Happy 50th Anniversary to the Pyramid Game Show Franchise. It was today when the very first episode of The $10,000 Pyramid Premiered Half a Century ago, also the pilot episode of The Young and the Restless aired on the exact same day on the exact same network, CBS. On Friday the 31st, this episode will have aired exactly 50-years-ago.
I don’t know what made me have this memory tonight but I had a flashback. I watched this episode with my grandpa when it originally aired. I was sitting here tonight watching TV, 40 some odd years later, and told my wife I saw the first episode and remembered it was Rob Reiner and the subject was things with holes and he won o with Donuts. Got onto UA-cam and searched and here it was. Can’t remember where I put my car keys but remembered this. Crazy.
Rob Reiner famously said the show wouldn't last because it was too easy. Remember that it was originally going to be 10 subjects (there's plywood on the bottom row you might be able to see), and after the first win, the production staff got nervous.
@@aceeerie1203 After "Pyramid" moved to ABC in May 1974, which meant the show would be taped at ABC's old Elysee Theatre instead of CBS' Ed Sullivan Theatre, the set had to be redesigned. Since the set for CBS version was designed by one of its staffers, Jim Ryan, it was not allowed to leave. Dick Bernstein of ABC handled the, uh, makeover. The prime result, though, was that while the chase lights on the big Pyramid didn't speed up for a win, the light borders around the categories flashed on and off.
In the CBS version of The $10,000 Pyramid, the rule regarding hand gestures in the Winner’s Circle was present, but was only used on occasion. This rule was not codified until the show moved to ABC in 1974.
This used to be on YT many moons ago, someone once had it. I downloaded it back then (remember when YT let you do it straight up?), I have to see if I still have it somewhere. Either way, glad you got it too.
That would've been overcorrecting the problem, and here's why... With the proposed "10 in 60" format, you have 6 seconds for each category, which is obviously too short for a verbose game like the Winner's Circle. With the "6 in 60" format the show actually used, that allows 10 seconds per category, which works just fine. "10 in 120" is 12 seconds per subject, which is far too easy. If you were to try "10 in 90", that'd allow 9 seconds per category, which would be slightly tougher than what we're used to, but still more forgiving than 10 in 60.
I would have given them 60 seconds plus convert their points in the main game to additional seconds. The squares would be worth $10, $20, $30… up to $100
@@blozier2006 that's also why the bottom row categories tended to be easier while they got more difficult as they went up. Use less time at the bottom and have more for the higher... far more exciting that way and it gets the contestant to relax a little. Of course, there have been rare instances where that first or second box throws them for a loop or has a word/phrase that the person guessing keeps skimming over saying everything BUT the key item ("Nursery Rhymes"... don't recall who had this one... and "Liz Taylor's Husbands" with Barbara Feldon describing it are two examples).
20:06 There it is! The first ever Winners Circle victory in which Bob Lion has won $10,000 w/Rob Reiner that started this era of various Pyramids! BTW, that clip was seen during the show’s montage from the CBS era from 1973-74!
Not the first win. On the Wednesday show of this week, Dick flat-out says the first win happened on the first Winner's Circle of the first episode, and that Reiner was the clue-giver for that one (with a lady contestant). This was win number two.
@@samturner64 Too bad it was confusing between times-up and a violation. I still think they could've added the 'losing horns' if it was a Goodson-Todman game show.
I should also note that the entire production and broadcast history for "The $10,000 Pyramid" on CBS is now known. Apparently, the first two weeks were each taped over the course of two days.
The wall reveal is objectively awesome. I wish they hadn't gotten rid of that.
You can really see the potential in this rough version of what the show would eventually become.
Happy 50th Anniversary to the Pyramid Game Show Franchise. It was today when the very first episode of The $10,000 Pyramid Premiered Half a Century ago, also the pilot episode of The Young and the Restless aired on the exact same day on the exact same network, CBS. On Friday the 31st, this episode will have aired exactly 50-years-ago.
I don’t know what made me have this memory tonight but I had a flashback. I watched this episode with my grandpa when it originally aired. I was sitting here tonight watching TV, 40 some odd years later, and told my wife I saw the first episode and remembered it was Rob Reiner and the subject was things with holes and he won o with Donuts. Got onto UA-cam and searched and here it was. Can’t remember where I put my car keys but remembered this. Crazy.
June said 'pussycat' in the Winner's Circle and wasn't buzzed out. This is great, GREAT to see from the first week.
Rob Reiner famously said the show wouldn't last because it was too easy. Remember that it was originally going to be 10 subjects (there's plywood on the bottom row you might be able to see), and after the first win, the production staff got nervous.
Ah, the good old days, especially when Pyramid taped here in New York City!
1973-1981(CBS, ABC and syndication),2016-present(ABC)The NYC eras.
Notice the podium wasn't moved!!!
Anyone notice on these early episode, when there is a win... the light chasers on the pyramid move FASTER than in future years?
I never understood why the later pyramids didn't have the chase lights going that fast.. It added to the satisfaction of a win
@@aceeerie1203 After "Pyramid" moved to ABC in May 1974, which meant the show would be taped at ABC's old Elysee Theatre instead of CBS' Ed Sullivan Theatre, the set had to be redesigned. Since the set for CBS version was designed by one of its staffers, Jim Ryan, it was not allowed to leave.
Dick Bernstein of ABC handled the, uh, makeover. The prime result, though, was that while the chase lights on the big Pyramid didn't speed up for a win, the light borders around the categories flashed on and off.
A lot of early installment weirdness on this episode
On later versions of Pyramid, pussycat would have been buzzed for saying part of the answer.
Same with Password Plus and Super Password.
When this show finally hit its stride it was the best game show out there. But these early days were borderline unwatchable.
best game show my ass, i've never liked this show.
