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Seven Keys (1961)
Format
One contestant at a time would play against the house. The prize at stake was described and then enclosed by a pair of transparent sliding doors. The doors were then padlocked.
The contestant would then be told the category in play and face the gameboard. The gameboard was a seven-by-ten grid of panels numbered panel. The panels appeared to be gray but a light bulb behind each would illuminate the question and event in play. The light bulb also indicated the contestant's progress up the gameboard. The object for the contestant was to get to panel seventy in fifteen chances.
Three constantly rotating wheels designated "Steps", "Bonus", and "Penalty" tell how far a contestant may move (from one to ten panels) on the gameboard. To begin a turn, the player stops the Steps wheel and advances along the gameboard. When the lit panel represents a question, the contestant must respond correctly to not be penalized. A correct answer allows the contestant to progress from the current panel.
The first space and every tenth space thereafter is designed "Safe", a contestant may progress without penalty from here. Also, an incorrect response sends a contestant back to the nearest Safe. Landing on a Penalty sends a player back a random number of panels. Landing on Bonus sends a player forward a random number of panels.
Anytime the player uses the Steps button a chance is counted down. If the player can get to space seventy before the last chance is used up then that player earns one of the seven keys.
When a player has earned a key, the player may try to use earned keys to open the lock to the prize. If the player didn't earn the key that unlocks the prize then the game is over and the player loses. If the player tries to play another quiz and fails to get to space seventy in fifteen chances then the game is over and the player loses.
Shenanigans (1964)
A great game show that deserves another look
Shenanigans debuted with little fanfare on Saturday morning September 26, 1964. Two players, a girl and a boy, traversed a studio sized gameboard in a race to the finish line. Players moved the number of spaces designated by a flashing display that was stopped by yet another child whenever the host declared, "Ready, presser press!" Along the way, the children would be subject to random event and carnival-like stunts. Success was rewarded with prizes, such as harmonicas and record players, and play money called Shenaniganzas. Shenaniganzas could be redeemed for prizes in the first season but in the second season they could be redeemed for trading stamps when S&H became a sponsor.
The show was sponsored by Milton Bradley, the makers of the home version of the game. Each time the home game was mentioned, it was noted that the home game was "an exact duplicate" of the television show. That was a lie. The home game had fewer spaces and many of the activities from the series such as "Touch & Go" were missing.
After a successful first season, the show was renewed for a second season and the gameboard changed to add "Operation" and "Where's Willie?", two games added to Milton Bradley's catalog. To make sure these games received their due, the players were stopped in their tracks to play these new games.
The novelty had worn off and Shenanigans had its last broadcast on December 18, 1965. For the last time Stubby Kaye would lip synch, "...funny how the minutes seem to fly. Until next week it's time to say goodbye."
Beverly Hills Brats (1989)
This is a laughless satire about the rich and shallow.
Peter Billingsly plays a young man who arranges his own kipnapping only to realise that his parents don't miss him. This is a dreary, laughless satire that completely misses its target.