High Rollers - Game Show Classic - 7/3/75

[@Tchelitchew.]

I just checked, and Ruta Lee is still with us today at 89!

[@therealbrentrolland]

Hallelujah! I pray good health for her.

[@gameshowgospel]

Great to see a $10k win on this episode. Also glad when the show was revived, they let the contestants roll the dice.

[@NEPatriot]

And yes, there was a BIG WIN sound from Heatter Quigley which carried over into the 1978-80 run. And even on Las Vegas Gambit when they went to the Big Numbers format in the latter stages of the show. It's not as well-known as say the Price is Right's clangs and whoops, but still...

[@LittleRockElevatorsandmore]

The fourth of July episode is when the chandelier landed on Ruta Lee's head. It's good to see these episodes of high rollers. I can see this show being rebooted.

[@jeffandbike4503]

Thanks for uploading this Wink. I enjoyed watching this way back when I was 4 years old

[@Uzumakipavel]

No disrespect, but it's good that in later versions the contestants roll those dices and not the co-host. You and your luck is decide your fate in game and not someone

[@wschmrdr]

I can understand why they did it, though; worried the contestants might "set the dice" to try to force rolls, especially with the scandals still a little fresh in the mind.

[@bryanloveseighties]

​@@wschmrdrNonetheless, it's good that contestants were allowed to roll the dice later on. It is their game, after all, and besides, if only the contestants are allowed to spin the Wheel of Fortune, why can't they also be allowed to roll the High Rollers dice?

[@theodorehsu5023]

@@wschmrdr I was looking on KZbin about a guy at a craps table that got good at throwing the dice, then made a "hop bet," which was specifically saying which two faces would come up on the dice, for 30-1 odds. So I can also understand.

[@c3po626]

Nice to see this video again Wink. Remember seeing this back at the paley center in 2016. During Cbs's excellence in daytime programming.

[@witherblaze]

This was NBC, not CBS

[@c3po626]

​​@@witherblazedidnt matter wither, it was still in their archives at the paley center. I merely mentioned "cbs" in passing. As i was in Los Angeles during that time. :)

[@wschmrdr]

@@witherblaze Could have still been seen as tough competition.

[@OhBear-j8l]

Agree about the dice, but I like that Ruta interacts with everyone during the show

[@OhBear-j8l]

Adding the columns in the main game was an Improvement.

[@ChiefCoralcola]

Thank you so much for posting more of the OG High Rollers! I wish there was more of it out there, it’s still fun to play along and watch even to this day. I wish they’d try a revival with the 70’s version here as their benchmark.

[@wschmrdr]

They did in 1987.

[@theodorehsu5023]

I would love to see a network revival of it, where a Big Numbers win with at least one double gets $50,000, and a BNW with NO doubles makes it $100,000. Play three rounds, numbers each have a cash prize, winning the game adds $1000 times the numbers eliminated to a player's score. High score after three wins a shot at the Big Numbers..

[@GeorgeMaster-xg7lg]

Neat treat! Glad to know that another Trebek HR is here for our enjoyment after reading that very few episodes exist.

[@ericsamuelson5656]

According to Adam Nedeff, all episodes of the 1974-76 exist. It was rediscovered in 2020. Would love to see it rerun on Buzzr. The 39 episode 1975-76 nighttime version with Elaine Stewart rolling the dice remains a mystery.

[@bradleysherman959]

Chuck & Susan, Alex & Ruta, the two greatest pairs on NBC

[@dougmilesmedia]

Loved Ruta Lee! Good game show. Watched it as a kid.

[@batterymakermarkii2654]

Now THAT's how I first remembered Alex Trebek...with the FRO!!

[@bk9509-o2o]

I always enjoyed Alex Trebek "letting loose" so to speak, on shows like this and Classic Concentration. It's so different from his serious, stern style that he used on Jeopardy! (though, in fairness, he could be humorous on that show as well). The mid 70s had so many unique game shows like this, The Magnificent Marble Machine, The Money Maze, etc. I would love this show to be revived.

[@genegjr]

It was revived with Wink Martindale as host in I think in the 90’s 😮

[@theodorehsu5023]

This was before Jeopardy, so he could loosen up. First years of Jeopardy had him "executive produce" as well, so then he had to be serious.

[@MMB18abel]

1987 to be exact, though Wink did a pilot a year prior.

