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The team at "The Price is Right" in the '80s. From left are Dian Parkinson; Holly Hallstrom; Bob Barker; and Janice Pennington. Source: https://www.rediscoverthe80s.com/ (May be subject to copyright) |
“The Price Is Right” didn’t really start as must-see TV in our house until my Dad starting watching it. Then it became probably his favourite TV show.
I was getting ready for work today, and “The Price Is Right” was playing, bringing back a lot of memories of pricing games, showcases, beautiful women, and a lot of yelling at the TV.
The show
“The Price Is Right” dates back to the 1950s, but the one I watched in the 1980s on Channel 7 fn the peasant vision dial was a revival that began in 1972. Although Wikipedia says it retained some elements of the original show, I recall host Bob Barker paying homage to the original, pointing out games that were from the original show.
“The Price Is Right” dates back to the 1950s, but the one I watched in the 1980s on Channel 7 fn the peasant vision dial was a revival that began in 1972. Although Wikipedia says it retained some elements of the original show, I recall host Bob Barker paying homage to the original, pointing out games that were from the original show.
In addition to Barker hosting the show, the announcer who proclaimed “Come on Down!” at the outset of every episode was Johnny Olson.
There were also three models, dubbed “Barker’s Beauties”, who presented all the prizes that were bid on or played for, helped with games, and presented the prize showcases at the climax of each episode.
Throughout the 1980s it was the same three “Barker’s Beauties” and a lot of teenage boys had crushes on them. They were all glamorous, attractive, and most were actual beauty queens.
They were Janice Pennington; Dian Parkinson; and Holly Hallstrom. Each had their own story and unique qualities. Janice married a Portuguese writer. Dian had been a former Miss District of Columbia, and ended up posing for “Playboy”; and Holly was renowned for crashing a model train, used to display prizes, into the side of the studio, but off camera.
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Plinko is one of the most popular games on "The Price is Right". Source: https://x.com/OldSchool80s (May be subject to copyright) |
Each show began with four people drawn at random to “Come on Down”. They were presented a prize to bid on, and the one closest to the actual retail price came on stage to compete for more cash and prizes. If the winner’s bid was exactly right, they won $100. They had to reach into Bob Barker’s pocket to get it though.
There were dozens of different games contestants played. Some I recall were the popular “Plinko” and “Hole in One”; as well as “Squeeze Play”; “Cliffhanger”; “The Golden Road”, where you could win two new cars; “Temptation”; “The Check (Cheque) Game”; “Secret ‘X’”; “Any Number”; “Bullseye” “Card Game”; “Check Out” “The Clock Game”; “Dice Game”” “Punch a Bunch” “Range Game”; “Safe Cracker”; “Shell Game”; “Ten Chances” “Three Strikes”; “Hit Me”; “Super Ball”; and so many more.
Initially, the show was a half hour long, so after three games, the top two winners would advance to the showcase round. When the show expanded to an hour, the first three contestants would spin a big wheel in the “Showcase Showdown”. The closest to one dollar without going over won. They could do it in one spin or two. The winner advanced to the Showcase. The final three contestants would compete in a second “Showcase Showdown”.
The Showcases were two groups of prizes. After viewing the first Showcase, the top winner could choose to bid on it or pass and bid on the second one. The closest to the total value of the prizes, without going over, won. If they were within $500 they won both showcases. This was later dropped to $100, and now is at $250.
Father knows best
Pretty much as long as I can remember, “The Price is Right” was synonymous with my father. I have faint memories of watching the show before he did, but it must have been when I was out of school and he was working in the field or the yard. Initially, it was on in the afternoon.
Pretty much as long as I can remember, “The Price is Right” was synonymous with my father. I have faint memories of watching the show before he did, but it must have been when I was out of school and he was working in the field or the yard. Initially, it was on in the afternoon.
Yet, when my dad started watching it, he was hooked. Initially he kept calling it “Let’s Make a Deal”, because that show had been on for years. He just loved the show especially playing along with the games. So much so, one day when my parents picked me up from basketball practice in Grade 7 or 8, Mom said we were almost late because Dad wanted to finish watching “The Price Is Right”. That was when it still aired in the afternoons.
As the years went on, Dad became more familiar with the games, and the merchandise. He was a very good player at all the games.
He also did not suffer fools easily, and would tell them so, often yelling at the TV, much the same way I do watching football and baseball.
Parting thoughts
To be honest, as a teenage boy, I watched “The Price Is Right” for the models. They were incredibly attractive and exotic for a farm kid from Coaldale.
To be honest, as a teenage boy, I watched “The Price Is Right” for the models. They were incredibly attractive and exotic for a farm kid from Coaldale.
Yet, what I will always remember was how much my Dad loved “The Price Is Right”. He would drop everything else to watch it, and just loved to play along.
I even mentioned it in his eulogy back in 2015.
The most poignant reminder, and perhaps the most meaningful gesture comes from my niece Megan Laqua though.
She loved her grandfather, and wanted to do something to honour him.
So on the inside of her left arm she has a tattoo of one of “The Price Is Right” name tags the show uses. It has my Dad’s name “Paul” on it.
However, Megan got her grandma, my Mom, to find a copy of Dad’s signature. Megan used that as the writing on the name tag. It is essentially my dad’s name written in his own hand.
I can’t think of a more fitting tribute.
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