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Telephone Game

The second shortest-lived pricing game, behind Professor Price.

The contestant had to earn a “Price is Right dime” by “buying” two of four grocery products; if the contestant had at least 10¢ left over of their dollar credit, they “placed a call” in a giant payphone where they could dial one of three four-digit numbers in a “directory”. Two of those numbers were the prices of small prizes in dollars and cents; one of those numbers was the price of a car. The contestant won whatever prize they “dialed”.

After TPIR’s hourlong expansion in 1975, dozens of games were pitched to round out the lineup; some of the more outlandish concepts began to show up several years later after being budgeted, designed, staged, and built. By late 1978, the lineup was comparatively stable, the staff had a better idea of what made a pricing game work or not work, and Telephone Game stood out as particularly eccentric.

Telephone Game only lasted three playings; according to former producer Roger Dobkowitz, “it was lame.” Its rules and existence were only a hazy memory until late 2004, when producers gave the original Golden Gallery permission to upload exclusive screengrabs of two playings of the game.

42nd pricing game to debut
S7, November 1 1978 – S7, November 29 1978
Likely created by Joel Hecht
FAQ
S7, Nov 29 1978
A smiling contestant from a game show, wearing a light blue shirt with a graphic, in front of an audience.

Telephone Game had a unique reveal. Johnny tells José that he can win “a slow cooker, a coffee maker… ORRRRR….”

A yellow car on a game show set, flanked by two display stations for a slow cooker and coffee maker, with two women presenting the items.

…”A NEW CAR!” Each of the three prizes, including this Buick Opel, had its own telephone with a model assigned to it.

A contestant stands next to a giant payphone marked 'TELEPHONE GAME' on the game show set of 'The Price is Right', while the host engages with him about the game.

José will win the car if he can call the telephone next to the car.

A game show host stands beside a contestant on the set of 'The Price is Right,' showcasing a game display with various grocery products.

But to make a telephone call, José will need a dime. Bob won’t spot José a dime, but he’ll give him a dollar “credit” in the “Price is Right Bank”, and four products that he can buy.

With that dollar José must buy two of these products and have at least 10 cents left over. (Why can’t he break his dollar buying just one product? Because, that’s why.)

A game show host points at a table featuring displayed grocery products and a logo for 'The Price is Right' in a colorful studio setting.

José buys the candy bar and the crackers.

Display of grocery products with price tags: a box of frozen waffles at 20¢, a jar of mayonnaise, and a box of crackers at 69¢, set on a colorful backdrop from 'The Price Is Right'.

The candy bar is only 20¢, but the crackers are 69¢, leaving just…

Close-up of a game display showing a score of 89 with a sign indicating 20 cents above it.

…eleven cents remaining!

A game show host handing a dime to a contestant on stage, with colorful backdrop and game graphics visible.

He couldn’t have cut it any closer, but José’s earned his “Price is Right dime” and gets to dial for a prize.

Bob Barker opens a telephone directory with the letters TPIR on it as a contestant begins to play the Telephone Game.

Bob cracks open the “Price is Right directory” to see the three numbers he could dial today.

Bob Barker holding a sign with three four-digit numbers, representing prices the contestant can choose in the Telephone Game.

One of these numbers is the price of the car, the others are the prices of the slow cooker and coffee maker without the decimal point.

A yellow car parked between three contestants, each standing at a podium labeled with different prizes, in a game show setting with tropical decorations.

Which number will connect to which prize?

A contestant drops a Price is Right dime into the slot

José drops the dime in, and dials “4489”…

A yellow car is displayed on stage with three women beside it, each at a podium labeled 'COOKER', 'CAR', and 'COFFEE MAKER'.

…and we hear a ringing noise. All three models have their hands on the phone, but who will pick up?

Model on the Telephone Game holding a white telephone, smiling while dialing a number displayed as 89.

It’s Dian, at the car!

A contestant joyfully holds a blue telephone receiver while smiling during a game show.

He’s a happy man! He’s going home with that Buick!

A bright yellow car is prominently displayed on a game show set, with contestants and a host in the background clapping. There are two other smaller prizes labeled 'COOKER' and a prize number board beside them.

The reveal confirms the coffee maker was $46.98, and the cooker $43.95.

S7, Nov 1 1978
Logo of the Telephone Game from the television show 'The Price is Right'.

Here’s a closeup of the game’s logo. Telephone Game was only played three times before being hung up on.

A scene from the Telephone Game segment of 'The Price is Right,' featuring a host and a contestant on set, with colorful backdrop and game elements visible.

Mary has passed the first portion with flying colors, spending only 55 cents. Bob hands her the dime…

A game show host and a female contestant stand next to a large payphone, holding a sign displaying three phone numbers: 5298, 5995, and 5600.

…and reveals the day’s three “phone numbers”.

A woman operating a game board on a game show, with a circular dial and numbers displayed.

Mary drops the dime in the slot, and dials “5995”.

A staged scene from 'The Telephone Game' featuring a green car and three podiums with models holding telephones in front of them.

The phone rings… but who will pick up?

A woman with blonde hair happily speaking on a telephone, wearing a black dress with a gold accessory, set against a backdrop featuring ornate decor.

Once again, Dian answers…

A vintage game show set featuring a green car and three contestants at podiums, with a backdrop of elegant decor.

…but she’s standing at a toaster, meaning Mary’s going home with a $59.95 prize instead of a car. The car was $5600.