Broadcast history
Pyramid was created by Bob Stewart, the quiz-indicate producer world health organization as well fictional To Tell the Truth, The Price Is Right and Password during his years at Goodson-Todman Productions before forming his have company. It went across many title changes above a years, by having a title originally reflecting a top prize that contestants potty win therein version.

1970s editions
A indicate debuted when A $10,000 Pyramid in March 26, 1973. It run 1 seasin on CBS before it was canceled. ABC revived the indicate in May 6, 1974, and it became the hit. For trey sequentially years, it was a total-3-rated giveaway in television. In January 19, 1976, the indicate was renamed A $20,000 Pyramid.

The when-the-week night syndicated version, called A $25,000 Pyramid, ran from either September 12, 1974, until September 1979.

A network primetime celebrity half hour favorite, The Completely-Star Junior Pyramid aired in Sunday, September 2, 1979, at 7:30pm (Eastern) and featuring Susan Richardson and Tony Danza playing the game for charity by having immature freshly stars from either the new ABC shows debuting in the fall of that season (one of the babies thereon particular episode was a young shopping Rob Lowe). That led to the daywhale version reverting to the good-time Junior Partner Pyramid format featuring civilian adult-tykes teams (by owning there is no celebrities the least bit) between Monday, October 1 and Friday, November 9 1979.

The favorite Celebrity Junior Pyramid week followed lawsuit by using celebrity guests Susan Richardson, LeVar Burton and Michael McKean, but, beginning by owning a Monday, November 19, 1979, telecast, the daytime indicate went back into its normal $20,000 Pyramid format.

ABC's daytime versiin ended its redo on June 27, 1980. The sum of 1,808 telecasts got aired in each CBS & ABC.

1980s editions
Fallowing the short-transient syndicated revival, called A $50,000 Pyramid, failing within 1981, the indicate returned to CBS when A $25,000 Pyramid in September 20, 1982. That intended the lasting move to CBS Television City in Los Angeles. A indicate got been depending inside New York City, first at a Ed Sullivan Theater (CBS Studio 50) and then a Elysee Theatre (ABC TV-15), since its 1973 premiere, save for two or three weeks at first of the 1973-74 year, in the period of which tape were done at Television City.

In two or three weeks of its CBS go to, a indicate was retitled A Up to date $25,000 Pyramid to keep away from confusion using reruns of a syndicated 1974-79 Cullen version (the "New" was one of these days dropped from either a title on the January 28, 1985, episode [#608]).

When you took a updated Pyramid rerun within CBS, another 5-day-the-week version besides aired in late-afternoon or even over night syndication when A $100,000 Pyramid from either September 9, 1985, to September 2, 1988--this became the best known incarnation of all the versions of Pyramid produced. A gameplay was monovular to a dayperiod version, except a leash players by using the fastest winning time in the prevent game returned to play for even more, an extra $100,000 jackpot.

A updated Pyramid ran in CBS until a previous episode in December 31, 1987, but viewer require stimulated CBS to bring a indicate back to its daytime schedule in April 4, 1988, after a game indicate Blackout failed around ''Pyramid's slot. A revival lone lasted until July 1 of that year, when CBS premiered its newly version of Family Feud the following week. GSN has aired this version.

Pyramid returned to syndication over again from either January 7 to December 6, 1991, as A $100,000 Pyramid.

2002-2004 revival
In the fall of 2002 Pyramid — without any dollar total in the title — returned around syndication. Sony Pictures (a production company that presently owns a format rights) has announced it might non link to for its third year, & across 2004-2005, will run reruns of its former 2 seasons. A Kiss of peace network, at present renamed i, has picked up a indicate & is presently airing reruns.

Hosts
Dick Clark, who is virtually all associated by owning Pyramid, hosted totally network versions, a syndicated $50,000 Pyramid, & a number 1 $100,000 Pyramid. Bill Cullen hosted the 1974-79 version of The $25,000 Pyramid, & John Davidson hosted the 1991 revival of The $100,000 Pyramid. Donny Osmond hosted Pyramid from 2002-2004.

Main game
Both teams, consisting of a single celebrity player and 1 contestant, competed against every more. Six categories, every of which got the title on to what that category was astir, were set on the pyramid-shaped game board. a contestant chose one of victims categories, & when a unsuspecting hosts explained a subject of that category, the contestant lean Xxx seconds to believe sevener words (originally eight), phrases, or even list (Xx seconds for 6 in the virtually all recent version of Pyramid'') utilizing clues from his/her celebrity partner. Whenever any descriptions were deemed illegal per judges -- ordinarily whenever everthing or even even a portion of a word or sentence lean -- a cuckoo healthy was played, the clue was immediately discarded, & the contestant couldn't earn any points for it. In case the word was passed, a giver may not last back thereto word, however whenever a receiver knew a word afterward & estimated it, the team however earned a point.

