Daytime episodes known to exist

In the years before home video recording became mainstream and videotapes were rather costly, most broadcast networks and production companies generally saw television as one-time programming. For those shows which aired live, it was usually a matter of not recording it; for videotaped shows, especially in the 1960s-70s, the 2" videotapes were bulky and expensive to store. As such, some companies and networks either destroyed the tapes outright or reused them for other shows in a cost-saving measure, typically resulting in the disappearance of many shows and famous moments.

While CBS quit in September 1972 and ABC stopped around January 1978, NBC continued until Fred Silverman ended it in 1980. While the daytime Wheel of Fortune was among the victims, GSN has only ever aired three daytime episodes; meanwhile, a great many episodes and clips saved from their original airings by collectors have found their way to various video-sharing sites (most notably YouTube).

As a service to collectors and researchers alike, this page details the daytime episodes known to exist.

Existing (1973-80)
No episodes are known to exist from 1977, which has left a very large gap of uncertainty.
 * September 1973 (Shopper's Bazaar pilot) – held by GSN.
 * August 28, 1974 (both Edd Byrnes pilots) – brief clips of one were seen on the 3,000th nighttime show.

1975-76

 * January 6, 1975 (series premiere) – clips were seen on the show's E! True Hollywood Story.
 * July 15, 1975 – held on audio tape by Archival Television Audio, Inc. An inquiry for the purpose of this Wiki returned the figure of $75.
 * August 29, 1975 – held on audio tape by Archival Television Audio, Inc. An inquiry for the purpose of this Wiki returned the figure of $75.
 * June 7, 1976 (Gerry/Linda/Lee) – aired by GSN in 2007 and also circulates in its original-broadcast form. A copy is held by the Paley Center for Media.
 * 1976 (Monday of NBC's All-Star Dream Machine Championship; Richard/Patty/Rick) – held by the Paley Center for Media.

1978

 * January 18, 1978 (#785) – held by the Paley Center for Media.
 * March 15, 1978 (Carol/Beth/Maryann) – held by the Paley Center for Media, and also among collectors.
 * April 6, 1978 (Scott/Glenda/Gail) – held among collectors, presumably taped by contestant Scott Hostetler.
 * April 7, 1978 (Scott/Peggy/Laura) – held among collectors, presumably taped by contestant Scott Hostetler.
 * 1978 (Barbara/Herb/Pat) – taped by Barbara's husband, Mike Adams. Clips may be seen here and here.
 * 1978 (Barbara/?/?) – episode immediately following the above, also taped by Mike Adams.
 * 1978 – opening sequence shown on the 3,000th and 4,000th nighttime shows, the latter aired by GSN in 2007. Latter episode adds a caption of "1983".

1979

 * March 2, 1979 (Angela/Leo/Juanita) – circulates among collectors.
 * March 27, 1979 (Gwen/Brian/Anita) – circulates among collectors.
 * May 31, 1979 (Summer Bartholomew fills in; Hilarie/David/?) – taped by contestant Hilarie. Clips may be seen here and here.
 * June 1, 1979 (Summer fills in; Henry{?}/Hilarie/?) – taped by contestant Hilarie. Clips may be seen here.
 * December 4, 1979 (Susan/Lea/Ginger) – circulates among collectors.
 * December 13, 1979 (Linda{?}/?/?) – closing segment circulates among collectors.
 * December 31, 1979 (Lou/Allan/Jackie) – circulates among collectors.

1980

 * March 18, 1980 (Charline/Becky/Les) – circulates among collectors.
 * March 25, 1980 (Mazel/Bob/Kevin) – circulates among collectors.
 * May 7, 1980 (Paul/Diane/Cathy) – circulates among collectors.
 * June 9, 1980 (Fred/Lu/Heidi) – audio recording circulates among collectors.
 * June 20, 1980 (Ken/Linda/Charlotte) – circulates among collectors.
 * August 18, 1980 (Carole/Mike/Nancy) – Round 3 onward circulates among collectors.
 * November 6, 1980 (Tom Kennedy {Art}/Monty/Minnie) – circulates among collectors.
 * December 18, 1980 (Laura/Joyce/Barbara) – circulates among collectors, albeit with no end segment.
 * December 24, 1980 (Vicki/Bud/Linda) – circulates among collectors.

Circulating (1981-91)
All episodes from 1981 onward are believed to be intact. The below is what is known to circulate of that period.

Woolery

 * April 21, 1981 (Virginia/Jan/Lori) – latest Chuck Woolery episode known to circulate in full with video. Also stated as being from May 19.
 * September 1981 (Portland Week) – taped by contestant Frank, but does not circulate. A clip of Round 3 can be seen here.
 * December 18, 1981 (Christmas Wish Week, Terry/Debbie/"Smitty" {Vivia}) – audio recording circulates.
 * December 25, 1981 (Chuck's last show, Claudia/Betty/Sonny) – full audio recording circulates, but only two video clips: full open through just before the opening spin (2:04), and final score tally through end of show (2:33).

