Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Clock Game Controller - Since 1972!

Saw this backstage today and it blew my mind. It's the control box for The Clock Game on TPIR. Serving obediently and without pay since 1972.



46 comments:

  1. Ha, that could easily be mistaken for some sort of bomb. You would think there would be an easier, and or less complicated way.

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  2. whoa, thats almost as old as I am!

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  3. I love this stuff. Thanks for sharing. One of my favorite memories was walking backstage on my way to another game show I was on and seeing the Cliff Hangers game just hanging out waiting to be used and the backsides of other games as we walked past.

    Ah, good times...

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  4. Wow! Give MacGyver a potato and some shoestrings and let's see if he can make it cook breakfast!

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  5. wow...that is great!...thanks for sharing!

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  6. So did you open that up yourself? Does it still work after opening? I'm sure you've got some electrical skillz.

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  7. wow, that'sa pretty simple, and it still works, cool!

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  8. There's something about classic technology that is always so exciting, especially in a beloved attraction such as that! Certainly a testament to its craftsmen if it is still in use some 37 years later without shorting out or failing.

    Thanks for sharing, Drew!

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  9. Certainly looks pretty well-aged, given the faded-to-the-point-of-illegibilty and yellowing paper.

    The instruction note seems to be a lot more recent. Too bad the person who printed it up couldn't be bothered to add that last space :P

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  10. Fantastic. I love the note card, that's probably been there for most of those 37 years..

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  11. Wow, that's really cool! The inner workings of that look so complex for a pricing game that has such a simple interface. Regardless of that, I still wouldn't want to play the Clock Game! Heck, I've always thought that if I played Lucky 7 I'd pull a $20 from my wallet...

    Drew, thanks for continuing to share all these great pics with us.

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  12. That's the handy work of Ted Cooper and his crew.

    The TPiR Plug-n-Play game came out today. Did you want any shots of the boxart for your blog?

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  13. Really cool! If it ain't broke, no need to fix it.

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  14. That is so cool. I'm really digging your photos and behind-the-scenes views from the set. It's really awesome. Can't wait for the season premiere. BTW, what's the story behind holding one episode from this season until Sept. 18?

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  15. Find something that works and stick with it! It's cool to see al the behind the scenes stuff, thanks man.

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  16. Thank you Drew. These pics are WONDERFUL! I would love to see the machine that controls the contestants row bids.

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  18. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

    If it does break, pray there's somebody left in Television City to fix it.

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  19. Are there plans to update some of this stuff? Or do the people at TPIR take the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" approach?

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  20. Wait, the sound fx come from there and not the audio board? Had no idea.

    Are they still using the price-holders from 1972 as well?

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  21. That is so cool! TV always looks so fine and polished on the camera end, but I'll bet there's a lot of chewing gum and bailing wire holding it together behind the scenes.

    I was 5 and in the audience when T(N)PIR debuted in 1972!

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  22. Awesome! Love the word "Clock Game" done with a Dymo Label Maker. I'm such a geek for this stuff. Keep the pics coming. :)

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  23. Sweet!!! Thanks for sharing! :-)

    GO SOUNDERS!!!

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  24. WOW!!!!! Any more old props that still work, or is that the only one? What if it breaks? Then they'll be no more Clock Game! I'd hate for that to happen since it's one of my all-time favorite games.

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  25. That so cool. When it eventually gets replaced, it should be saved for the TPIR museum. Thanks for sharing that and I hope you show us more behind-the-scene photos.

    I saw Squeeze Play today and I have a few suggestions on how to make it visually better. I would suggest changing the removable numbers to gray and adding a sign in the back that says "Remove One". This will allow the game to be explained with one glance. Here's a graphic I did of what it would look like. http://twitpic.com/8yrv2

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  26. It's gonna 'splode!!!!!

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  27. It's a miracle that thing still works. If the police saw this thing laying by the side of the road I am confident that they would clear the area.

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  28. Drew:

    Any chance you could get into the old sound booth stuff too? I wonder if all those old Mackenzie Repeaters are still in there. I've seen pics from 20 years ago or so, but I am curious if they are still there.

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  29. More backstage photos please! Those are great close-ups.

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  30. I think you should find the person that built it and thank him for his fine work. Give him a clock game plaque or something. Give it to a surviving relative if they have past away. This is a wonderful piece of TV history

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  31. Next up: What's Yodely Guy up to when he's not climbing that mountain?

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  32. Jeez, that thing is older than me!

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  33. What I want to know is, if it ever DID break, is there anybody left who could FIX it?

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  34. This is really neat! Thanks Drew. What about the other games, can you tell us about them? What happened to "Barker's Bar?" You used to play it.

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  35. There's a newspaper writer, who on his personal blog has been making comments about early TPiR shows on his blog. There's two post about it up on the main page. Check it out at http://lileks.com/bleat/

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  36. Seriously (although this isn't related to the controller) why can't I find your stand up dvd online. Drew Carey Human Cartoon is my favorite of all time, and cannot be found. Do you have any idea where I can purchase it?
    Thanks

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  37. Love that!! lol..ps..your little boy looks just like you! same sweet smile;)

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  38. Um... no idea about Human Cartoon. If I ever find out I'll post about it. Thanks for even asking. Meanwhile, if you don't hear from me via here, it's probably not available. - dc

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  39. for a change, here are some brand new TPIR props... from the new French version starting Monday 27th

    http://videos.tf1.fr/le-juste-prix/interview-de-vincent-lagaf-je-ne-peux-travailler-que-dans-la-fidelite-4478362.html

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  40. Wow. It looks like the innerds of an old Atari Pong machine lol.

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  41. Dear Drew,

    On this day, June 30th, members of my church and I attended a taping of your show, and my pastor, Danny Maynard, made it to the Showcase. I was wondering, if you have time, would accept an invitation from me to attend a Sunday service at Liberty Temple Church? We love you, and we would be honored to have you and your fiance (and, of course, the baby) to join us one Sunday. Services start at 10:15am. If you agree, please surprise Pastor Dan. I would like to do this for him as much as for you. We would love to have you. Please consider it. We pray for you. We love you. Liberty Temple Church of God in Arleta, California. Please come. You would make his day. You will love our band!

    God bless you, Diana

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  42. Oh my gosh!! I love this!!! Can you show us more from backstage?

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  43. Working on more backstage stuff through priceisright.com. :)

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