Telephone Game

Telephone Game is a game played for a car and two prizes. It was one of only two pricing games in which winning all of the announced prizes was not possible (not including small prizes or cash consolation prizes), but players playing this, were guaranteed one; the other is Any Number. This has no connection whatsoever with the future Phone Home Game.

Gameplay[]

The contestant was given $1 credit and was shown four grocery items. They used the credit to select two of the items, and their prices were deducted from the dollar. The contestant had to retain a dime to use the game's pay telephone. If they spent more than 90 cents, the game ended and the contestant won nothing.
If the contestant had 90 cents or less to spare, however, the contestant was given a dime and taken to the telephone. They were also shown a phone book showing three large, unlabeled four-digit phone numbers. Each number corresponded with one of the prizes: one was the price of the car in dollars; the other two numbers represented the prices of the two small prizes in dollars and cents (if a decimal were placed in the middle of the four digits).
The contestant selected one of the numbers and used the dime to call the number. Each prize had a telephone sitting next to it; the phone next to the prize whose price was dialed rang and was answered by a model, and the contestant won that prize.

Note[]

Host Bob Barker demanded "Quiet on the set" during a phone call.

Trivia[]

The game was played for a total of three times in one season, in the same month (season 7).

Retirement[]

Telephone Game was retired after only three playings, making it the second-shortest-lived pricing game after Professor Price (which was played only twice). According to former producer Roger Dobkowitz, "it was lame."
The game's final playing, on November 29, 1978 (#3053D), was also its only win.

Gallery[]

To view the gallery, click here.

Video Clip[]

A playing of The Telephone Game

1970s Pricing Games

Retired Pricing Games