User:Daniel Benfield/Nighttime Video Archive

Suggested by TPH, I began this page by focusing on Seasons 1-6 due to A) the preservation of my sanity and B) the lack of returning champions during that period. Since then, Guint and John (and myself) have added episodes from afterward; while this "front page" remains focused on Seasons 1-6, videos of the current season are at the very bottom.

The timeline is here, daytime videos here, and international videos here.

LEGAL STUFF SO I DON'T GET SUED: I'm only linking to these videos, none of which were uploaded by me, for the purposes of research and as a public record. Footage ©1983-2015 Califon Productions/Merv Griffin Enterprises/Sony Pictures Entertainment and associated entities.

AND ANOTHER THING: All opinions on this page and its subpages are my own (see my name above the door?), and as per the rules of the MOS I'm doing it within my userspace. Mind you, the fact you're seeing this means you're here for a reason, so please don't let my thoughts sour you in any way.

Season 1 (1983-84)
September 19, 1983 - June 29, 1984

Distinguishable primarily by the first iteration of "Changing Keys" and the squared-off contestant backdrops. At least the premiere (Jeff/Leslie/Linda), Lisa/Bob/Nancy, Kathy/Janet/Barry, Cyn/Susan/Steve, and Laura/Lisa/Glenn have $750 as the top value in Round 1, which becomes $1,000 most likely after the first week of taping.

The original Merv Griffin Productions logo is replaced on November 28 by an animated one, whose griffin becomes static (along with a larger picture and smaller font) in February...although the logo changes appearance until about the April tapings. Also, the King World logo originally uses a blocky font, which changes (most likely on November 28) to a rounder font over the spinning Round 1 layout.

The trees behind Pat change from green to brown in late September or early October, then to light-up white ones by October 31 (no, seriously; contemporaneous daytime episodes are a big help :). Shortly after tapings begin, the outlines of the money graphic and subsequent logo become white, resulting in a brighter/cleaner appearance.

"Walls" replace the trees in February and remain until late 1986, although the trees still show up and the walls' decorations/foliage still help in dating. The Wheel flippers may become longer and thinner sometime between September 22 and October 31, but that could just be me going by some less-than-optimal video quality.

Summer repeats for this and the next few seasons can usually be determined by a sudden cut to another screen just after the fee plugs to show the replacement fee sponsors.

Road Shows: Ohio State Fair in Columbus (August 29-September 2).

Repeat Weeks: December 26-30, April 23-27.

GSN Repeat Dates: December 1, 1994-October 2?, 1998 (part of a rotation with Seasons 5 and 10).

1983


 * September? 1983 (WPVI promo of three puzzles being solved: BLOWING HOT AND COLD, SEND IN THE CLOWNS, and the bonus puzzle KENNY ROGERS {apparently from the first or second week WPVI aired})


 * September 19, 1983 (#S-001/Premiere: Jeff/Leslie/Linda {taped 7/6/83}; taped from GSN on 8/18/07, begins slightly into chant, ends shortly after fee plugs {alternate copies: full episode #1; full episode #2, uploaded by Jeff's son; montage including slate, courtesy of Wink Martindale himself!})
 * [Has the puzzle board's original chase light sequence (counterclockwise on the left, clockwise on the right).]

White-outline money graphic/logo


 * September 20, 1983 (#S-002: Lisa/Bob/Nancy)
 * September 21, 1983 (#S-003: Kathy/Janet/Barry, with $500 cash as the Wheel Prize {displayed as a dollar sign} and explanations of the Final Spin and bonus prizes; taped from GSN on what I'm guessing is 12/3/94)
 * September 1983 (Cyn/Susan/Steve)
 * September 1983 (Laura/Lisa/Glenn)

Top value in R1 becomes $1,000


 * September-October 1983 (Barbara/Harlene/Kevin)
 * September-October 1983 (Lou/Cindy/Karen, with a three-minute voiceover by Jack Clark; begins after Jack's first opening line, Round 1 prize plugs and several other brief portions missing, no last segment)
 * [Has the original chase light sequence.]
 * September-October 1983 (Richard/Claire/Melissa)

Brown-leaf trees


 * September-October 1983 (Bob/Pearl/Carmen; repeat broadcast, video is a bit bright)
 * [Apparently the first aired show for WPVI, on 9/12/83. Has the original chase light sequence.]


