I was thinking about the "Dialing for Dollars" movies that many stations used to show, usually in the afternoons. I wonder if the format was basically the same all over.
In Central Florida, back in the 70's, the scenario was as follows. (I seem to recall this was on WFTV-9.) The on-air host had in front of him a big drum (like used for sweepstakes drawings and such) filled with clipped excerpts of the local phone book. Beside him was a carnival wheel on which the choices were various combinations of numbers and arrows; i.e., "2 down," "4 up" and so forth.
At the start of the show, he would spin the wheel to get the "count." For each segment, he would announce the current jackpot amount, then draw a clipping from the drum. Using the "count" he would count up or down the appropriate number of listings on the clipping -- for example, if the count was "3 down," then he would go to the third listing from the top. I believe if the listing chosen was for a business, he would go down (or up) to the next available residential listing. He would then dial that number and, if someone answered, he would dramatically ask them if they could tell him "the count and the amount." If they answered correctly ("3 down and $377"), they would win that amount. If not, a certain recurring amount was added to the jackpot for the next call. If the dialed number yielded no answer, or a busy signal, or a disconnect recording, then they would just try a different number on the next break. (In other words, they did not attempt more than one call per break, no matter what the outcome.)
Since these calls were put on the air live with no delay (though I'm sure the audio guy always had his finger poised over the mute button, just in case), I'm sure the possibility of something unusual or amusing happening was rife. I don't recall any incidents of people cursing or anything like that, but I do recall that occasionally they would wake somebody up (a night worker or napper) who wasn't too thrilled about the call, or perhaps reach an elderly person or little kid that had no earthly idea what the host was talking about, and probably thought it was a prank call!
What I wonder is:
-- Was the format basically the same in all cities that had these shows?
-- Were any of these shows known by names other than "Dialing for Dollars?"
-- Was the name "Dialing for Dollars" ever trademarked by anyone?
-- Has anyone seen or heard of any amusing incidents regarding these "cold calls?"
Finally, I would imagine that cutting up the new phone book every year was a thankless task, probably assigned to the newest intern at the station.
In Central Florida, back in the 70's, the scenario was as follows. (I seem to recall this was on WFTV-9.) The on-air host had in front of him a big drum (like used for sweepstakes drawings and such) filled with clipped excerpts of the local phone book. Beside him was a carnival wheel on which the choices were various combinations of numbers and arrows; i.e., "2 down," "4 up" and so forth.
At the start of the show, he would spin the wheel to get the "count." For each segment, he would announce the current jackpot amount, then draw a clipping from the drum. Using the "count" he would count up or down the appropriate number of listings on the clipping -- for example, if the count was "3 down," then he would go to the third listing from the top. I believe if the listing chosen was for a business, he would go down (or up) to the next available residential listing. He would then dial that number and, if someone answered, he would dramatically ask them if they could tell him "the count and the amount." If they answered correctly ("3 down and $377"), they would win that amount. If not, a certain recurring amount was added to the jackpot for the next call. If the dialed number yielded no answer, or a busy signal, or a disconnect recording, then they would just try a different number on the next break. (In other words, they did not attempt more than one call per break, no matter what the outcome.)
Since these calls were put on the air live with no delay (though I'm sure the audio guy always had his finger poised over the mute button, just in case), I'm sure the possibility of something unusual or amusing happening was rife. I don't recall any incidents of people cursing or anything like that, but I do recall that occasionally they would wake somebody up (a night worker or napper) who wasn't too thrilled about the call, or perhaps reach an elderly person or little kid that had no earthly idea what the host was talking about, and probably thought it was a prank call!
What I wonder is:
-- Was the format basically the same in all cities that had these shows?
-- Were any of these shows known by names other than "Dialing for Dollars?"
-- Was the name "Dialing for Dollars" ever trademarked by anyone?
-- Has anyone seen or heard of any amusing incidents regarding these "cold calls?"
Finally, I would imagine that cutting up the new phone book every year was a thankless task, probably assigned to the newest intern at the station.
