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Musical Chairs (game show)
Encyclopedia
Musical Chairs was a game show
that aired from June 16 to October 31, 1975 on CBS
. Singer Adam Wade hosted, making him the first African-American game show host. Wade was pedigreed, having had three Billboard top ten hits in 1961. The series was recorded at the Ed Sullivan Theater
(CBS Studio 50) in New York City
, and sportscaster Pat Hernon was the announcer.
The series aired at 4:00 PM (3:00 Central Time) against NBC
's Somerset
and ABC
's Money Maze
(and later You Don't Say!
); it was not successful in the ratings against that competition.
Usually appearing on each episode were guest singers and musical groups, among them The Tokens
, The Spinners, and Sister Sledge
as well as up and coming singers and stars such as Alaina Reed, Kelly Garrett, Jane Olivor
, and Irene Cara
.
The first three contestants to give the correct answer in Round 1 won $50 each; this was increased to $75 in Round 2 (for the first two players) and $100 in Round 3 (for the first player). During the final round, the player with the lowest score after each song left the game but kept any money accumulated. After the third round, the player with the most money won the game and played the bonus round.
Later in the run, the first song in each round paid $50 each to the first three players to lock in with the right answer. The second song paid $75 to the first two players to be correct, and the last song in each round paid $100 to the first player with the correct song line. The player with the lowest score after each round would be eliminated from further play, but kept all winnings up to that point. As before, the player with the most money after the final round won the game.
). Getting a stated amount in 60 seconds won a bonus prize.
Later, the bonus round was dropped and the winning contestant simply had his/her maingame total doubled.
Beginning in mid-September, a new bonus round was introduced – the day's winner chose one of three categories, then heard the melody of a song. The lyric was then shown with ten words missing; each time a word was correctly placed the contestant won $100. Getting all 10 in the proper places within 30 seconds won $2,000.
its daytime games in late 1972. One episode exists with musical guests Irene Cara, soap star Mary Stuart
, and the Spinners.
A partial audio recording of an episode featuring musical guests Buddy Greco
, Hattie Winston
, and Dick Roman is known to be in the collection of Roman's daughter Miel.
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
that aired from June 16 to October 31, 1975 on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
. Singer Adam Wade hosted, making him the first African-American game show host. Wade was pedigreed, having had three Billboard top ten hits in 1961. The series was recorded at the Ed Sullivan Theater
Ed Sullivan Theater
The Ed Sullivan Theater, located at 1697-1699 Broadway between West 53rd and West 54th, in Manhattan, is a venerable radio and television studio in New York City...
(CBS Studio 50) in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and sportscaster Pat Hernon was the announcer.
The series aired at 4:00 PM (3:00 Central Time) against NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's Somerset
Somerset (TV series)
Somerset is an American television soap opera which ran on NBC from March 30, 1970 until December 31, 1976. The show was a spinoff of another NBC serial, Another World.-Overview :...
and ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
's Money Maze
Money Maze
The Money Maze is an American television game show seen on ABC from December 23, 1974 to June 27, 1975. The show was hosted by Nick Clooney and was announced by Alan Kalter . It was produced by Daphne-Don Lipp Productions, of which Dick Cavett was a principal.The object of the game was to negotiate...
(and later You Don't Say!
You Don't Say!
You Don't Say! is an American television game show that had three separate runs on television. The first version aired on NBC daytime from April 1, 1963 to September 26, 1969 with revivals on ABC in 1975 and in syndication from 1978-1979...
); it was not successful in the ratings against that competition.
Usually appearing on each episode were guest singers and musical groups, among them The Tokens
The Tokens
The Tokens are an American male doo-wop-style vocal group from Brooklyn, New York. They are known best for their chart-scoring 1961 single, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" .-Career:...
, The Spinners, and Sister Sledge
Sister Sledge
Sister Sledge is an American musical group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, formed in 1972 and consisting of four sisters: Kim Sledge Debbie Sledge , Joni Sledge , and Kathy Sledge . They are granddaughters of the former opera singer Viola Williams. The sisters used to perform under the name of "Mrs...
as well as up and coming singers and stars such as Alaina Reed, Kelly Garrett, Jane Olivor
Jane Olivor
Jane Olivor is an American cabaret singer. She was initially compared, often favorably, to Barbra Streisand and Édith Piaf.-Background:...
, and Irene Cara
Irene Cara
Irene Cara is an American singer and actress. Cara won an Academy Award in 1984 in the category of Best Original Song for co-writing "Flashdance... What a Feeling." She is also known for her recording of the song "Fame", and she also starred in the 1980 film Fame.She married Hollywood stuntman...
.
Gameplay
Four contestants competed, one usually a champion. Three rounds and nine songs were played. A singer (host Wade and/or one of the guest performers) would begin to sing a song, but stop at a certain point. The singer then sang three different lyrics for the next line of the song, which were displayed on back-lit panels (the third panel occasionally contained humorous or absurd lyrics, written by songwriters/lyricists that were on the show's staff). The players then picked which of the three options s/he thought was correct by pressing a button on their console.The first three contestants to give the correct answer in Round 1 won $50 each; this was increased to $75 in Round 2 (for the first two players) and $100 in Round 3 (for the first player). During the final round, the player with the lowest score after each song left the game but kept any money accumulated. After the third round, the player with the most money won the game and played the bonus round.
Later in the run, the first song in each round paid $50 each to the first three players to lock in with the right answer. The second song paid $75 to the first two players to be correct, and the last song in each round paid $100 to the first player with the correct song line. The player with the lowest score after each round would be eliminated from further play, but kept all winnings up to that point. As before, the player with the most money after the final round won the game.
Bonus round
Originally, the contestant had to name each song that was sung (with the singer humming through any part that uses the song's title, much like the "Sing-A-Tune" round of Name That TuneName That Tune
Name That Tune is a television game show that put two contestants against each other to test their knowledge of songs. Premiering in the United States on NBC Radio in 1952, the show was created and produced by Harry Salter and his wife Roberta....
). Getting a stated amount in 60 seconds won a bonus prize.
Later, the bonus round was dropped and the winning contestant simply had his/her maingame total doubled.
Beginning in mid-September, a new bonus round was introduced – the day's winner chose one of three categories, then heard the melody of a song. The lyric was then shown with ten words missing; each time a word was correctly placed the contestant won $100. Getting all 10 in the proper places within 30 seconds won $2,000.
Episode status
The show's status is unknown, as CBS had ceased wipingWiping
Wiping or junking is a colloquial term for action taken by radio and television production and broadcasting companies, in which old audiotapes, videotapes, and telerecordings , are erased, reused, or destroyed after several uses...
its daytime games in late 1972. One episode exists with musical guests Irene Cara, soap star Mary Stuart
Mary Stuart
-People:*Mary Stewart, Countess of Buchan , fifth daughter of James I of Scotland, 1st Countess of Buchan*Mary, Queen of Scots , queen regnant of Scotland, wife of Francis II of France and mother of James I of England...
, and the Spinners.
A partial audio recording of an episode featuring musical guests Buddy Greco
Buddy Greco
-Biography:He was born Armando Greco in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Greco began playing piano at the age of four. His first professional work was playing with Benny Goodman's band. Most of Greco's work has been in the jazz and pop genres...
, Hattie Winston
Hattie Winston
Hattie Mae Winston is an American television, film and Broadway actress best known for her role as Margaret on Becker and as a prominent cast member of the PBS children's series The Electric Company.-Early career:...
, and Dick Roman is known to be in the collection of Roman's daughter Miel.