With host, BILL CULLEN
Image credit to Game Show Utopia
Tommy vs. Eileen & Vicki, pt. 1 - Tommy vs. cousins Eileen & Vicki continue their match. At the top of the show, the family pair plays the Gold Rush for $2,500. Afterwards, they play the rubber game of the match to see who will play the Super Gold Rush for $5,000 more. Quality of the tape this was on jumps from color to black & white occasionally Tommy vs. Eileen & Vicki, pt. 2 - The Super Gold Rush is played, and a new game begins. Right after the competition is introduced, Bill announces the abolishment of Super/Gold Rush and new rules: every game win is $500 and the first side to win 2 plays the Gold Rush for $5,000. Closing credits were not included in entirety John Hatten vs. David & Rosalie, pt. 1 - Solo player John Hatten (or Hatton) had thus far won $48,500. Bill Cullen reminds everyone of John's tragedy, and John reveals what plans he has with the money as he has surpassed LaRae Dillman as the all-time money winner. John's opponents are David and Rosalie, who have won $500. If you look at the totals, each side has won a game and $500, and the tiebreaker is in progress with John off to a rip-roaring start, and so the tiebreaker continues from that point. Gold Rush is played, and the new competition for the winner is introduced John Hatten vs. David & Rosalie, pt. 2 - A new match gets underway, and the rest of the show is played...and, it's a historic episode nonetheless, because...well, I ain't going to bust the blocks on this one and spoil the surprise Donna vs. Kathy Thomas/John Shannon, pt. 1 - In this holiday episode of Blockbusters in 1980, champion Donna has thus far won $18,000, and is being challenged by brother/sister team, Kathy Thomas and John Shannon. As the game left off, Donna is one capture from making her connection. After the first commercial break, Bill Cullen tells something in resemblance to one of the earlier questions Donna vs. Kathy Thomas/John Shannon, pt. 2 - It's now game 2 of the match, and the Gold Run is played here. New competition begins and during the closing moments, Bill shows everyone how the board was decorated for Christmas Leland vs. Carla & Sandy, pt. 1 - Leland Yung has thus far won $31,400. He now faces off against sisters Carla Payless and Sandy Hamilton. I will let you all know right now, you're in for a good episode of Blockbusters Leland vs. Carla & Sandy, pt. 2 - Now we go into the tiebreaker, but I feel like time is crunched! Leland vs. Sandy & Carla, pt. 1 - Leland Yung and Sandy and Carla continue their heated match into this show, continuing with the tiebreaker. Leland now has $31,900 while Sandy and Carla have $500 from their own. It is here the game is decided, and then the Gold Rush is played. Afterwards, we meet a new competition with the first game of the match in its entirety, with a blooper from Bill Cullen we have seen in the clips Leland vs. Sandy & Carla, pt. 2 - Game 2 now gets underway with the rest of the show seen here after such an interesting episode! Kandi vs. Ilene & Michael, pt. 1 - Kandi Doyle ($45,300) returns for her 10th match against Ilene Nats (sp?) & Michael Pepperman (niece/uncle). They are in game 2 of the match, and Kandi's got the first game under her belt. It's up to Ilene & Michael to tie the match Kandi vs. Ilene & Michael, pt. 2 - The Gold Rush segment. Can you guess who plays it? Kandi vs. Ilene & Michael, pt. 3 - New challengers Dennis Merchant, and father/daughter Shari & Joel Mason. Dennis and Joel talk about how they're fans of Bill Cullen. Notice in this game, they're using the same board from the last game. 1981's biggest dual-implication - Yes, that was a Rafferty term introduced in 1987, but it came down to a big wire here in 1981 with Sharlyne Washington vs. Rollie Friedman and Mike Hart Forgetful spots - Solo player Craig, and family pair Rollie and Mike are in the second game of a match, and somehow in here, it proves that you can't rush into things Sherry vs. Stuart & Leonard, pt. 1 - Sherry Lucas ($54,500) has 2 captures to her credit in the second game of the match, and only one win and one more $5,000 Gold Rush win from tying John Hatten, the all-time champion of Blockbusters. Her opponents, brother-in-laws Stuart Barlow & Leonard Bernstein (not the composer, I promise) have no captures and are trying to tie the match to try and upset Sherry. Can that happen? Sherry vs. Stuart & Leonard, pt. 2 - The Gold Rush segment of this show, and can you guess who it was that got here? Sherry vs. Stuart & Leonard, pt. 3 - Bill gives a chance to tell the retiring champion a few words, and introduces new contestants: solo player Barb Pollem, and brother/sister Jolene Stevenson and David Gregoli Gold Run - Phyllis and Pam won a match and won the right to play for $5,000. Be forewarned, this can be good and painful at the same time. Leland vs. Sylvia & Pat, pt. 1 - Sylvia and Pat return with $13,200. But, a marvelous