[@ArthurIdis3]

​@@genegjr1987-1988.

[@stedco75]

Alex and Wink, two great High Rollers hosts.

[@1TexasTV]

High Rollers needs to be revived!

[@jeprice08]

I absolutely love seeing this version of High Rollers even though I wasn't even around yet. I also love the fact that the big money was won.

[@MrWildcat2009]

Great to see at least one episode of this survive! Thanks for the upload Wink!

[@kingchrisl89]

The next day's episode also exists.

[@bradleysherman959]

From what I’ve heard, the 1974-1976 daytime version exists in its entirety. Game show historian and author Adam Nedeff is trying to work out a deal with whoever has the episodes so they can be preserved and hopefully be presented to the public.

[@RJSchex]

I'm presuming that the champion on this episode will be then Chargers kicker Ray Wersching.

[@gameshowgospel]

Yes indeed.

[@tnate6004]

I like that Heatter Quigley used older classic Hollywood actresses instead of young models on the original versions of High Rollers and Gambit. Ruta Lee and Elaine Stewart were perfect co-hosts.

[@tammylewis2408]

Nice to see a rare High Rollers episode with Alex. Hope you keep releasing more rare game show episodes.

[@jimmysouders5640]

I haven't seen this gameshow in years

[@zazelby]

My favorite version of High Rollers, with the giant numbers.

[@1TexasTV]

The ORIGINAL Big Numbers.

[@ryanting5690]

Before he became the original host of Jeopardy, the late Alex Trebek delivered his performance in High Rollers in 1975.

[@bryanloveseighties]

Alex: When I say these dice are unpredictable, I'm not exaggerating. Me: Neither was Wink.

[@tvlone]

I would love to see more classic shows of High Rollers with Alex and Ruta. Great $10000 win for Judy.

[@ericsamuelson5656]

This is the first time in my life I watched the original High Rollers where a contestant won $10,000 in the Big Numbers round. The double sound effect sounded like Rubber Duckie. Ruta Lee looked very sharp in that green dress.

[@4HBirtcher]

Wink hosted his own version of this game but his dice are better than the dice Alex has!

[@colBoh]

Happy to see another new episode that not on YT. On another topic, Wink, have you ever thought doing your own clips where you watch VTubers or other content creators? Call it "TV legend reacts to ___". You've carved out a decent niche on YT, and I'd love to see you in the spotlight again.

[@tomxconn]

Magnificent Marble Machine - oh brother! 😅

[@Chainsawslots]

So awkward to have someone else roll the dice for you

[@nealgordon3712]

Yes, that's the only bad part of the game is Ruta has to, instead of the contestant roll the dice, later on the contestants do roll the dice. Ruta would have been good as to show off the prizes.

[@therealbrentrolland]

I'm happy that there are now two episodes of '75 HR on KZbin. I hope more come through! Thank you, Wink and co.!

[@RJSchex]

The set designer must have had a young kid who had a set of Mattel Tuff Stuff 123's Blocks. That's where the font for the numbers came from.

[@Clovershroom]

So, quick question. When you hosted the revival in 1987, was the set from this version used as an influence for it (The big numbers in particular) or was it just made entirely from scratch?

[@meyerj75]

This is amazing! I knew there had to be at least one more episode of High Rollers out there and having to see another one from the Alex Trebek - Ruta Lee era is a dream come true. Thanks a lot, Wink!

[@armorybrunotjr.3204]

In the first incarnation of "High Rollers", there were occasional "half-a-prizes" on the board.

[@PREGO1966]

"Occasional"? Almost every game I remember seeing had one

[@jamesmoss3424]

Ray did good also I'm a Chargers fan. 😀👍🏈

[@ColdSnapVA]

Ray Wersching is also, to date, the last NFL player to score on a "fair-catch kick," which is something so rarely done that most don't even know it's a rule--you can call for a fair catch, and immediately ask to kick a field goal from the point of the catch with no defensive resistance. Kickoffs and punts have gotten so good that it's just too far out to make this way anymore.

[@mixon270]

This will be awesome to see

[@georgef551]

I liked the modified version better, when the players controlled their own fate with the dice, plus the number displays were a lot better (rear projection, which afforded different fonts).

[@megamanj2004X]

That and the growing jackpots of prizes in each column (up to 5). You could win oodles in prizes and cash. Just ask Gene Snook in 1978.