 * September-October 1983 (Ed/Dawn/Ellen {taped 9/83}; taped from GSN)
 * September-October 1983 (Dan/Gloria/Ola {taped 9/83}; taped from GSN, jumpy video)
 * [Same week as above.]

Light-up white trees


 * October-November 1983 (Rick/Joan/Cecelia; no last segment)
 * [Has the original chase light sequence and really small Prize wedge letters.]


 * December 1983 ("11 Alive" promo with Bonus Round winners from September-October 1983 {with the brown-leaf trees, one being Bob/Pearl/Carmen; alternate copy, taped from KOMO in 1984})
 * December 6, 1983 (WLS promo {by ABC's Ernie Anderson!} with clips from various episodes, including Theresa/Patti/Scott {with the $60,000 Rolls-Royce win} and a security guard opening a briefcase of money in front of the curtain {a very out-of-place clip I've never seen before} {alternate copy, dated 2/11/84})

1984


 * 1984 (KOMO promo)
 * January 1984 (Lloyd/Linda/Debbie, with Jack ad-libbing {"And now, here's your litterer: Pat Sajak!"} and Vanna White spinning the Wheel at the end; repeat from 8/84, begins just after opening chant)
 * [Has the original chase light sequence. No white outlines on the money graphic (which is green!) or subsequent logo.]


 * January-February 1984 (Thelma/Sam/Lisa, with the curtain screwing up, more ad-libbing from Jack {"And now he's parked, here's your host: Pat Sajak!"}, a reference to WPVI; repeat from 6/84, audio lags about 2-3 seconds behind video after Round 2 puzzle is shown {gets considerably better after Segment 2, though})
 * [Probably from a station that debuted Wheel prior to 9/19/83. Has the reversed chase light sequence (clockwise on the left, counterclockwise on the right).]
 * January-February 1984 (Tom/Cindi/Velma; repeat from Summer '84)
 * [Has the reversed chase light sequence.]
 * January-February 1984 (Fern/Darlene/Michael, with Mark Corwin filling in as director and a good example of how one spin can literally make a difference {taped 1/84}; taped from GSN)

"Walls" replace trees


 * February? 1984 (WCBS promo, with some clips from the first few months or so)
 * February 15, 1984 (KCOP promo for the show's debut on that channel beginning March 5, with some clips from about the first half of the season bookended by shots of Pat and Vanna in front of the walls)
 * February-September 1984 (WCBS promo, with clips from two different episodes during this period)
 * Spring? 1984 (KCOP promo with a lot of clips from early in the season {before the walls were introduced}, bookended by shots of Pat in front of the walls)


 * February-April 1984 (Teresa/Mark/Gladys, with a full credit roll; repeat from 7/84, occasional video problems but still watchable)
 * February-April 1984 (Frances/Elaine/Duane; repeat from 8/84 with a Ticket Plug {didn't see that coming}, begins just before "Fortune!" in opening chant)
 * February-April 1984 (Joy/Norm/Ann)


 * April 1984 (Virginia/Bob/Norma {taped 2/14/84}; no last segment {alternate copy... thing by the original uploader with commercials, although Part 2 is region-locked})
 * March-April 1984 (Misa/Chloe/Frank {taped 3/84})
 * April-May 1984 (Betty/Debbie/David {taped 4/84})
 * April-May 1984 (Bill/Jude/MaryAnn {taped 4/84})
 * April-May 1984 (Mark/Carol/Debi {taped 4/84}; taped from GSN)
 * [Has the reversed chase light sequence. No white outlines on money graphic or subsequent logo.]