It used to be that period got expired or even a contestant estimated a lot of a necessary clues (whichever come 1st) a opposing team followed the equivalent procedures.

3 cycles, by using deuce categories by the around, were played in the independent game. When a celebrity gave a clues & a contestant received a two in a 1st spherical, a roles were reversed in the 2nd spherical -- the celebrity received the clues. In a third spherical a contestant got a stock to give or even receive, sustaining the team trailing running foremost. Whenever the score was attached when trine cycles, tiebreaker cycles were played utilizing words that lead off by having a letter of the alphabet. In the event of the 21-21 tie (hone scores) when trio cycles, the winner of the tie-breaker received a bonus cash prize.

A winner of a game played the Winner's Circle bonus around (look at following).

In a daytime version, after the contestant wasted the independent game, he/she left by using parthian gifts. In a syndicated & Eighties version contestants played on a entire indicate, & in the Eighties version, whoever experienced the greatest score at the Winner's Circle returned on the next indicate. In case two players matched their Winner's Circle numbers, each returned a next day.

Bonuses
Of these randomly-chosen category within both game contained a hidden bonus, which allowed the contestant to win extra cash or even prizes in case a lot of the clues were estimated aright.

A Seventies versions featured a "Big 7" in which contestants may win $500 for septenary right answers. A 1982-88 versions featured a "7-11" in a number one game, in which contestants won $1,100 for heptad right answers in this subject, & the "Mystery 7" in a 2nd game, in which contestants won a prize (virtually all of the instance either the hike or even the car) for 7 right answers forswearing getting the subject of that category from either the hikers. A virtually all recent version of Pyramid featured the "Super Six" inside both game in which contestants won a prize for guessing totally hexad clues aright inside the 20-2nd period limit.

At anytime the game stops inside a 21-21 tie (hone scores) a contestant world health organization wins the tie breaker wins a cash bonus. From either 1976-80 on the daytime version, it was $1,000. In a 1976-1977 year of the over night indicate, the bonus was $2,100. On the Eighties version starting around 1985 a contestant world health organization wins the tie breaker wins a $5,000 cash bonus. In a $100,000 tournament each the "7-11" & a "Mystery 7" come away from play; sole a 21-21 tie breaker is around play.

The Winner's Circle
A Winner's Revolve around, known as for a handbill structure around a chairs that the celebrity & contestant sat in, besides featured a pyramid of sextet cases: trey on the bottom level, deuce in the midst, & of these at the top. Both subject, nonetheless, was revealed one after another, & whoever gave the clues (commonly a celebrity, however a contestant universally got a guide of generating or even getting) got to give a listings of objects that healthy into that subject. A cases increased around difficulty toward a top of the pyramid.

Any descriptions otherwise the names of things resulted around quick disqualification of that category (signaled by the buzzer, which is as well have to suggest that period expired). the strictness of a judgement has varied a lot over a years, however this typically involved all of the below: applying hand gestures (the cluegiver got arm straps to help discourage this), saying a key a share of the guide (e.g. "a building" for "Things You Build"), utilizing equivalent word (e.g. clueing "Things That Are Attractive" by using "a beautiful woman"), applying yearn descriptive phrases (e.g. "the train on schedule" for "Things That Arrive"), & describing a category itself (e.g. "open your mouth I'll drill your teeth" for "Things A Dentist Uses") like than appellative things. Utilizing h& gestures were provide a short period in the early CBS times and when you took favorite weeks where the contestants were unsighted.

A begin of the clock produced one of TV's (& Dick Clark's) best known catch phrases: "Here is your first subject. GO!"

A contestant got Lx seconds for to a top of the pyramid by guessing altogether sise cases aright; doing and so won the grand prize, which experienced changed using both incarnation of the indicate: A original version offered $10,000 when its top prize. Whenever won a contestant retires undefeated by using a $10,000 & any more winnings thereto point. By 1976, a top prize offered was $20,000. A contestant world health organization went to the Winner's Circle a number one instance played for $10,000; a 2nd period for $15,000 & a third & subsequent days for $20,000. Players in that version continued as much as 5 years or even until discomfited. In a 1981 syndicated version the number 1 hike to the Winner's Circle was worth $5,000 & a 2nd period was worth $10,000. From either 1982 in, & in a period of a syndicated 1974-79 version, a 1st hike to the Pyramid was worth $10,000 & the 2nd $25,000.

A 1st Winner's Circle winside occurred on a 1st broadcast in 1973, after Rob Reiner with success utilized the clue "A doughnut" for "Things With A Hole". Interestingly, whilst Dick Clark was swimming as a celebrity streaming video player on the syndicated $25,000 Pyramid, he experienced condition by using the equivalent precise subject, & at length come higher using a equivalent clue Reiner utilized earliest while period was heading out, following around a $25,000 win.