[@WWJD85]

I wish there more of episodes of the Trebek's High Rollers(the show was before my time). I enjoyed watching it a lot and found Ruta Lee to be funny. Alex with the fro makes resemble Gabe Kaplan with more laid back attitude.

[@rodney1279TheFlip]

That buzzer scared me when they got the Double

[@andrewtheandrew705]

Hadn’t seen this version before. Can’t understand the logic of not having the contestants roll the dice. Also notice Ray’s seating position in relation to the buzzer. For his two competitors the buzzer was right in front of their right hand, for him it was in front of his left hand, he had to lean forward and reach for his buzzer. Doesn’t seem fair, though he did win.

[@digiblader1]

Wonder if there are any existing episodes with the 2nd format (the one where they were revealing pics of a celebrity).

[@PREGO1966]

@@digiblader1 that was Battlestars not High Rollers

[@StepAntObe]

The hair!

[@christopherangel6690]

Do any of the nighttime shows exist with Elaine Stewart rolling the dice?

[@tomxconn]

I still have that home game. Questions were written terribly “Another word for burn?” Char

[@HunterDillon95]

The second edition is your best bet. The questions in that one are a LOT better. I have the second edition myself. If it's not within your budget, try finding a copy of the question book itself.

[@MMB18abel]

When I read TV GAME SHOWS by Maxine Fabe, she noted "HIGH ROLLERS questions sound easy, but note how they'll withhold information into razzing contestants into buzzing in too soon." The Martindale versions were easier, less trickier so that the focus on rolling the dice and winning big. Today, PRESS YOUR LUCK uses the old HR concept.

[@robbiecorleone13]

Many moon come a niner!

[@RJSchex]

Well, this is another game show rarity I can cross off of my Bucket List. There are (at least) three other Trebek High Rollers episodes I'm hoping to see someday: (1) an episode from the 1975-76 syndicated nighttime version (from Rhodes Productions), with Elaine Stewart rolling the dice (2) an episode from the final 7 weeks (April 26-June 11, 1976) of the original version, using the "Face Lifters" maingame format (at least one such episode is known to exist) (3) From the 1978-80 revival, the next-to-last episode, from June 19, 1980: hopefully, this will settle the disputes over that "$10,000 antique Chinese fishbowl"-is it really antique, or Chinese? (I seriously doubt it.)

[@nextbarker2702]

I believe around this time Merrill Heatter still had Gambit on ABC at the time, right?

[@sed1228]

Yes, but it was on CBS.

[@davidjackino8831]

CBS.

[@wschmrdr]

CBS. From Television City in Hollywood.

[@LogoMan7777]

Gambit was on CBS, debuting on the same day as The Joker's Wild and The Price is Right.

[@NEPatriot]

CBS.

[@bmhedgehog2]

Unpredictable dice is right. wow 4 doubles those dice were hot.

[@Nickrj3]

I thought that was Alex Karass for a moment.

[@tirmyta]

Hey, it's that college kid!

[@MrMatteNWk]

7:00 You mean my favorite game "Blank Check" is going away?? /s

[@andrewschroy6368]

Art James would prefer you call it "Blank Mind" instead. :D

[@PREGO1966]

Yes but that same natural genius Art James hosted Magnificent Marble Machine as well.

[@TheRoadTripChannel]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Chuck Woolery the first host of “High Rollers”??? 🤔

[@WinkMartindaleGames]

No, it was Alex

[@bainsey89]

Chuck was the first host of "Wheel of Fortune."

[@PREGO1966]

Chuck was hosting Wheel at the time.

[@PREGO1966]

@bainsey89 hey Jimbo long time no see. You're well?

[@ColdSnapVA]

Alex talks about The Magnificent Marble Machine here. As a pinball fan, it hurts me that that show is near-completely lost. The one episode that survives looks pretty fun.

[@wschmrdr]

Interesting plug for The Magnificent Marble Machine. Too bad there aren't too many episodes of that available, either....

[@JohnathanWilliamson849]

they were both produced by the same production company

[@bk9509-o2o]

Yeah, NBC really did a terrible job with preserving their game shows until around the time they aired Card Sharks or such. (around the late 70s-early 80s), though I think that was more of a request from Goodson-Todman not to wipe the series. I don't think NBC did it network wide until 1983. ABC same thing. CBS was the only one who did a decent job at preservation.