 * August 1984 (KMBC promo with clips from early in the season {before the walls were introduced}, including the "EARTH BIRD" mis-solve {alternate copy, same station})

Season 2 (1984-85)
September 10, 1984 - June 21, 1985

Distinguishable primarily by "Merv Griffin Productions" becoming "Merv Griffin Enterprises" (with a completely-static logo and a Peignot font that makes it easily distinguishable) and the King World logo adopting its familiar "star" motif (now over the Round 3 layout). Sometime between November 23 and January 17, the overhead Wheel shot for the King World logo is dropped; by about April, it becomes light blue and returns to its September-November 1983 position/use.

After at least the first week (September 10-14), the 1984 "Changing Keys" debuts; after at least another ten episodes, and definitely sometime in October, the second sunburst backdrops debut.

Sometime between the beginning of October and November 23, the $150 next to $1,000 in Round 2 decreases to $100; sometime between then and early December, the green $1,000 gets a wider font (most noticeably the $ and first 0).

At this point, the wide-font $5,000 is used at least twice (both after the wide-font $1,000 debuts) and leaves by early December; my best guess is that the wide-font wedges debuted on the same day, with $5,000 back to normal after at least two shows. The Winter decorations return again in early December and leave in late January or early February.

In early December, Round 1 adds $700 and $800; the aforementioned $100 is upped to $600; and the red $200 near Bankrupt in Rounds 2+ becomes a yellow $500. By the 19th (which is very clearly decorated for Christmas), Round 1 adds $900 and the aforementioned yellow $500 moves to the red $300 next to Bankrupt.

Episodes through about mid-January have the monospaced font (for the category displays and wardrobe plugs), no animated Wheel logo, and no Helvetica; there were at least eleven episodes in January before the changes.

Following this, the opening logo (over the Wheel) is altered to fill in the transparent wedges. At least four episodes aired during this period, in which the animated logo wasn't quite certain of itself. Just after the Helvetica chyrons get their shadow effect, the regular animated logo debuts (minus one glitchy instance in February or March).

The Helvetica chyrons are altered by February 8, with at least 12 episodes using them, and again by March 29; the regular $1,000 returns sometime between May 2 (or 13) and the June 21 season finale.

In late January or early February, after the Winter decorations are removed but before the second Helvetica chyrons debut, the eligibility display, wardrobe plugs, and full credit roll change from white to blue. Oddly, though, there's at least three episodes post-Winter that have the shadowed chyrons and two Winter ones with the second chyrons.

On matters that are a little less confusing, Summer/weekend repeats now cut to a shot of a set piece (usually a portion of the "wall" decorations) in blurred close-up for the replacement sponsor list. I'm reasonably sure this changed when the walls were ousted in October-November 1986.

(Massive thanks to Greg Brobeck and his huge Season 2 collection for noticing the stuff regarding "Changing Keys", the sunburst backdrops, and logo/category graphics {I remembered reading somewhere that the season began taping before the music/sunburst changes were made}. Further thanks to WREYtube for the airdate of E.R./Casey/Stacey, which provided and remains an extremely-helpful "anchor" for the 1984 part of the season.)

(Problem: things only got more confusing.)

Repeat Weeks: December 31-January 4, April 8-12.

GSN Repeat Dates: October 5, 1998-July 2, 1999 (one near-complete cycle, despite being exactly 39 weeks, due to some pre-emptions for special programming).

1984


 * September 1984 (Bob/Ali/Debbie; taped from GSN, somewhat-crackly audio)
 * September 1984 (Kersteen/Cinders {Cynthia}/Jack, with a full credit roll {alternate copy of credits})
 * [Has the reversed chase light sequence.]
 * September 1984 (Anita/Paula/Wayne, with the first known use of Fictional Characters; taped from GSN)
 * [Apparently, these three episodes are from the same week.]
 * [http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3xtq8t_wof-1984-joe-gloria-lisa_tv September 1984} (Joe/Gloria/Lisa)

Second "Changing Keys"


