Dream House (8/68): Doyle/Pam vs. Susan/Jerry

[@ronerdos8917]

My former wife and I were "Reni and Ron from Summit, New Jersey" on a week's worth of episodes in 1968.We went all the way and won all the rooms and the house. Actually, we took an in lieu of cash prize and used this to buy a turn of the century Dutch colonial house -- the home where our two children were raised through the 25+ years they lived there. This show changed our lives for sure (and also distinguished us in the community). This is truly a highlight in my life.

[@joansmith6092]

In the late 1960s, I bought (brand new) the board game version of Dream House- Yes, I still have it today! Those 50 point questions are really hard! The rooms you get- at least two regular bedrooms and a master bedroom.

[@meyerj75]

Is that the same Mike Darrow that would later host the 1980s revival of Jackpot for the USA Network?

[@armorybrunotjr.3204]

The Sta-Puf fabric softener spot is v'o'ed by Karl Weber.

[@kenwiencko9209]

This show was on ABC, only to be replaced by All My Children which was replaced by The Chew 41 years later.

[@Lupton2000]

RIP Mike Darrow.

[@DomenicDee]

As far as the pacing of the game and the questions, I like this version better than the one in 80's.

[@kenmonger7636]

For some reason I really liked this show, which did air on ABC (at least the version I watched and it was cancelled to make way for "All my Children"). I recall the final episode where the host (who was not this guy, but I can't recall his name) came out and sang a chorus of "The Party's Over" and then said "Yes, the party is over for Dream House but in the XX months we've been on the air we've given away well over XX hundred thousand dollars in prizes" I remember that much because I liked the show so much that I recorded the last segment on a battery operated reel-to-reel tape recorder. Unfortunately that tape, along with the network tapes are gone...

[@kokoken1]

This show would work today, and a house and lot for a seven-time winner would be quite a prize. (As long as the questions don't dumb the show down.)

[@PatrioticPirate]

My God... Mike Darrow must have been MUCH older than I thought he was- or he was barely out of high school on this show! I watched him on Jackpot!

[@mhmrules]

Nice way to begin a show. Always nice to start on a high note.

[@TheEggplantThatAteChicago]

It baffles me this stuff isn't better protected.

[@danbarker3846]

Is this and Jackpot the only 2 game shows Mike Darrow hosted?

[@andrewschroy6368]

@DanBarker- Nope-- there was $128,000 Question's first season as well.

[@markjeffries3684]

Interesting that the questions are of a somewhat higher standard than the pop culture/poll questions that dominated the 80s version of the series (of course, not on the level of Don Reid's other show, "College Bowl"). Considering that ABC was considered the "stupid young people" network by some, there still was the belief that these young couples were still considered smart. Of course, one has to note that Mike is asking for people to be in the audience when it so obvious that the applause is canned.

[@bluebear1985]

There was a bit of controversy surrounding this version of Dream House, because TV Guide reported in 1969 that none of the houses given away at that point had been completed, and more money had to be borrowed to purchase the land for it to be built on. ABC finally cancelled the show in early 1970 in favour of All My Children.

[@WarioBarker]

What, that the 1980s version was destroyed in a flood? It was reported by the TVPMM on Twitter (I've added the link to the video description).

[@jeffreyt.steptoe5306]

Thought all shows by this time, were in color?

[@shoredude2]

Jeffrey T. Steptoe The last program broadcast in B&W in the US occurred in 1972.

[@someguy23475]

It was, but this is a black and white kinescope.

[@WarioBarker]

But before ABC canned it, the show retaliated to that "exposé" by adding a third couple to the game and slightly tweaking the format to eliminate a couple after Round 1. Winning five rooms now offered a plane as an incentive to quit, while winning all seven rooms offered the choice of $20,000 or the house. It was REALLY obvious that they didn't want to give away another house if they could help it.

[@andrewschroy6368]

BTW, hope that Sara Lee ad doesn't give anyone nightmares for a week...

[@jeprice08]

17:54 - 17:59 I don't know the name of it, but I'm tempted to go and buy a recording of it so long as you're the guy who sings it.

[@andrewschroy6368]

I wonder if Doyle and Pam eventually did win a house... and if they're still alive? As are the other couples?

[@WarioBarker]

Sadly, I don't think anybody knows -- but even if they (and/or Jim & Bridget Kelly, who were going for their sixth room when they returned) did, they likely didn't get it for the reasons I mentioned in the description.