Sajak

 * December 28, 1981 (Pat Sajak's first show; Jim/Keith/Stacie) – not only circulates, but clips have been seen in various places.
 * March 11, 1982 (Nancy/Beverly/Karen)
 * March 12, 1982 (Beverly/Dorian/Bill) – several YouTube comments note that the closing narration dates this to September 4.
 * December 13, 1982 (Vanna White's first official show; Robin/Louis/Linda) – aired by GSN in 2007 and also circulates in its original-broadcast form. Brief footage of Vanna's audition tape also circulates due to being used on the nighttime show.
 * December 29, 1982 (Teen Week)
 * December 1982 (Teen Week)


 * January 20, 1983 (#2,044) – first 1:11, including slate.
 * April 1, 1983 (Teen Week)
 * May 1983 (Jackie/Penny/Paul) – circulates as a monochrome recording.
 * October 31, 1983 (Tina/Janet/Tim)
 * November 9, 1983 (Couples Week; Bill & Kathy/Don & Susan/Frank & Debbie)


 * January 1984 (Lynn/Doug/Cathy)
 * February 29, 1984 (Battle of the Sexes, Ron/Ray/Rick)
 * April/May, 1984 (Thursday; Staa/Nickie/Bill)
 * February 1, 1985 (Warren/Sol/Linda)
 * September 23, 1985 (Karen/Robert/Rachel)
 * September 24, 1985 (Pamela/Tracie/Robert)


 * June 20, 1986 (Susan Stafford fills in; Peter/Aurora/Wendy)
 * Fall 1986 (Monday, Dean/Kathy/Karen; Jackpot: $4,000)
 * November 13, 1986 (first daytime tie, Mike/Jill/Dawn; Jackpot: $3,000)
 * December 22, 1986 (Teen Week, Chrissy/Tom/Danny) – for reasons unknown, the week of December 22 did not use the Jackpot wedge.
 * December 23, 1986 (Teen Week, Jim/Tracey/Carol) – mostly pre-empted on the East Coast, returning just before Jack Clark's Round 3 prize descriptions.
 * December 24, 1986 (Teen Week, Kathy/Leslie/Victor)
 * December 25, 1986 (Teen Week, Valerie/Ian/Paula)


 * January 1987 (Mitzi/Tony/Cheryl; Jackpot: unknown) – taped by contestant Cheryl, but does not circulate. Most of Round 2 can be seen here, and a portion of Round 3 here.
 * February 13, 1987 (Battle of the Sexes; Mike/Renee)
 * March 17, 1987 (Phyllis/Alan/Clay)
 * March 30, 1987 (Randy/Robin/Jim)
 * April 1, 1987 (Steven/Gail/Missy)
 * April 27, 1987 (Pete/Carolyn/Elaine)
 * June 15, 1987
 * November 30?, 1987 (Dave/Diana/Susan)
 * December 21, 1987 (Joey/Steve/Samantha)
 * December 25, 1987 (Lance/Renee/Joey)


 * October 26, 1988 (Trick or Treat Week; Jeannette/Lenna/Elizabeth)
 * December 7, 1988 (Shawn/Elin/Maddy)
 * January 6, 1989 (Patti/Carey/Betsy)
 * January 9, 1989 (Pat's last show; Betsy/Consuelo/Gigi) – aired by GSN in 2007 and also circulates in its original-broadcast form.

Benirschke

 * January 10, 1989 (Rolf Benirschke's first show; Karen/Cheryl/Consuelo)
 * January 11, 1989 (Karen/Judy/Robin)
 * January 12, 1989 (Kevin/Robin/Rhonda)
 * January 13, 1989 (Kathi/Keren/Rhonda)
 * February 22, 1989 (third episode of Charlie O'Donnell's return; Lois/Cami/Rochelle)
 * June 30, 1989 (Rolf's last show; Julie/Jay/Marc)

Goen

 * July 17, 1989 (Bob Goen's first show; Fay/Rick/Lou)
 * July 18, 1989
 * July 19, 1989 (Suzy/Jeff/Patrick)
 * July 20, 1989
 * July 21, 1989
 * August 29, 1989 (Marleen/Mary Ellen/Lee)
 * August 31, 1989 (Rose/Jim/Martha Ann)
 * September 18, 1989 (Dave/Sandra/Ric) – taped by contestant Ric Barrios, but does not circulate.


 * January 4, 1990 (Mike/Marcia/Don)
 * 1990 (Monday; Rochelle/Tammy/Hury)
 * July 5, 1990 (Armed Forces Week, with players chosen from the audience)
 * December 25, 1990 (Todd/Tom/Philip)


 * January 11, 1991 (last CBS show; Brenna/Jim/Sonja)
 * January 14, 1991 (return to NBC; Chuck/Jim/Tony)
 * February 1991 (Friday of Teen Week; Staci/Shawn/Sharon)
 * March 11, 1991 (Cashpot begins; Jennifer/Trei/Whitney)
 * March 19, 1991 (Cashpot; John/Glenn/Elaine)
 * March 21, 1991 (Cashpot; Rosie/Dave/Mary)
 * 1991 (has flashing prize total upon pickup) – taped by contestant Patrick, but does not circulate.
 * May 23, 1991
 * May 24, 1991
 * May 27, 1991
 * September 20, 1991 (supposed finale; Gitta/Cheyenne/Ed)