The Price is Right (1972 Pitchfilm)

Filmed February 16, 1972: Mark Goodson presents a sales presentation film for a new weekly, syndicated, early evening version of The Price is Right with Dennis James as the host. They both present ideas that would evolve to other versions and hosts, which includes the daily, network, daytime version with Drew Carey 40 years later.
Goodson later displays what a good host James can be by showing him as a substitute host of Let's Make a Deal, a show Goodson thinks it borrowed elements from The Price is Right.
Reuploading in slightly better quality and in one part; kinda like a 40th Anniversary reupload.

[@dschultz9466]

This needs to be restored and preserved, it may be a pitch film, but it *is* history.

[@willmack5909]

A show for 1972, and 1973, for the present and the future. Brother, did you ever hit that nail on the head...2016 and Price is Right is still on CBS!!!!

[@blind_t2]

right! Like another person said here, James was a great host, but bob was the one and only host who took this show "to infinity and beyond!" Drew is doing great at making this show his own, all while keeping that classic appeal there.

[@pinedelgado4743]

This is a marvelous piece of television history!!! Never EVER delete THIS one!!! I'm saving this to one of my playlists NOW!!! Thanks lots for posting, +thewhammy83!!!! :)

[@JordanMB94]

50 years later... Still on TV! Happy 50th to TPIR!

[@MelvinGaines]

This is amazing! I agree that this has to be preserved before it fades away due to age.

[@tommyryan1311]

This is fascinating to watch! Im overjoyed this exists.

[@laquintaknox6719]

I've always liked the price of right since I was little but ever since Bob retired it hasn't been the same so I watch reruns on here

[@GaryW48]

This kinescope was recorded at the NBC Today Show studio at 30 Rock. I recognized the desk where they sat, as along the front of the desk was the shows clock.

[@thegameshowgeek]

The game Dennis played with Mark where they arranged the numbers in the prices, that definitely formed the basis for the pricing game “ten chances“.

[@spagandtuna]

Dennis James was a very fine host. He was an everyman who seemed to genuinely pull for the contestant. He conveyed a "let's get this done" tension that actually added to the excitement. I liked him. But ya know what? Bob Barker really was the best choice to take the show into the stratosphere and history proves that.

[@catholicpriest1]

This was originally video taped (probably at NBC in New York). Someone else mentioned the clock at the corner of the desk. This would indicate that it was taped in the Today Show studio. What we have here is a color kinescope of the video taped pitch. That's why the quality is so poor.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

I would think in 1972 that a pitch film would have been on film because even though almost all stations had VT capability, it was not uniform all over the country (as to format) and sending out a couple of hundred video tapes would have been very expensive, while doing a film would have saved a lot of money. You may be right, but for what it's worth (was that a game show)?

[@markschildberg1667]

Bob Barker was the choice of Bud Grant, who headed the CBS daytime programming division. Barker turned TNPIR down, but eventually Grant persuaded him to do it, telling Barker that his strength, as demonstrated on Truth or Consequences, was audience participation shows.

[@markschildberg1667]

@Dimitri Borozny Yes, it was first offered to Bill Cullen, but G-T knew he wouldn't accept it because of his challenged mobility. He wouldn't have been able to walk around on an open stage.

[@kurttoy5035]

Cullen was unavailable because he was doing Three On A Match for Bob Stewart and NBC in New York.

[@toddwacha5108]

And Bob wanted to host The Joker's Wild instead.

[@Rlotpir1972]

The game played on LMaD was a precursor to a future game for TPiR, Hole-in-one (or Two).

[@danbarker4857]

I heard Mark Goodson or CBS wanted Dennis to do BOTH the daytime and nighttime versions, but CBS wanted, Bob for CBS.

[@jamesvernon3045]

bob barker originally wanted to host the jokers wild kind of a good thing he changed his mind..joker ended in 75

[@matthartleyjr9180]

true but who knows what could have been if things were flipped

[@bluebear1985]

Bob Barker mentioned in his autobiography that he was approached earlier to host the "Beat the Clock" revival, but he couldn't do that considering "Truth or Consequences" was already in syndication. There was a rule that an emcee couldn't host two syndicated shows, so the job went to Jack Narz. He was of course able to do the CBS version of "The New Price is Right", and the rest was history.

[@louistenore3876]

dennis james aslo made one apperence on the daytime version in december 1974 and like he said he ewven wore his christmas pants yuk yuk yuk i even remeber watching his version when i was young on channel 4 the nbc station on saturday nights at 730 before moving to channel 2 same night and time

[@dexj1]

1st Game = Take Two Cut Price = Ten Chances 3rd Game = a variation of 2-player Bullseye I Great and interesting video!

[@lakebay972]

Actually, it was for the networks. CBS was the one who was interested; but for a host, they wanted Bob Barker while Mark Goodson wanted Dennis James. In order for TPIR to air on CBS, Goodson had to comply and get Barker.

[@byrd56]

The pricing game that Dennis simulates for Mark at 3:20 was a variation on one of the most recently-added games during the Drew Carey era of "TPiR", entitled "Do the Math". The "Cut Price" simulation at 4:20 evolved into "Ten Chances", albeit without the risk element. And the "LMaD" clip of Dennis getting two contestants to order items from least to most expensive was sort of a precursor to "Eazy az 1-2-3[-4-5]".

[@briankelley9094]

actually it would be more like Hole in one (or two), putting items from least to most expensive

[@sing4theLordJesus]

interesting side note: if you watch the LMAD segment starting at 7:43 look to the right and you will see a couple wearing jail suits. They did not get picked on this show, however the husband came back and appeared on a 2nd LMAD, and won a bear!