 * September 1984 (Bill/Brilla/Teddy; taped from GSN)
 * [Has the reversed chase light sequence.]
 * September 1984 (Larry/Diane/Howard, with a full credit roll and quite a few technical oddities; taped from GSN, begins at "Fortune!" in opening chant)
 * [Same week as below. Has the reversed chase light sequence and shorter Prize wedge letters.]
 * September 1984 (Charmaine/Debbie/Janice, with Pat eerily foreshadowing all the crappy themed weeks at the beginning of Round 2 {"It's Apostrophe Week on Wheel of Fortune."}; taped from GSN, ends during eligibility disclaimer)


 * September 1984 (Debbie/Suzanne/Dan; taped from GSN, ends during eligibility disclaimer)
 * September 1984 (Michelle/Emil/Linda, with a goof from Pat in Round 4; taped from GSN)
 * [Has the reversed chase light sequence.]
 * September 1984 (Robbie/Dave/Dorothy)
 * September 1984 (Auriane/Nancy/Reggie)
 * September 1984 (Lynn/John/Pat)
 * September 1984 (Eunita/Barbara/Keith)
 * September 1984 (Terry/Mitch/Georgia)

Second sunburst backdrops


 * October-November 1984 (Dave/Joan/Kathy; taped from GSN)
 * [Has the reversed chase light sequence and shorter Prize wedge letters.]
 * October-November 1984 (Father Rob/Betty/Marla, with a camera appearing on-camera after Round 2; taped from GSN {alternate copy})
 * [Has the reversed chase light sequence.]


 * October-November 1984 (Janice/Faye/Marvin; taped from GSN {alternate copy})
 * [Has the reversed chase light sequence.]
 * October-November 1984 (Shirley/Dewey/Bonnie, with "once you buy a Sea Monkey it's yours to keep" and Pat stopping Dewey before the first spin of Round 2 so he can read the "People does not always mean Proper Names." disclaimer; taped from GSN)
 * October-November 1984 (Michael/Sandy/Karen; taped from GSN, begins just before "Of!" in opening chant)

$150 in R2 (next to $1,000) becomes $100


 * November 19, 1984 (Marge/Bill/Patricia)
 * November 23, 1984 (#S-250: E.R. {Elizabeth Renae; GREAT contestant!}/Casey/Stacey, with one of my favorite contestants :); taped from GSN {alternate copies: intro through Vanna's entrance and full last segment, taped from WTVJ with commercials; full show #1, original broadcast; full show #2, taped from GSN})
 * [Has the reversed chase light sequence.]
 * November 1984 (Scott/Bus/Susie)

Wide-font $1,000 and $5,000 wedges debut


 * November-December 1984 (Sharon/DeeDee/Brent, with a full credit roll; taped from GSN)
 * [Has the reversed chase light sequence and smaller Prize wedge letters.]
 * November-December 1984 (Laura/Bob/Rochelle, with a "MINI CAR" wedge in the style of Free Spin and the wardrobe plugs done over the spinning Round 1 layout for...some reason; taped from GSN)

Normal $5,000 returns


 * November 22?, 1984 (#S-249?: Nancy/Al/Nicki; ends after Bonus Round segment)


 * November-December 1984 (Jeannette/Tim/Colleen; taped from GSN {alternate copy})
 * [Has the reversed chase light sequence and smaller Prize wedge letters.]
 * November-December 1984 (James/Gale/Sharon, with the CLEVELAND OHIO Speed-Up solve that made it onto the show's highlight reels; taped from GSN)

$700/$800 in R1, $100 next to $1,000 in R2 becomes $600, $200 next to Lose A Turn in R2+ becomes $500, Winter decorations added


 * Early December 1984 (Ken/Kathy/Bruce, with a couple of very rare events; taped from GSN with a voiceover promo for the new season of Extreme Gong "beginning June 1"...but then that would put this around April-May 1999 and...)
 * [Has the reversed chase light sequence.]

Yellow $500 in R2+ moved to red $300 next to Bankrupt


 * Early December 1984 (Reiko/Ralph/Conrad, with Mark Corwin filling in as director and a full credit roll; taped from GSN)
 * [Money graphic and subsequent logo are white!]