[@christopherangel6690]

Which makes me think that Gambit and the.$10,000 Pyramid CBS shows will show up someday

[@wschmrdr]

@@bk9509-o2o Even CBS wiped. That's why much of the original Gambit doesn't exist any longer. It wasn't really a request for G-T, so much as they purchased the kinescopes of the older shows when able. NBC didn't wipe, so much as toss out. Groucho Marx got word of this and was able to save some of his old shows, which is why You Bet Your Life still exists.

[@MMB18abel]

It could've been more the producers than the networks.

[@foxmccloud7055]

Yes or No, was it a smart idea to have the contestants roll the dice instead of having the dice lady roll the dice?

[@mixon270]

Yes, a smart idea. I'm so glad in the 78 til 80 season run they did

[@LittleRockElevatorsandmore]

Better for the contestants to roll the dice

[@AdamJ617]

Yes, without a doubt.

[@MrRemark21]

Starting in late April of 1978, on “High Rollers”, it was a smart idea that the contestants were given the opportunity to roll the dice.

[@edwardrasmussen3465]

Definitely yes. It was better to have the contestants determine their own fate.

[@gregorysholly7167]

The sound effects on this version are straight out of the circus.

[@megamanj2004X]

Heatter-Quigley was known for odd sound effects. The “tacky buzzer” for Hollywood Squares, primarily to signify that time was up for a given game/match of the day/night along with the Kentucky Derby trumpets and horns for finding a Secret Square. The rubber ducky sound for doubles on this version of High Rollers. A honking car for buzzing-in on the original Gambit. A loud wailing screech for finding a specific range on Hot Seat.

[@mixon270]

Oh yeah

[@db2svideoscrapbook758]

That doubles sound effect sounds more like a squeaky toy. I liked the doubles sound effect better in the 1978 and 1987 revivals. If I would win the $10,000 I would cry like a little baby.

[@SamuelJimson]

I can dig Alex's fro

[@jamesmoss3424]

Judy did excellent. 😀👍

[@drummingdanny84]

I could host this show. 🤔🧐

[@kingofmadprops]

Does Alex know he raided Mr. Kotter’s closet? Lol jk RIP Alex.

[@aschoenPERT]

Kinda surprised they let an NFL player be a normal contestant on a game show. Salaries were way different back then lol.

[@donaldpaluga]

Hollywood Squares once had Nick Bockwinkle as a contestant, and he did very well

[@someguy23475]

MLB did too. Downs Concentration and Break the Bank ‘85 come to mind.

[@journeymanproject1756]

Judging from the air date and when this was recorded, it seems perfectly normal to me. June is a major downtime month on the NFL calendar. Also, this was back in the days when NFL players were actually allowed to play and had the physical fitness to show for it (today it's all fat guys no matter what people tell me). The Superstars competition, which was still in its relative infancy in 1975, helped promote that image (NFL players in those days routinely did well, often making finals and producing several champions).

[@SamtheBravesFan]

​@@journeymanproject1756Linemen are fat. Backs have to be strong and fast, like Nick Bosa, or just fast like cornerbacks

[@matthewbaduria]

This could be great.

[@yaphettvazquez9796]

Wow!!!!! $10,000!!!!! Good Job!!!!!

[@davidjackino8831]

She hadn’t slept a WINK.

[@guspolly]

7:44 - Unfortunately the '75 Chargers did not do a lot better... went from 5-9 the year before to 2-12

[@matthewdempsey8852]

and the chargers didn't have a winning season until 1978 when they went 9-7. 8 of those wins were after Don Coryell took over as HC.

[@epaddon]

Ray Wersching would eventually go the 49ers and was on their first two Super Bowl championship teams.

[@Toltendo]

​@@epaddonAs well as embezzling insurance premiums, very unfortunate for everyone.

[@MountainHawkPYL]

No insurance markers in the main game. Did they forget to give her one or was that the rule back then?

[@PREGO1966]

The markers in the main game did not get included til it returned a year or so later and of course Winston's 1987 version

[@lukerocket3559]

SPOOKY! Contestant Judy eerily predicted Wink would become the host of High Rollers in 1987 -- 12 years later! At 00:02:11, Judy says, "Didn't sleep a WINK!". She clearly had a premonition! 👻

[@kingporter67]

This blonde lady won $12,040 in cash and prizes in this July 3, 1975 High Rollers game show classic!!