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BreakTheBank76
Break The Bank 1976
Aired
ABC Daytime, April 12, 1976 - July 23, 1976
Syndicated, September 18, 1976 - February 26, 1977 (reruns aired until September 11, 1977)
Run time
30 Minutes
Host
Tom Kennedy (ABC), Jack Barry (Syndicated)
Announcer
Johnny Jacobs, Ernie Anderson
Origination
Studio 55, ABC Television Center, Los Angeles, California

Break the Bank was a game of hide and seek where two contestants try and find three Money Bags to break the Bank which could be worth thousands of dollars in cash and prizes. This version was far different from the 1940s and 1980s versions of the same name.

Game Format[]

Two contestants played a Hollywood Squares/Concentration-like game, while trying to break the Bank.

Rules[]

Two contestants, one man and one woman, faced a game board of 20 squares numbered 1-20 with nine stars seated around it. Behind those numbers were three money amounts in groups of three that touched each other along one side of board, five money bags which scattered all around the board and may or may not touch each other, five blank spots which never touched other, and one wild card which can be found anywhere & used for anything. The player in control called out a number, after which that box flipped over, and if a money box or the wild card was found, the host asked a question to the two stars connected to it. One celebrity gave a true answer (the correct answer), while the other gave a false answer (a wrong answer). The player's job was to choose the correct answer, doing so captured the box and place his/her symbol in the box, either a mustache or red lips (mustache for the man, lips for the woman); that player also kept control of the board. Choosing the wrong answer lost control to his/her opponent. Originally on a miss, the box would be flipped back to its normal position, but in later episodes, the box would be given to the opponent unless it triggered a win (for a win had to be earned by the player going for it); that's when it would be flipped back. Control of the board would also be passed if the player uncovered a blank space.

If a Money Bag was uncovered, the player in control could either take it (not having to answer the question, but also forfeiting control) or turn it back and select a different box.

The first player to capture one group of three matching money boxes won the game, the total of the amounts showing, and a bonus prize. Capturing three Money Bags broke the Bank.

ABC Version[]

In the Tom Kennedy version the money boxes were $100 (Yellow), $200 (Blue), and $300 (Orange) respectively; so the cash prizes for winning a game would be $300, $600, and $900.

The winners of each game faced another player unless the player defeated did not get a chance to play (at which point that player was invited back to play in the next game). They remain champions until defeated or until they exceeded $20,000 (champs can keep up to $25,000, however).

The bank was an increasing cash jackpot which started at $5,000 plus $500 (later $250) for every game it was not broken.

In this version the games straddled episodes.

Syndicated[]

Jack Barry's version replaced the blue $200 boxes with red $500 boxes, for a possible maximum winning total of $1,500. The $300 boxes were now blue while $100 stayed the same.

The Bank was a prize package worth more than $10,000 including a new car (Buick Skylark or Opel Isuzu).

Contestants played for the entire show, and the first player to break the bank or the player who won the most games won the match.

When time ran out in the middle of a game or at the start of a game, players alternated turns picking boxes with no questions asked until one of the players got three of the same amount.

There were no returning champions.

Each episode was self-contained.

Bonus Game (Syndicated only)[]

The winner of the match also got a chance to play a bonus game for $5,000. In the bonus game, eight of the celebrities held a money amount ranging from $200-$1,000 in $100 increments, but one had a BUST card which bankrupted the contestant if found. The contestant picked off celebrities one at a time; each time he/she found a money amount, it was added to his/her score, after which the player would then decide to either quit with the money earned or continue picking. If the contestant reached $2,000 or more, they won $5,000.

Music[]

"Hustle the Bank" by Stuart Zachary Levin (The theme could also be heard on The Joker's Wild during their "$1,000,000 Tournament of Champions" in 1980)

End-of-Show Disclaimers[]

"Celebrities have been furnished with the questions and answers. Comedic material has been made available to some of the celebrities." - ABC version (1976)

"For the purpose of making certain that contestants hear one true and one false answer to each question, celebrities have been furnished with the required answers. Comedic material has been made available to some of the celebrities." - Syndicated version (1976-1977)

Trivia[]

The show was distributed by Colbert Television Sales.

Both Kennedy and Barry wore sunglasses during the taping to block the bright lights on the set.

International Versions[]

Main Article: Break the Bank/International

Merchandise[]

Board Game[]

Milton Bradley (1977)

Photos[]

Relieve Break the Bank with these memorable promotional images and print advertisements!


