Games would not be the same without ’em. Here are some of TPiR’s famous props!
Here comes the Price is Right tugboat with the next item up for bids!This is an art card used once in TPiR history. That is when the big Plinko sign was in the shop, so they used this graphic instead.This is the rear of an old Showcase podium. What you see on TV is not always what you get!A wide shot of the back of the big wheel.A closeup picture of the Grocery Game’s famous cash register. It’s an actual cash register that really works, the only difference is the cash drawer doesn’t open.This is called a “crawl board.” It was used at the end of each show before signing off the air. It’s been replaced by a graphic and is no longer used.Another art card that is no longer used. It was used when a contestant won both showcases and, it too, has been replaced by a graphic.The old Golden Road sign, and the original establishing shot to this website!The new Golden Road sign that is used today.A numerical tag is given to all members of the audience. On half of the tag (not shown), you write down some personal information. That half is torn off. The number on your tag is your “contestant number”. When you interview with the producer, he will know your first name and this number. Should you be picked, the producer will make note of this number, and then match it up with your personal information indicated earlier.This is the sound effects (SFX) keyboard used to make several of the sounds you hear on the show such as One Away’s car horn, Freeze Frame’s shutter click, and the Double Showcase win sound effect.Conductor West on the TPiR train.This light box is used to create the sparking light effect around the border of the screen during the show’s introduction.The keys used in the Master Key game are setup and ready for gameplay.This is the computer (circa 1970s) used to register bids in contestant’s row. This computer is so outdated, parts for it are no longer available and must be ordered from a junk dealer!Here are the buttons of the Grocery Game’s cash register. This register is truly operated manually.A very classy game, here are the price podiums for Golden Road. Also visible are props from One Right Price, Pathfinder, Secret X, and 5 Price Tags.Here are the price displays used in Barker’s Markers. Note the amount of dust they have collected over the years!Here is a closeup of the ATM used in the Credit Card game. I wonder what happens if someone were to press “FREE SAMPLES”? Enlarge the picture to see what I mean!This handle controls the now retired Plinko sign. A stagehand used to squat behind the sign, and flip the graphic from “Plinko” to “$50,000”.The Hole In One putting green is stored vertically in a specially designed “container”.This is the actual pricetag used by Bob Barker in reading the actual retail price of Amy Rempel’s showcase on TPiR 6,000. Amy went on to become the biggest winner in TPiR history.Here’s a closeup of a Cliff Hangers small prize podium. Take note of the fine artwork on the flap which will be covered up with the prize description and never seen on TV!The Graphics Department keeps a master record of every game’s graphics and logo. Here you can clearly make out graphics for Punch a Bunch, Make Your Move, and Now or Then.A close up of the vinyl used in making the game graphics — in this case, Barker’s Markers.More game graphics sit in this corner. Here you can see a One Away 5. Bet you don’t know where the $7565 comes from. That’s because it was never shown on TV. This was the card used in early rehearsals of Coming or Going. It was held by a model and used to reveal the right price. This part of the game was eventually taken out.A contestant was so upset that she did not get picked that she walked up and pounded on contestants’ row after a taping day. Just kidding, of course. Here you see the one-bid readouts as the stage crew prepares to strike the set.Shown here are the four small prizes and podiums used in Plinko. This shot was taken behind Door #3.Come on, ClockGameJohn. They’ve got to play Punch a Bunch sometime!A great closeup of the side of the TPiR Train logo!The Little Engine That Could! A good shot of the forklift driven TPiR train.Off in the wings behind the studio we find remnants of 1/2 Off, Hit Me, and ‘Lil Toot; The Price is Right Tugboat.The Price is Right tugboat is simply a prop built over a forklift. Who would have thought?Rarely shown on TV, this pelican is perched on the front of the TPiR tugboat.Of course, no tugboat would be complete without a lifesaver!Look what John found! Do we all know where it came from?To cut down on costs and repetition, some props are reused on the show. Here’s a Pushover block that can be used as a 9 or an 8.There are four items of interest in this photo: 1) The empty Three Strikes bag (why CGJ is reaching in there is beyond the editor); 2) The Clearance Sale price tag holder; 3) A good chuck of Bargain Game; and 4) The “void” stamp holder that is kept off-camera when playing Check Game.Backstage at Price are two cabinets filled with $600 Range Game ranges.One of the most mysterious props (and quite possibly the oldest original prop remaining) on The Price is Right: The Clock Game Price Holders. Everyone often wonders how these work. Study it for a minute and check out the next photo!And voila! The box opens with a simple squeeze to the side of the box to reveal the price so that only Bob can see it. These were handmade back in 1972 and have never been replaced. Apparantly a good thing, since no one can seem to duplicate them in the shop.One of the TWO Jokers used on the Show. Here’s the Joker card from, what else, ‘Joker.’Here’s the price holder for 6-digit Golden Road. This confirms as we reported before that the hundreds digit was concealed.In February 2004, the Showcase podiums were changed so that the score readouts are on top of the prize descriptions. This was done so that Bob no longer needs to bend over to read the prices.The Check Game podium to hold the giant “VOID” stamp.Scott Robinson must have an idea, so he is going to call ISC.The truth about the big wheel sounds: The yellow device on the right is a light sensor that is mounted on the back of