[@goldenchick85]

They have kids and parents specials on the Drew Carey version now, but all of the final guesses and bids have to come from the parents.

[@fromthesidelines]

That didn't stop Goodson from using Dennis as emcee of the syndicated "night-time" edition, at the same time the CBS daytime version initially appeared. Both flourished throughout the '70s.

[@WarioBarker]

Fun thing: NBC was the "network of record" for Dennis' tenure on nighttime "Price".

[@joelwatson7133]

WOW! The first game that Dennis was showing seems like a way early variation of "Do The Math."

[@willmack5909]

+Joel Watson Indeed or even a variation of "Take Two".

[@witherblaze]

Talk about prophetic

[@ricknibert6417]

Or Check Game except there was a price range involved.

[@fromthesidelines]

Several of the NBC owned and operated stations carried the syndicated "night-time" version- including WNBC-TV in New York, who scheduled it locally at 7:30pm on Saturdays.

[@fromthesidelines]

Bob didn't "want" to be involved because he was already busy with the daily syndicated edition of "TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES" for Ralph Edwards. How he did BOTH over a two-year period is a miracle!

[@wisp2007]

This pilot is for the syndicated version with Dennis James.

[@AustinLaPlante]

...And the rest is history!!!

[@RCPlanes59]

Thank goodness this wasn't how The Price Is Right ended up.

[@markschildberg1667]

Goodson, Frank Wayne and Jay Wolpert worked on the basic concept for a few more weeks after this pitch film, which was shot in February 1972. It took 3 days just to figure out how contestants would be selected.

[@gsnfan]

They filmed this on the set of NBC's Today Show at the time. I can tell by the clock on the upper right corner of the desk.

[@TheEggplantThatAteChicago]

This is great. As a side note, Dennis James always struck me as one of the least empathetic hosts out there.

[@TheEggplantThatAteChicago]

What a difference seven years makes. The more I see with Dennis, the more I like him. Grateful more of his stuff has surfaced!

[@lakebay972]

I don't think TPIR would've lasted as long with James.

[@danbarker4857]

That clip of Dennis hosted LMAD was that the daytime version in 1969?

[@tigrus879archives4]

Nice video. In fact, this would make a perfect YTP source! :)

[@MusicHandsAbrupt]

OMG! Where did you get this?

[@lindamerchant2401]

Where was Bill Todman?Bob barker is price is right 1st and original. Emcee living legend is 99 years old

[@MrJoeybabe25]

So the night time version was on the air before the daytimer?

[@eddiebarros_USA093]

Joe Postove actually both daytime and nighttime versions were aired on the same day September 4 1972. Bob Barker hosted the daytime version of The Price is Right. Dennis James hosted the nighttime version of Tpir while Bob hosted the nighttime version of Truth or Consequences.

[@BensenvilleProductions]

This is an 16mm film!

[@dupont416]

Gee, I wonder how it fared.

[@larkefedifero]

Game #1 @ 2:50 = modern game, "Do the Math!" 😯

[@VahanNisanian]

Watching this pitchfilm is a bit errie to watch, considering that most of it consists of no one talking other than Mark Goodson and Dennis James.

[@italy4blktop]

a Mercedes 600 is and was a very expensive Mercedes.....its actually a Limo usually seen around the world driven for heads of state etc..........or the villain on Mission Impossible.

[@joelwatson7133]

And the second game is similar to Ten Chances.

[@DXKramer]

And the first is similar to Take Two.

[@jamesvernon3045]

wouldn't that been bizarre if Barker hosted Joker and it was still on

[@WarioBarker]

Barker wasn't involved until CBS got involved, and even then Barker didn't *want* to be involved.

[@rodney1279TheFlip]

I think the second pricing game was a lead to game 10 chances.

[@Nickrj3]

The 2nd game became ten chances

[@tomxconn]

Wonder what became of that LMAD couple, if they’re alive, hopefully they’ve seen this

[@lindamerchant2401]

2 price is rights 1950s then 1972 to 2022

[@msufandan]

So Dennis James was supposed to be the original MC?

[@goyadressunofficial]

This pitch was for the syndicated version. Barker was busy doing the daytime version as well as the syndicated "Truth or Consequences" so Goodson-Todman needed another host for the syndie TPIR.

[@chaupin5]

Why didn't they get Bill Cullen to host the 1972 revival of The Price is Right for CBS

[@Sunny-jz3dy]

Because Bill Cullen couldnt handle the physical demands the set-up had. Bill Cullen was the first choice for it! He usually sat down on the Original Price Is Right, only standing occasionally. Between a childhood disease and a crippling car accident Bill Cullen was physically handicapped.

[@kevinfitzmaurice4072]

Cullen was also in New York hosting a daytime show for Bob Stewart on NBC in '72.

[@marcpower4167]

He did make a cameo, weirdly they didn't even mention he hosted the old show. 🤔

[@seanmc7128]

I thought the price is right came out in 1971

[@landrykkb]

Dennis James would have been a better long term host than Bob Barker.

[@robertlehman1337]

aDg 2k18 Dennis James lasted until March of 1977 on night time price is right

[@andyshepard4309]

@@robertlehman1337 Bc CBS took over the syndicated version for their markets until 1980

[@marcpower4167]

I dont know.....I think Bob was more natural for the party like atmosphere of tpir, i mean Dennis did a nice job too with the nighttime version. Will have to think about that....🤔 In some alternate universe Dennis is probably STILL hosting Tpir. 😅

[@gfalcon]

I never knew that Ronald Reagan hosted game shows

[@thegameshowgeek]

The game Dennis played with Mark where they arranged the numbers in the prices, that definitely formed the basis for the pricing game “ten chances“.