Stations[]

These are the stations that carried the syndicated 1976-1977 version of "Break The Bank."

  • New York - WNEW
  • Philadelphia - KYW
  • Orlando - WFTV
  • Miami - WPLG
  • Sacramento - KXTV
  • Milwaukee - WISN


Episode Guide[]

Recorded at ABC Television Center Stage 55 in Hollywood, California from March to August 1976.

Pilots (1976)[]

Taped Panel
March 23, 1976 Nipsey Russell, Jaye P. Morgan, Jan Murray, Liz Torres, Bill Dana, Jessica Walter, Jack Cassidy, Adrienne Barbeau, and Dick Gautier

ABC Series (1976)[]

Week ABC Episode # Taped/Aired Panel
#01 #01-#05/BKB/76 Taped: April 6, 1976
Aired: April 12-16, 1976
Abe Vigoda, Alice Ghostley, JoAnn Pflug, Dick Gautier, Jan Murray, Lynda Carter, Liz Torres, Robert Hegyes, and Marjoe Gortner
#02 #06-#10/BKB/76 Taped: 1976
Aired: April 19-23, 1976
Anson Williams, Lee Meriwether, Liz Torres, Alex Karras, Jan Murray, Ja'Net DuBois, Sandy Duncan, Tom Bosley, and Pat McCormick
#03 #11-#15/BKB/76 Taped: 1976
Aired: April 26-30, 1976
Joey Bishop, Fannie Flagg*, Bill Dana, Arte Johnson, Beverly Garland, Jan Murray, Mary Ann Mobley, Liz Torres, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, and Rosey Grier
#04 #16-#20/BKB/76 Taped: 1976
Aired: May 03-07, 1976
Jimmie Walker, Elayne Boosler, Liz Torres, Craig Stevens, Joey Bishop, Meredith MacRae, Jaye P. Morgan, Buzz Aldrin, and Lonnie Shorr
#05 #21-#25/BKB/76 Taped: April 29, 1976
Aired: May 10-14, 1976
Marjoe Gortner, Shari Lewis, Liz Torres, Dick Gautier, Jan Murray, Dody Goodman, Della Reese, Ron Palillo, and Lonnie Shorr
#06 #26-#29/BKB/76 Taped: May 04, 1976
Aired: May 17-19; 21, 1976
Avery Schreiber, Alice Ghostley, Liz Torres, Bob Crane, Jan Murray, Ja'Net DuBois, Rue McClanahan, Mickey Dolenz, and Jimmie Walker
#07 #30-#34/BKB/76 Taped: 1976
Aired: May 24-28, 1976
Anson Williams, Dody Goodman, Soupy Sales, Dick Gautier, Jan Murray, Mary Ann Mobley, Liz Torres, Dr. Joyce Brothers, and Jaye P. Morgan
#08 #35-#39/BKB/76 Taped: May 20, 1976
Aired: May 31-June 04, 1976
Abe Vigoda, Buzz Aldrin, Jaye P. Morgan, Foster Brooks, Jan Murray, Gunilla Hutton, Liz Torres, Greg Mullavey, and Gail Fisher**
#09 #40-#44/BKB/76 Taped: 1976
Aired: June 07-11, 1976
Jack Jones, Judy Carne, Abe Vigoda, Marty Allen, Joan Collins, Liz Torres, Dody Goodman, Jan Murray, and Anson Williams
#10 #45-#49/BKB/76 Taped: 1976
Aired: June 14-18, 1976
Avery Schreiber, Alice Ghostley, Jack Carter, Marilyn Michaels, Joan Collins, Robert Hegyes, Liz Torres, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, and Cathy Rigby
#11 #50-#54/BKB/76 Taped: 1976
Aired: June 21-25, 1976
Rip Taylor, Dody Goodman, Jaye P. Morgan, Dick Gautier, Judy Carne, Lonnie Shorr, Beverly Garland, Bobby Riggs, and Robert Reed
#12 #55-#59/BKB/76 Taped: 1976
Aired: June 28-July 02, 1976
Rip Taylor, Jo Anne Worley, Ken Berry, Dody Goodman, Avery Schreiber, Pat Carroll, Bill Macy, Marilyn Michaels, and Rick Hurst
#13 #60-#64/BKB/76 Taped: June 17, 1976
Aired: July 05-09, 1976
Dick Gautier, Dody Goodman, Marilyn Michaels, Robert Hegyes, Rip Taylor, Fannie Flagg, Jaye P. Morgan, Kent McCord, and Lonnie Shorr
#14 #65-#69/BKB/76 Taped: June 26, 1976
Aired: July 12-16, 1976
Jimmie Walker, Wolfman Jack, Jaye P. Morgan, Lonnie Shorr, Jan Murray, Robert Hegyes, Liz Torres, Elayne Boosler, and Barbara Sharma
#15 #70-#74/BKB/76 Taped: 1976
Aired: July 19-23, 1976
Soupy Sales, Donny Most, Bill Cullen, Jan Murray, Jo Anne Worley, Lonnie Shorr, Jaye P. Morgan, Joyce Bulifant, and Elke Sommer

