Date of Run: April 12, 1976-July 23, 1976(ABC version)
September 1976-September 1977(Syndicated version)
Hosts: Tom Kennedy(ABC), Jack Barry(Syndie version)
Announcers: Johnny Jacobs, Ernie Anderson
Director: Richard Kline
This was one of the best shows in my opinion, How it was played was simple. There were two contestants, each of them had to try to match 3 of the same dollar amounts. In the ABC version, $100, $200, and $300 boxes were used while in the syndicated version, $100, $300 and $500 boxes were used. If you matched up let's say 3 $200 boxes, your winnings for that particular game would be $600 and a prize. You achieved the boxes by answering questions that are answered by celebrities like Abe Vigoda, Anson Williams, Jaye P Morgan and the list goes on. One celebrity would give a truthful answer while the other would lie. The person if he answered it correctly, would win possession of that box. If he missed, the box would turn over. However, later in the run, If a question was missed, The opponent won the box. Also, If you won the game in the ABC run, you just went on to play another game. In the syndie version however, Whoever won the most games went on to play the bonus game which was used only in the syndicated once a week run. Another great part of this game was if a player had managed to get 3 moneybags, he/she broke the bank for whatever the amount at that time was. It increased by $500 everytime it was not won. Getting back to the syndicated run's bonus game, It had dollar amounts or a bust. If the player accumulated $5000, he won the bonus round, he/she could also stop along the way and take whatever they accumulated. If a bust was hit, it was over.
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Break the Bank, Stu Levin, 1976
Here are some pictures: Thanks Kris Lane
Break the Bank is a Barry and Enright Production, No ownership challenges are intended nor implied.
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