quick to admit that my memory of Sale's set is not the best. I misinterpreted some information I (mentally tried to) glean from the Encyclopedia of TV Game Shows.

In the entry, the book quotes Sale as being taped at NBC Studios 2 and 3. To me, it meant that two separate studios were used to tape both elements of the show. It could also mean that the show could have simply changed studios during its six-year run. So I was likely off in my logic. Words certainly do have meanings.

(Of course, this is from the same book that said the prize-matching game (Winner's Board) started in 1987, but we know better.)

And...

Quote

I can tell you that from the contestants' perspective, the set wasn't very impressive looking. On our side (which the camera never saw) there was exposed plywood and ratty carpeting. Up close, nothing looked nearly as impressive as it appeared on TV.

Proving that proper camera blocking and angling can make any set look good. Still, the fact they crammed in a boatload of props and made it look good makes it quite impressive in my book.

The Inquisitive One

/still not as good as the other mentions made here
//PYL will always own souls

dazztardly · « **Reply #54 on:** July 08, 2010, 04:40:31 AM »

[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'243847\' date=\'Jul 7 2010, 11:01 PM\']I always hate to use the word "podium" because there's inevitably a wise-ass ready to say that's not what you're supposed to call them. Words have meanings and all that. But I'm referring to the desk piece, the single...well, OK, "podium" that all three players sat behind. Nothing else.[/quote]

I always tended to refer to it as the contestants desk. It's kinda hard to pinpoint them as podiums sometimes, when they're linked together. [i.e. Blockbusters, Bullseye, Sale of the Century]

Neumms · « **Reply #55 on:** July 08, 2010, 02:12:43 PM »

Given my age, my memories are very hazy of this, but the original 70s set for "Sale of the Century" may have been even more impressive. Two floors, plus the display made up of skinny trylons (like a three-sided billboard) made it quite the deal.

"Winning Lines" had such an impressive set, with all the great lighting bits, the tower of people that presaged "1 vs. 100," all the staging areas. They need to get whoever did that to do the "Pyramid" pilot (and design a years-younger Dick Clark while they're at it).

toetyper · « **Reply #56 on:** July 08, 2010, 03:07:13 PM »

q about SOTC set/ when the back opened up did the part where the podiums were move to? lf not; id think the studio audience would have difficulty seeing back

BrandonFG · « **Reply #57 on:** July 08, 2010, 03:20:55 PM »

[quote name=\'toetyper\' post=\'243865\' date=\'Jul 8 2010, 03:07 PM\']q about SOTC set/ when the back opened up did the part where the podiums were move to? lf not; id think the studio audience would have difficulty seeing back[/quote]
I'm almost positive that when they showed a wide shot during the closing, the desks remained. But, they were off to the side to where they shouldn't have blocked the view, and even if they did, the audience would have monitors to watch the show.

weaklink75 · « **Reply #58 on:** July 09, 2010, 09:30:31 PM »

Adult game show? The Wonderwall- If you could figure out a decent frontgame to go with it, this could work on another show.

Kids game show? Legends of The Hidden Temple- It fit the theme of the show beautifully, and the possible paths could changed very often (because of the placements of the artifacts, locked doors, and Temple guards)

Loogaroo · « **Reply #59 on:** July 10, 2010, 09:54:38 AM »

[quote name=\'weaklink75\' post=\'243883\' date=\'Jul 9 2010, 06:30 PM\']Kids game show? Legends of The Hidden Temple- It fit the theme of the show beautifully, and the possible paths could changed very often (because of the placements of the artifacts, locked doors, and Temple guards)[/quote]
On the other hand, if they said that the Flaming Scabbard of Paul Reuben was hidden in any of the three rooms immediately to the left of the pit, you could pretty much change the channel right there.