Sale of the Century

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SALE OF THE CENTURY
The Sale of the Century opening title.
Airdates:	NBC September 1969 - September 1974 (Not covered); NBC January 1983 - March 1989; Syn. January 1985 - September 1986
Hosts:	Jack Kelly, Joe Garagiola, Jim Perry
Hostesses:	Barbara Lyon, Kit Dougherty, Sally Julian, Lee Menning, Summer Bartholomew
Announcers:	Bill Wendell, Jay Stewart, Don Morrow
Producers:	Jones-Howard Productions (1969-1974), Reg Grundy Productions (1983-1989)

Contents 1 Gameplay (1983-1989 version) 1.1 Front Game 1.2 Shopping End Game (1983-1984, 1985) 1.3 Winner's Board (1984-1987) 1.4 Winner's Big Money Game (1987-1989) 2 Notes

Gameplay (1983-1989 version)

Front Game

Three players competed, each starting with a $20 stake. The host asked a fairly easy general knowledge question. Players may buzz whenever they like, but an early buzz may mean that the player will have to answer without hearing a crucial bit of information. If right, $5 was added to their score; otherwise, $5 was deducted and the two opponents did not get to answer.

At three points during the game, the player in the lead was offered to use their score to buy an "Instant Bargain," a prize offered at an incredibly low price (an $800 stereo for $8, a $3,000 trip to Aruba for $17, etc.). In the case of a tie, whoever pressed their buzzer first bought the item, though sometimes Perry would auction the item off, decreasing the price or adding cash. In 1986, the third Instant Bargain was changed to "Instant Cash," where the player in the lead was offered a one-in-three chance at a growing cash jackpot, in exchange for their lead over the second place player.

Alternating with the Instant Bargains were "Fame Game" questions. Perry would ask a long question describing a person, place, or thing. Players could buzz in at any time while the question was read. A wrong answer eliminates a contestant for the rest of the question, with no loss of money. A right answer gave the contestant his choice of nine different panels on the Fame Game board. The Fame Game board hid cash amounts, prizes, but contestants generally were hoping for "money cards," which would add to their game score. Originally, players would choose a portrait from the gallery, that was changed to a number from 1-9, then stopping a bouncing light to pick a number.

After the third Fame Game, Perry would ask three more questions. Whoever had the most money after the three questions won. By early 1984, this was changed to a 60-second "speed round" of rapid-fire questions.

Shopping End Game (1983-1984, 1985)

The winner from the front game was then shown a series of more luxurious prizes offered at a discount price. The first prize, worth around $3,000 was offered at roughly $75-$85. The contestant was always offered the first level prize, no matter what their score was. The contestant was then given a choice: buy the most expensive prize the bank account allowed, or pass on it and save their earnings to amass more for larger prizes. Getting to $430 won a luxury car. Champions who stayed on long enough to collect $500 won all of the prizes on stage along with extra cash to total an even $95,000.

By mid-to-late 1983, the luxury car was offered for $540; $650 would win an escalating cash jackpot (worth $50,000 plus $1,000 for each day not won), and $760 won all of the prizes and the cash jackpot. When the syndicated version debuted in 1985, $530 won the car, $640 won all of the prizes on stage (worth over $60,000), and $750 won all the prizes and the cash jackpot.

Winner's Board (1984-1987)

In November 1984 (and in December 1985 on the syndicated version) the bonus round changed to the "winner's board." The winner picked numbers from a board of 20 panels. The board had ten prizes available to win: eight prizes worth between $2,000 and $10,000 in value, $3,000 in cash, and two "jackpot" prizes; $10,000 in cash, and a luxury car. The minor prizes had two cards on the board; the car and $10,000 had only one. Two remaining panels hid "win" cards; after uncovering that card, the player would win the next prize revealed.

As each prize was won, those spaces were taken off of the board. After winning ten days and all ten prizes, the champion was then given a decision to make: take all the prizes won (over $50,000), or risk all ten prizes to play one more game. Winning the next game won the champion an additional $50,000. A loss forfeited all of the prizes won from the winner's board (anything won in the main game was still theirs to keep.)

Winner's Big Money Game (1987-1989)

In December 1987, the bonus game changed again. The winner of the day was awarded a prize for winning the main game. Then the contestant selected from three envelopes (colored red, yellow and blue). Each packet contained a series of puzzles consisting of a six-word sentence that pertained to a person, place or thing. Each word was revealed one word at a time until the contestant hit a plunger that stopped the clock. The contestant's goal was to solve 4 puzzles in 20 seconds (originally 5 in 25 seconds.) Running out of time or giving two incorrect answers resulted in a loss. Winning the bonus game on the first day won $5,000. Each return to the bonus game increased the potential prize by $1,000, up to $10,000 on the sixth day. The seventh bonus game had a sedan or other midsize car as the prize. Players who won the car got to play an eighth day, otherwise they retired at that point. An eighth victory gave the champion an opportunity to play one final bonus game for $50,000.

Notes

• The largest cash jackpot won on the show was $109,000 won by David Rogers in 1984.
• The highest main game score was $145, attained by Bill Fogel in 1984; beating the player in second by $100.
• The biggest winner on the show in terms of total winnings was Tim Holleran, who won a total of $166,875 (including a $90,000 jackpot) Tim later won $20,000 in cash and prizes during the 1987 International Invitational Tournament.
• The show held three "Tournament of Champions" events during its run, one in late 1983, another in early 1985, and one in 1988. An International Invitational Tournament between champions on the American version of the show was contested between champions on the Australian version of the show, and Canadian competitors in 1987. The eventual winner (who was awarded a $36,000 Chevy Corvette) was Cary Young, the Australian finalist who had already won over $300,000.