*Fannie Flagg was an understudy celebrity during the third week should any of the celebrities was unavailable.
**This panel lineup was also used for an unaired test episode for a format change.

***Rip Taylor and Mary Ann Mobley appeared on the same panel during at least one episode. It is unknown when this happened.

Syndicated Series (1976–1977)[]

ABC Episode # Taped Panel
#N01-BKB-76 July 17, 1976 Hermione Baddeley, Joey Bishop, William Conrad, Clifton Davis, Barbara Eden, Jaye P. Morgan, Pat Morita, Elena Verdugo, Anson Williams
#N02-BKB-76 July 17, 1976 Hermione Baddeley, Joey Bishop, William Conrad, Clifton Davis, Barbara Eden, Jaye P. Morgan Pat Morita, Elena Verdugo, Anson Williams
#N03-BKB-76 July 17, 1976 Hermione Baddeley, Joey Bishop, William Conrad, Clifton Davis, Barbara Eden, Jaye P. Morgan, Pat Morita, Elena Verdugo, Anson Williams
#N04-BKB-76 July 17, 1976 Joey Bishop, William Conrad, Bob Crane, Bill Cullen, Barbara Eden, Lee Meriwether, Jaye P. Morgan, Abe Vigoda, Anson Williams
#N05-BKB-76 July 17, 1976 Joey Bishop, William Conrad, Bob Crane, Bill Cullen, Barbara Eden, Lee Meriwether, Jaye P. Morgan, Abe Vigoda, Anson Williams
#N06-BKB-76 July 17, 1976 Joey Bishop, William Conrad, Bob Crane, Bill Cullen, Barbara Eden, Lee Meriwether, Jaye P. Morgan, Abe Vigoda, Anson Williams
#N07-BKB-76 July 24, 1976 Jack Albertson, Adrienne Barbeau, Orson Bean, Jack Carter, Robert Hegyes, Diane Ladd, Michele Lee, Elke Sommer, Abe Vigoda
#N08-BKB-76 July 24, 1976 Jack Albertson, Adrienne Barbeau, Orson Bean, Jack Carter, Robert Hegyes, Diane Ladd, Michele Lee, Elke Sommer, Abe Vigoda
#N09-BKB-76 July 24, 1976 Jack Albertson, Adrienne Barbeau, Orson Bean, Jack Carter, Robert Hegyes, Diane Ladd, Michele Lee, Elke Sommer, Abe Vigoda
#N10-BKB-76 July 24, 1976 Jack Albertson, Adrienne Barbeau, Robert Hegyes, Pat McCormick, Jaye P. Morgan, Greg Morris, Marion Ross, Elke Sommer, Abe Vigoda
#N11-BKB-76 July 24, 1976 Jack Albertson, Adrienne Barbeau, Robert Hegyes, Pat McCormick, Jaye P. Morgan, Greg Morris, Marion Ross, Elke Sommer, Abe Vigoda
#N12-BKB-76 July 24, 1976 Jack Albertson, Adrienne Barbeau, Robert Hegyes, Pat McCormick, Jaye P. Morgan, Greg Morris, Marion Ross, Elke Sommer, Abe Vigoda
#N13-BKB-76 July 31, 1976 Patty Duke Astin, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Buddy Hackett, George Hamilton, Jaye P. Morgan, Greg Morris, Robert Reed, Isabel Sanford, Anson Williams
#N14-BKB-76 July 31, 1976 Patty Duke Astin, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Buddy Hackett, George Hamilton, Jaye P. Morgan, Greg Morris, Robert Reed, Isabel Sanford, Anson Williams
#N15-BKB-76 July 31, 1976 Patty Duke Astin ,Zsa Zsa Gabor, Buddy Hackett, George Hamilton, Jaye P. Morgan, Greg Morris, Robert Reed, Isabel Sanford, Anson Williams