the wheel. A wire attached to the light sensor runs over the stage and is attached to the sound keyboard shown elsewhere in the gallery. Looking on the wheel, you will see repeating patters of black and white areas that are directly in the path of the sensor. Every time that the sensor picks up a change in this color, it sends a signal to the sound keyboard to make a “boop”. When looking at the wheel on tv, this is the left side of the wheel…the side that is never shown on tvJohn and Scott show us a special Plinko insert that was used on The Craig Kilborn show. Tia Carrera was the guest on this November 28, 2003 broadcast.This is one for the “Remember When” gallery. Janice Pennington used to be the model featured in the Fortune Teller showcase, which featured a mock tarot card reading. Here we see part of the booth used in this fun Showcase.Wow. The classic 3 Strikes bag still resides in Television City.Lots of people have asked us for this picture over the years, so here it is. This is a full shot of the prize platform used in Bonus Game, Switcheroo, and Shell Game.Here’s Marc with an authentic Penny Ante Penny.Another one for the Remember When gallery. Sitting in this prop chest is a piece from the old Rod Roddy Awards Showcase.A true to life Penny Ante Penny. It’s kind of hard to judge the size of it in this photo, but it is approximately 3″ around.Here we see the rear of the device that brings us the light border that we see at the start of the show. Look carefully — you can see some holes where lightbulbs used to be. These bulbs were used back in the day when the light pattern was different.Here’s a really cool photo of all the “generic” tags used on the show. For games like Most Expensive, the tags are actually thick plastic, and the prices of the items are the same as a Double Prices pricetag, which is simply taped to the back of these above. It’s hard to see them all, but from the top we see: That’s Too Much, Line ‘Em Up, Magic #, the new Check Game tag, the original Check Game tag, and the three tags from Most Expensive.To show you how they are attached, there is simply tape on one side and the price will be taped to this so that both the price and the tag do not rip when they are being removed after tapings.Hey, man, when space is tight, even the turntable can be used as a storage area during set striking. Wonder how old that brown trash can is?Being that it’s a once-in-a-lifetime event, I wonder what TPiR is doing by keeping this around.Being that the CBS Soaps are now taking up the lion’s share of Television City’s storage space, many of TPiR’s props and games are now stored outside. Here, Scott Robinson shows us such an example. Come on, Scott, show us what’s at the next bend of The Golden Road.Parts of “On the Spot.”TAKE TWO: Being that it’s a once-in-a-lifetime event, I wonder what TPiR is doing by keeping this around.More neat graphics found backstage. These are used for the Showcases each day and simply slid into the podiums depending on what gifts are being offered.Many of TPiR’s backdrops are now kept in outside storage.These are the graphics that are loaded into the “Slate” each day for the Staff and Bob to check what games are to be played in what order. Some of them have spares, some have completely different names!A production staff member will hold up a cue card to Bob just before the Item Up for Bids to alert him of what game will be played next. Bob has alot going on during a taping and needs to know where to take the contestant to prepare for the next game. Also shown is the sign held up to the audience during Clock Game.Clock Game has one of the oldest controls on the set.This device controls quite a few things in the studio. It will be programmed with the Showcase bids and handle the price reveals, it also controls the scoreboard on the Big Wheel, and even a few pricing games, like Dice Game.Race Game’s controls! Each of those buttons manually controls the neon light on the game as well as the countdown clock.This is Any Number’s control box.Back inside we go. Here you can see the giant price tag put away in storage after a taping week.This device controls all of the One Bid displays.And here is one of the big door borders tucked away in storage.John and Eddie take a moment to review the TPiR “stat book”. Does the turntable look different to you? That’s because it has been moved to backstage storage.Look towards the top right of this photo. You can see that Amy Remple’s then-record win had already been added to the “stat book”.A unique photo from the side of the Big Wheel.Here is the sheet that is affixed to the cash register in Grocery Game. Very simple to read and understand.Here’s a close up photo of the 6 digit Million Dollar Spectacular Showcase Podiums.Here is an example of an art card used when describing a vacation on TPiR. You’d never guess, but when shots like this are shown, they are taping directly next to the producers’ table.This $1000 bill is hanging up on the walls backstage. Although we are uncertain of its roots, we will venture a guess that it was once part of a Showcase.TPiR Miami Beach style.Coming to a station near you: THE MISSING SKIN CAPER. This notice was posted back in the storage area.John working dilligently not to go over $21. See how well he’s doing?The Plinko sign sitting on the back of the turntable.This plus sign was used back when the game was known as “3 Strikes +”. Today it sits under the gameboard, never to be seen on camera again.These are the old small prize displays used for the retired game “Superball!”A close up of the Showcase podium. Note the actual retail price card holder on the right side of the podium.When Bob reads the actual retail price of a showcase, this is what he’s looking at. These cards are placed in a small gray paperboard holder so the prices are concealed.The cards used to win a car in the Spelling Bee game.Remember the home player games from the 1980’s? The art card on the left was used to explain to the audience where to write to have a chance to win prizes at home. The art card on the right was used for the ticket plug, which has now been replaced by a graphic.
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