In case a top prize was non won, a contestant was awarded $50 for the bottom cases, $100 for the middle cases, & $200 for the top subject. A syndicated version's awards were $100, $200, & $300 severally. From either 1982 to 1991, a number one subject was worth $50, & increased inside value by $50 for both subject as much as $300 for the top subject. In a 2002-2004 version, a bottom iii cases were worth $200, a middle ii $300, & the top subject $500.

Inside virtually all versions, from each one subject was displayed in the trilon that concealed a title of a subject, the dollar total (whenever the contestant estimated that subject right), & a pyramid (in case an illegal clue was given or even in case the subject was unused). A 2002-2004 version utilized tv monitor instead.

In a early years now and again, whenever there was there is no instance for the 2nd bonus around, it would exist as played at the top of the next indicate. On a week-ending Friday episode, in case there was there are no winner from either a independent game, a celebrities would play the winner's circle themselves which, whenever won, would split $5,000 to each contestants.

On The $50,000 Pyramid, a streaming video player using a fastest instance in the front back for the week played in the $50,000 tournament. A field of eight competitor was narrowed down to trio in the foremost week of the tournament. Tournaments were often held on The $100,000 Pyramid in which a deuce-ace contestants world health organization reached a top of a pyramid in the shortest numbers of instance played until person won the Winner's Circle, in which $100,000 was awarded. A go version of Pyramid besides held periodical tournaments in which the contestant can win $100,000.

Other comments
Whilst Pyramid number 1 began inside 1973, punt play wwhen slow at days, however as a ABC version progressed, a independent back play became better. Per middle of a Eighties CBS version, each a civilians & celebs were easier sustaining a game, & the Winner's Circle around were won somewhat supplementary typically. (The similar phenomenon has been found in the NBC versions of the Word franchise, when opposed to the original CBS diarrhea.)

However, a few of the toughest gage play in TV come in the $100,000 versions of the Eighties & 90s, which resulted in the top prize non existence won for times, in case does'nt weeks.

Originally, a team experienced to believe x cases within Sixty seconds to win the top prize. Realizing that this was non running to operate, Bob Stewart requested that a bottom quatern cases become covered using plyboard, which would survive for the entire duration of its initial 1973-74 CBS do.

William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy both guested on the ABC Pyramid in the 1970s, which wwhen billed as Kirk vs. Spock. Shatner became celebrated within 1977 for throwing a chair through the stage whilst he misclued on the final clue, which prices his partner $10,000. around 1 episode deuce years sooner, in an unusual twist, Shatner played a Winner's Circle by himself (generating a clues inside of these chair so racing to a more & guessing the subject).

Many game indicate hosts (mostly victims hosting Bob Stewart games) appeared when celebrity guests, virtually all notably Bill Cullen and Geoff Edwards. Nipsey Russell, Betty White and Henry Polic II would eventually hikers the giveaway at one point & come as well added to this names. Dick Clark himself appeared when a celebrity guest in the syndicated Pyramid on two or leash occassions, likewise as on three episodes of the Donny Osmond-hosted Pyramid.

Celebrity partner Billy Crystal holds the record for the fastest Winner's Circle win at Twenty-six seconds.

A Eighties CBS & 1985-88 $100,000 versions come typically considered a right of the Pyramid franchise, for their production & gameplaying values. Guests prefer Nipsey Russell, Anita Gillette and Soupy Sales from the 70s versions showed peachy enthusiasm within resuming their panellist roles. & fresh viewers had to view Vicki Lawrence, Markie Post & Henry Polic II shine just when brilliantly as Russell and a others did when you took a number one diarrhea.

Post & Polic were typically brought back when panellist when you took tournament weeks on the mid-80s $100,000 versions.

Betty White also became a semi-regular when you took a 80s versiin, displaying a equivalent word-game proficiency on Pyramid that she did for Stewart in Word. It get on the 1987 week of CBS Pyramid shows swimming paired White that Bill Cullen processed his endure network TV appearance. Her virtually all recent Pyramid appearance get in November 25, 2002 on the favorite episode using previous Pyramid persons Dick Clark when a more celebrity guest.

Previous Concentration announcer and unsuspecting hosts Bob Clayton handled the announcing task on the Seventies Pyramid (& more Stewart-produced shows) until his dying around 1979 fallowing the heart attack. More Just released York-depending announcers, including Alan Kalter and Steve O'Brien rotated the announcing duties until its last New York broadcast in 1981.

Whenever Pyramid pull away to CBS around 1982 -- relocating at Television City around Los Angeles -- LA-depending announcers like Jack Clark, Rod Roddy, Johnny Gilbert, Bob Hilton and Charlie Tuna rotated, with Clark & Gilbert credited when regular announcers. Inside 1985, Charlie O'Donnell, Dick Clark's announcer on American Bandstand, worked with Clark again on Pyramid -- mostly on the $100,000 version.

Versions outside the USA
Foreign editions use at times been produced too, among the babies, A Pyramid Game in the United Kingdom, Pyramide in France and Germany, which was later known as Hast Du Worte?.