Break the Bank (1985)

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BREAK THE BANK (1985)
The opening title for Break the Bank.
Airdates:	Syn. September 1985-September 1986
Hosts:	Gene Rayburn (1985), Joe Farago (1985-1986)
Announcer:	Michael Hanks
Co-hosts:	Kandace Kuehl (first three episodes), Julie Hayek (remainder of run)
Producer:	Kline and Friends

Contents 1 Gameplay 1.1 Version One (1985) 1.2 Version Two (1985-1986) 2 Notes

Gameplay

Version One (1985)

Two couples compete. In the first two rounds, both couples were asked a series of six toss-up questions. Each question would be worth seconds to use in the "prize vault" (5 for the first, 10 for the second, 20 for the third, 40 for the fourth, 80 for the fifth, and 100 seconds for the sixth) and the answer to each question would serve as a clue to the identity of a person, place, or thing. The team to answer each question correctly adds the time to their total and may either solve the puzzle or hold out for more seconds. A correct answer to the puzzle wins the round, but a wrong answer means that their opponents get the next question to themselves. If neither team solves the puzzle after the sixth answer is revealed, a final question is asked, the correct answer also being the solution to the puzzle.

The first team to win two rounds enters the Prize Vault. If there is a tie after two rounds, a tie-breaker puzzle is played. No questions are asked, each clue is revealed one at a time. A right answer wins the game and an additional 30 seconds, but a wrong answer means that the other clues are revealed for the other team.

Inside the Prize Vault were eight or nine stations, each with a prize and a stunt attached. The team would choose the first prize to play for, and the clock would start. Using the time they had earned in the front game, the couple tried to complete as many stunts as possible, thereby earning a bank card from those available at the stunt's location. Bank cards had to be returned to the starting podium to count and for the team to earn the prize. Teammates alternated playing each stunt, unless the next stunt required the male or female, or both teammates, to participate. One secret stunt also allowed the team to pick up additional bank cards through the use of a "Number Jumbler". When the time ran out, the team took all of their acquired bank cards to the vault.

Each card was placed into a reader one at a time, in the hopes that one of the cards the couple had earned was the one that "broke the bank", thus winning a jackpot of prizes that started at $20,000 and grew each day by around $1,000 in cash and/or prizes until it was won. At various points, the host would tempt the couple to not enter in their remaining cards with cash or prize buyouts. If they failed to break the bank, any cards that were used that day were removed from consideration, while any cards they had sold back to the bank were replaced; a total of 50 bank cards were available at the beginning.

Teams stayed on as champions until they were defeated or reached the $75,000 mark, at which they had to give their excess winnings to charity.

Version Two (1985-1986)

Halfway during the show's run, the game was drastically revamped. Instead of the front game being played for time, it was played for money. Each question was worth $100 in the first round, $200 in the second, and solving the puzzle for each of the first two rounds wins a prize that the team keeps regardless of outcome. The third round was a speed round where a series of puzzles were played like the tiebreaker of the first format, each puzzle worth $400. The first team to score $2000 wins the game and keeps their money.

The bonus round was played in two parts. In the first part, the couple earned one "bank card" for free, and had the opportunity to earn up to 9 more bank cards by solving another puzzle. The team hit a randomizer to assign values to each clue; one worth three cards, two each worth two, and three each worth one. The team got to guess the puzzle after each clue, and once the puzzle was solved all bank cards that were assigned to unrevealed clues were added to the couple's inventory.

At that point, the couple went into the vault and selected the appropriate number of cards from a stand. New champions chose from 40 bank cards, one of which broke the bank, and another being a "bankrupt card" that immediately ended the bonus round. All other cards offered cash or a prize. A team could stop at any time and keep their winnings in order to avoid hitting the bankrupt card. If the couple failed to break the bank, any cards they had chosen that day were taken out of contention, except for the bankrupt card. Upon breaking the bank, the team retired from the show.

Notes

• Some of the stunts in the first format had guest performers, such as celebrities (usually a different set each week), musicians, or celebrity impersonators. Joe Farago himself had been a participant in one of the stunts early in the run.