$900 added in R1


 * December 19, 1984 (#S-268: Kathe/Esther/Dennis, with wreaths and bows on-set; taped from GSN)
 * [Has the reversed chase light sequence.]
 * December 24-25?, 1984 (John/Larry/Peggy, with some Christmas-themed puzzles; taped from GSN, video problems throughout {especially during the intro, but it's all very watchable}, ends during 15-second timer in Bonus Round {but the answer's pretty obvious})
 * December 31, 1984 (Angela/Diane/Roger)

1985


 * January 1985 (Mike/Renita/Laura; taped from GSN)
 * [Has the reversed chase light sequence. Was listed as 12/25/84 on the timeline at one point.]
 * January 1985 (Rita/Lynn/Jonas, with $800 on $750 in Round 1; taped from GSN, begins at "-une!" in opening chant, start of Bonus Round segment missing {begins during Jack's description}, ends during Griffin announcement)
 * [Has the reversed chase light sequence.]
 * January 1985 (Judy/Jim/Kathy, with $800 on $750 in Round 1; taped from GSN)
 * January 1985 (Andrea/Doug/Sandy)
 * January 1985 (Iola/Teri/Jim; taped from GSN)


 * January 17, 1985 (#S-284: Cynthia/John/Susie; taped from WLKY with most commercials, bunch of missing bits {begins shortly before Pat introduces Vanna, audio drops out at times beginning just before the Round 3 prize plugs, nearly everything between Rounds 2 and 3 is missing} but has more commercials after the show, followed by most of an ABC Thursday Night Movie intro before changing channels to The Cosby Show {briefly} and several seconds of Magnum P.I. {alternate copies: #1, same source but no commercials or post-show clips; #2, taped from GSN})
 * [Has the original chase light sequence. The commercials, specifically one after the show, put this no later than the 21st; the Thursday Night Movie intro narrows it down to between the 3rd and 17th, but Wheel aired repeats the week of December 31 and the sponsor list indicates this wasn't a repeat. The movie, starring Ann-Margret and Frederic Forrest, was an encore of the 1983 TV movie Who Will Love My Children?. TV Tango says ABC showed an encore of The Thorn Birds Part 4 on the 10th and this on the 17th.]

Animated logo debuts, opening logo's transparent wedges become white, first Helvetica chyrons (no shadows)/Bonus Round totals/credits


 * January 1985 (Steve/Christina/Debra; taped from GSN {alternate copy})
 * [Has the green/yellow animated logo, the original chase light sequence, and the shorter Prize wedge letters.]

First Helvetica chyrons get shadows


 * January 1985 (Judy/Tim/Iris, with Pat playing with Vanna's dress sleeve {it makes sense in context} and a subsequent camera shot that became the norm much later; original broadcast! {alternate copy, by the original uploader})
 * [Has the green/yellow animated logo and no Prize value chyron. King World logo is white, at the bottom of the screen.]
 * January 1985 (Peg/Renee/Doc, with a Bonus Round win ruled as a loss{?!}; alternate copy of Bonus Round only)
 * [Has the red/green/yellow animated logo.]

Near-complete regular animated logo debuts (blue parts are opaque)


 * Late January-Early February 1985 (Milt/Fran/Stuart, with a huge chunk of money put on account, a full credit roll, and one of my favorite contestants :); taped from GSN in 1999, begins during Jack's opening spiel {"-hundred dollar ruby and diamond bracelet"})
 * Late January-Early February 1985 (Joyce/Nancy/Mark; taped from GSN)
 * [Has no Prize value chyron.]
 * Late January-Early February 1985 (Stacey/John/Kim, with someone other than Vanna modeling a prize!; taped from GSN)

Regular animated logo, Winter decorations removed, eligibility disclaimers/wardrobe plugs/full credit rolls change from white to blue
 * Late January-Early February 1985 (Mary/Dick/Chris; taped from GSN)
 * [Has the reversed chase light sequence.]
 * Late January-Early February 1985 (Steve/Kelli/Jim, with Pat skipping the entire rules spiel {"$1,000...you know the rules, let's get on with it."} and a full credit roll; taped from GSN on 3/31/99 {with a voiceover debut promo for Burt Luddin's Love Buffet "tomorrow night"}, first part of Round 4 missing {begins during Final Spin})

Second Helvetica chyrons (white around bottoms of letters)


 * February-March 1985 (Hal/Chris/Rita; taped from GSN, audio/video seriously out of sync for the first four minutes {slightly off for the rest}, no last segment)
 * [Has the reversed chase light sequence and shorter Prize wedge letters.]