#N16-BKB-76 July 31, 1976 Orson Bean, Scatman Crothers, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Buddy Hackett, George Hamilton, Jaye P. Morgan, Robert Reed, Isabel Sanford, Elke Sommer
#N17-BKB-76 July 31, 1976 Orson Bean, Scatman Crothers, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Buddy Hackett, George Hamilton, Jaye P. Morgan, Robert Reed, Isabel Sanford, Elke Sommer
#N18-BKB-76 July 31, 1976 Orson Bean, Scatman Crothers, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Buddy Hackett, George Hamilton, Jaye P. Morgan, Robert Reed, Elke Sommer, Isabel Sanford
#N19-BKB-76 August 08, 1976 Pearl Bailey, Bob Barker, Orson Bean, Vicki Lawrence, Anne Meara, Jan Murray, Nipsey Russell, Jimmie Walker, Shelley Winters
#N20-BKB-76 August 08, 1976 Pearl Bailey, Bob Barker, Orson Bean, Vicki Lawrence, Anne Meara, Jan Murray, Nipsey Russell, Jimmie Walker, Shelley Winters
#N21-BKB-76 August 08, 1976 Pearl Bailey, Bob Barker, Orson Bean, Vicki Lawrence, Anne Meara, Jan Murray, Nipsey Russell, Jimmie Walker, Shelley Winters
#N22-BKB-76 August 08, 1976 Pearl Bailey, Bob Crane, Vicki Lawrence, Anne Meara, Jan Murray, Nipsey Russell, Jimmie Walker, Anson Williams, Shelley Winters
#N23-BKB-76 August 08, 1976 Pearl Bailey, Bob Crane, Vicki Lawrence, Anne Meara, Jan Murray, Nipsey Russell, Jimmie Walker, Anson Williams, Shelley Winters
#N24-BKB-76 August 08, 1976 Pearl Bailey, Bob Crane, Vicki Lawrence, Anne Meara, Jan Murray, Nipsey Russell, Jimmie Walker, Anson Williams, Shelley Winters
#N25-BKB-76 August 14, 1976 Bob Barker, Orson Bean, George Hamilton, Jaye P. Morgan, Jan Murray, Jo Ann Pflug, Esther Rolle, Nipsey Russell, Jimmie Walker
#N26-BKB-76 August 14, 1976 Bob Barker, Orson Bean, George Hamilton, Jaye P. Morgan, Jan Murray, Jo Ann Pflug, Esther Rolle, Nipsey Russell, Jimmie Walker
#N27-BKB-76 August 14, 1976 Bob Barker, Orson Bean, George Hamilton, Jaye P. Morgan, Jan Murray, Jo Ann Pflug, Esther Rolle, Nipsey Russell, Jimmie Walker
#N28-BKB-76 August 14, 1976 Pearl Bailey, Orson Bean, Jack Carter, George Hamilton, Jaye P. Morgan, Jo Ann Pflug, Nipsey Russell, Jimmie Walker, Paul Williams
#N29-BKB-76 August 14, 1976 Pearl Bailey, Orson Bean, Jack Carter, George Hamilton, Jaye P. Morgan, Jo Ann Pflug, Nipsey Russell, Jimmie Walker, Paul Williams
#N30-BKB-76 August 14, 1976 Pearl Bailey, Orson Bean, Jack Carter, George Hamilton, Jaye P. Morgan, Jo Ann Pflug, Nipsey Russell, Jimmie Walker, Paul Williams

Video[]

Break_The_Bank_ep_4_1976_Tom_Kennedy

Break The Bank ep 4 1976 Tom Kennedy

Break_the_Bank_-_Episode_26

Break the Bank - Episode 26

Break_the_Bank_Jack_Barry's_premiere,_pt._1

Break the Bank Jack Barry's premiere, pt. 1

Break_the_Bank_Jack_Barry's_premiere,_pt_2

Break the Bank Jack Barry's premiere, pt 2

3_Break_the_Bank

3 Break the Bank

Break_the_Bank_ticket_plug,_1976

Break the Bank ticket plug, 1976















Links[]

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