Awesome video featuring the first Winner's Circle victory in Pyramid history if not mistaken! Thank you wholeheartedly!!! :)
The second, actually. Rob won a female contestant the big money on the premiere episode.
@@samturner64Do you have that episode to upload?
3 to 5 points was considered good at the time
In the CBS version of The $10,000 Pyramid, the rule regarding hand gestures in the Winner’s Circle was present, but was only used on occasion. This rule was not codified until the show moved to ABC in 1974.
When CBS cancelled the pyramid, ABC pick up in 1974 and cancelled in 1980.
Congrats on your 500 subscribers Sam
can you please find $10,000 pyramid episodes #95 and #96 please?
"mention any part of the subject"
"cat family"
"pussycats"
The judging didn't go downhill from the start - was always at that level.
The judge was asleep on the Cat Family miscue.
Don't worry, later versions of Pyramid would have seen pussycat get buzzed.
I'm convinced the judges don't know the rules of the winner circle. Did anyone know the rules? I can't even follow the rules.
This used to be on YT many moons ago, someone once had it. I downloaded it back then (remember when YT let you do it straight up?), I have to see if I still have it somewhere. Either way, glad you got it too.
That pyramid looks complete with 10 subjects, but I would've given them two minutes for that many.
That would've been overcorrecting the problem, and here's why...
With the proposed "10 in 60" format, you have 6 seconds for each category, which is obviously too short for a verbose game like the Winner's Circle.
With the "6 in 60" format the show actually used, that allows 10 seconds per category, which works just fine.
"10 in 120" is 12 seconds per subject, which is far too easy.
If you were to try "10 in 90", that'd allow 9 seconds per category, which would be slightly tougher than what we're used to, but still more forgiving than 10 in 60.
They actually tried it with 10 in 90 seconds.
I would have given them 60 seconds plus convert their points in the main game to additional seconds. The squares would be worth $10, $20, $30… up to $100
@@blozier2006 that's also why the bottom row categories tended to be easier while they got more difficult as they went up. Use less time at the bottom and have more for the higher... far more exciting that way and it gets the contestant to relax a little. Of course, there have been rare instances where that first or second box throws them for a loop or has a word/phrase that the person guessing keeps skimming over saying everything BUT the key item ("Nursery Rhymes"... don't recall who had this one... and "Liz Taylor's Husbands" with Barbara Feldon describing it are two examples).
This has to be the lowest scoring front game in Pyramid history.
Some of these clues were too hard and vague.
11:50 - I wondered how soon someone would joke about "Going to the Chair" again.
They let "pussycats" pass for "animals in the cat family"? They were a lot more lenient then!
I like to see the first episode of The $10,000 Pyramid
Happy 50th anniversary to pyramid
They've been using that WC clock sound effect since 1973
June Lockhart looks rather youthful in this fifth-ever eppie of the PYRAMID game.
Rob Reiner! The meathead from “all in the family”!
Aw jeez, the Meathead did pretty good at this!
@@MrMatteNWk yes!
@@anthonyguarino4242Do I detect a New York City accent when Rob speaks?
@@GeorgeMaster-xg7lg yes
"Things With A Hole" - Rob Reiner had just as equal difficulty with that subject as Dick Clark did years later on the Bill Cullen version.
But it wouldn't have been the top box by that time.
Seems like in the early days this was much harder to play
How cool Love june and rob
I think gsn might show this,dick clark's pyramids would be great(10,000,20,000,25,000,100,000) pyramids,would be great.
Announcer: This is the $10,000 Pyramid
20:06 There it is! The first ever Winners Circle victory in which Bob Lion has won $10,000 w/Rob Reiner that started this era of various Pyramids! BTW, that clip was seen during the show’s montage from the CBS era from 1973-74!
Not the first win. On the Wednesday show of this week, Dick flat-out says the first win happened on the first Winner's Circle of the first episode, and that Reiner was the clue-giver for that one (with a lady contestant). This was win number two.
The players were so bad in he early versions
Shame the quality is so bad but better than nothing I guess.
Colorized pyramid
when did they change from Buzzer to the Cookoo?
The cuckoo was for the main game. The buzzer was always used for the big pyramid.
@@samturner64 I meant when was the change from Buzzr to Cookoo in the main game?
Maybe within the first few weeks. On the Ballard/Deacon episode, the cuckoo was there, so I would guess early CBS.
@@samturner64 I remember William A. Padron said it was changed in Week 3, Michele Lee & Jack Klugman.
@@samturner64 Too bad it was confusing between times-up and a violation. I still think they could've added the 'losing horns' if it was a Goodson-Todman game show.
I should also note that the entire production and broadcast history for "The $10,000 Pyramid" on CBS is now known. Apparently, the first two weeks were each taped over the course of two days.
Why did they pick Mr. Bandstand for such a dance-less hosting role?
Mrs. Robinson and the Meathead.
How many of these can you describe in 30 seconds?
That didnt last long.
Is this the earliest existing complete episode?
Episode #003 is at UCLA.
Rob is saying too many irrelevant and time consuming phrases, like “let’s go”, and so on...
The worst picture/reception/love June but she stinks on this game and so does Rob, - that lady is a ding bat
Did the word "Cuckoo" inspire them?
The irony that it came up in a category where they'd just buzzed two clues!
This has got to be the worst game ever. Contestants and stars. This must be the very first season nthe show aired!
June was horrible at this game!
Yikes, they suck.
I THOUGHT U COULDN'T USE UR HANDS IN THE WINNER CIRCLE ??
That was changed in early 1974, by the ABC run.
You could at least on the first CBS version. From 1974 on you couldn't.
It's said that In 1975, Sandy Duncan got so into the game that she tore the arm straps out by the roots! 🤣