Bonus Game
The first ever “fee game” played on the The Price is Right. Also the first game to ask contestants to guess “higher” or “lower”.
A board with four windows is shown. Each window has a small prize attached to it with a wrong price. The contestant guesses whether the actual price is higher or lower than the wrong price. If they’re correct, they win the small prize and control of the window.
One of the windows contains a hidden “Bonus”, which will be revealed at the end of the game. If the contestant has control of the “Bonus” window, they win a much larger bonus prize.
A simple game, but a classic. Bonus Game is played slightly more often than its close cousin Shell Game, with Bonus Game differentiated by its slightly quicker pace and old-school charm.
S1, September 4 1972 – Present
Likely created by Marc Breslow or Ira Skutch
S1, Sep 4 1972
It’s the first playing of Bonus Game! Bob explains that if Paul can win control of the Bonus window, he’ll win a bonus prize…
A washer, dryer, and a color TV! A bonus worth $1,100!
The prize in the first window is an electric typewriter. It’s NOT $118, is the correct price higher or lower?
Paul says it’s higher…
And he’s right! He wins the typewriter and control of the first window.
In fact, Paul wins the first three windows! If he can win this next prize, he’ll have covered the whole board, and will be guaranteed to win!
It all depends on whether Paul knows enough about this styling hair dryer. Higher or lower than $36?
He guesses it’s lower…
…and he’s right! He’s won even before we’ve even seen the first Bonus window!
Bob has the windows lit up anyways to confirm it. As long as Paul had won the prize in the third window–an encyclopedia set–he would have won the Bonus.
S1, Oct 12 1972
The yellow lights only lasted a few days, before they were swapped for blue ones that read much better on TV.
S3, Jul 24 1975
Bonus Game took a two-year break once Shell Game (which has very similar rules) was created, but the nighttime version kept it around to fill out its lineup. Eventually the daytime staff decided that both games could coexist, and both are still played to this day.
S6, Oct 25 1977
When the set added green shag carpeting to stand out on color TV sets, Bonus Game got a coat of paint with it. No bonus for Marilee, but she’s won $68 in small prizes.
S13, Mar 19 1985
Here’s an extra-special bonus from Season 13–the chance to become a model for a day, as well as a sailboat!
S35, Oct 18, 2006
Talk about heartbreak! Ashley played for a car as her Bonus… but wiped out on every single prize!
S40, Sep 4 2012
TPIR’s 40th Anniversary celebration offered a classic, fully restored 1972 Chevy Monte Carlo. And who is the lucky contestant playing for this Bonus?
Paul–yes, the VERY SAME Paul from the first episode–was invited back for the 40th anniversary, and, in an amazing coincidence, managed to win his way back onstage at this moment! Of all the games he could have gotten…
Paul not only played the Bonus Game twice, and won twice, but he won it in the exact same clean sweep! The undisputed all-time Bonus Game champion!
S40, Mar 19 2013
Bonus Game remained untouched for decades until 2013 when animated monitors replaced the incandescent lamps in the windows. Its classic shape was preserved; Bonus Game’s shell remains TPIR’s oldest surviving set.
…but if that one window is the Bonus, one is all you need!
- Light up the window of the year 1972 in the Tiny Timeline
- See bonus content at the Golden-Road FAQ on Bonus Game
- Learn about Shell Game, Bonus Game’s first cousin
- Revisit the first five pricing games, including Any Number, Double Prices, Grocery Game, and Bullseye I
- Return to “Golden Game Gallery“
Golden-Gallery.net 