family pair team are about to meet up against a solo player who knows the game well. He was in the original 10-game limit and since the limit was upped to 20, he was invited back, to try and add on to the $51,000 he originally won, and that is Leland Yung. The match gets underway, with an incident occuring in the first round Leland vs. Sylvia & Pat, pt. 2 - This huge match is going to continue, but I have a feeling this is like Carla and Sandy a year prior to this... John Hatten vs. Margie & Nancy, pt. 1 - This episode has 3 returning champions. The real champs are Margie and Nancy, who are in their 10th game with $54,000 in their pockets. Their solo player opponent was the first all-time winner of the show 2 years prior, a winner of $60,000, John Hatten. Their match was in the middle of game 1 when time was called, so in the words of Bill Cullen, it picks up right there John Hatten vs. Margie & Nancy, pt. 2 - The match between John Hatten and Margie & Nancy continues, but boy is the match ever so hot! Gold Run is included John vs. Susan & Janet, pt. 1 - In this episode from 1982 as it closes in on its finale, returning champion John Hatten returns with $72,500. He once was on the show in 1980, retiring with $60,000, the highest one can win. When the show was upped to 20 games, he was invited back. His challenging family pair, Susan and Janet have the game tied at one game a piece, and $500 of their own. The tiebreaker is in progress, with 3 captures on the board, 2 for the white, 1 for the red. Gold Run included here John vs. Susan & Janet, pt. 2 - A new match begins with a new team. The final moments of this show are included
With host, BILL RAFFERTY
Val vs. Janet, pt. 1 - In this episode, Val returns as a 3-time champ with $15,700. Her challenger is Janet, a secretary. The two are in a heated battle, since they both have a game and $100 to show for it. This is the tiebreaker segment in its entirety Val vs. Janet, pt. 2 - The Gold Run segment, and a new match begins with a challenger who has a familiar face, because she was a champion in the first week, but during that time, there was an unfair occurence, which gave her the invitation to be allowed back as a challenger Sharon vs. Mike, pt. 1 - In this episode of Blockbusters, champion Sharon returns with $600. Her challenger is Mike, a casino dealer student. Their match was interrupted, and Mike has a good start with 2 blocks to his credit, with Sharon still to make a move. An interesting scenario happens in game 2 Sharon vs. Mike, pt. 2 - The game continues on, with the Gold Run endgame. Who goes for it in this very exciting match? Closing credits missing Joanie vs. Jeryl, pt. 1 - On this 1987 episode of Blockbusters, Joanie returns with $800 in her pocket, with a possibility of playing for $10,000 if she wins this match against Jeryl, who made an appearance on one of the pilots for Lucky Numbers. The match is still in game 1 with Joanie just one capture off of a win, but control is in Jeryl's favor. This goes into about halfway through the second round Joanie vs. Jeryl, pt. 2 - Game 2 continues, and the Gold Run is played here. The new contestant is introduced before the end of the show Deirdre vs. Mayi (OB), pt. 1 - You may be expecting a GSN rerun, but not this one. This is from the original broadcast, how lucky is that! In this episode, champion Deirdre Sheeke (sp?) is back with $5,300, against Mayi. The two are right now in game 2, and Deirdre has one game in her corner, meaning it's a must-win situation for Mayi. The Gold Run is included, and new challenger Nancy, and an audience ticket promo Deirdre vs. Mayi (OB), pt. 2 - The match continues, with another Gold Run played and the closing credits of this original broadcast of Blockbusters from 1987 Tony vs. Rhona, pt. 1 - Tony returns with $10,400, the perfect run of 2 matches. His challenger, Rhona Blaker is giving him a run for his money in just the first game where the board is just getting filled up! Games 1 and 2 are shown here Tony vs. Rhona, pt. 2 - The game between Tony and Rhona just gets hotter and hotter as it goes along. The Gold Run is included here, plus the start of a new match
MICHAEL'S PROJECT (THE 1987 ERA)
Part 1 - In this segment, champion Matthew Gunther returns with $35,000. His challenger is Advance Auto Parts employee Chris Mayfield, and a new match gets underway Part 2 - Game 1 continues with Chris in control Part 3 - Game 2 begins, with the Home Viewer Sweepstakes Part 4 - The conclusion of game 2. Will it be Matthew or Chris? Part 5 - The beginning of episode 2, with the match in-between Matthew and Chris continuing. It's getting hotter Part 6 - It seems the excitement has made me stall just a tad-bit in this heated battle Part 7 - After such a long and exciting game, the Gold Run is played Part 8 - The closing moments
All postings of the early 80s Blockbusters are held in memory of Bill Cullen (1920 - 1990)
Image credit to ShareTV