 * February-March 1985 (Denise/Gloria/Ron; taped from GSN, with commercials)
 * February-March 1985 (Ann/Derek/Jerry, with a full credit roll; taped from GSN)
 * February-March 1985 (Carol/Susan/Beverly; taped from GSN, begins just before money graphic)
 * February-March 1985 (Mary/Dan/Marianne; taped from GSN, begins during opening chant {"-une!"})

Third Helvetica chyrons (white all around each letter)


 * March 1985 (Susan/Beth/Ted; original? broadcast, taped from some Channel 4)


 * February-June 1985 (Jerry/Joan {pronounced "Joanne"}/Elaine, with a player who has "three children, one of each"; taped from GSN in 1999, rough video {especially at beginning})
 * [Uncertain chase light sequence.]
 * February-June 1985 (Deborah/Cheryl/Robin; taped from GSN, begins just before Jack's opening spiel)
 * [Has the reversed chase light sequence.]
 * February-June 1985 (Karen/Kimberly/Mike)
 * February-June 1985 (Kim/Brad/Carla; taped from GSN, albeit with no logos present!)
 * [Has the reversed chase light sequence.]
 * February-June 1985 (Kathy Jo/Tom/Beth; taped from GSN)


 * February-June 1985 (Ron/Margot/Elaine; WTVJ repeat from 9/27/86 with commercials, intro {ends just before first player interview} and tail end of Bonus Round through credits only)
 * [Uncertain chase light sequence, blue King World logo.]


 * February-June 1985 (Jo Ann/Rusti/Fritz; taped from GSN, ends during Enterprises logo {"Wheel of Fortune is produced by..."})
 * February-June 1985 (Shannon/Larry/Meryl; taped from GSN, ends during Vanna's wardrobe credit)
 * February-June 1985 (Tony/Bob/Kathy; taped from GSN, ends during {the decidedly-less-bold-than-usual} eligibility disclaimer)


 * April 1985 (Lu Ann/Rich/Sharon; original broadcast!, begins during Round 2, "ghosts" in picture)
 * [Credits are blue; King World logo is blue and near the bottom of the screen.]


 * May 1, 1985 (T.G.I.4 {KRON series} behind-the-scenes report; the Wheel set has no Winter decorations, while the Wheel has $700, $800, $900, and the wide-font $1,000)
 * [Co-host Jan Rasmusson notes that KRON shows Wheel "morning and evening and Saturdays", indicating that the weekend feed is present here rather than in September '86 as was officially claimed.]
 * May 2, 1985 (#S-354: Diane/Linda/Ronda, with a goofier-than-usual Pat; taped from GSN, small cuts here and there, nothing too big)
 * [Has the reversed chase light sequence. Airdate comes from a press photo and newspaper article stamp-dated "April 12 1986" about Ronda, which mentions her show having aired "last May 2".]


 * May 7, 1985 (Promo with the 1983 "Changing Keys" and four puzzles: THE NEW YORK TIMES, PUT YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARD, CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES, and COME AND GET IT)
 * May 13, 1985? (#S-361?: Gina/Cindy/Mike; taped from GSN)
 * [Has the reversed chase light sequence. Airdate comes from a press photo and newspaper blurb stamp-dated "May 13 1985" that mentions Mike's episode airing "tonight"; it may not be right (it's definitely February-June in any case), but it's the best we've got.]

Regular green $1,000 returns


 * May-June 1985 (Lori/Peggy/David; taped from GSN)
 * [Has the reversed chase light sequence and shorter Prize wedge letters.]

Season 3 (1985-86)
September 9, 1985 - June 20, 1986

Distinguishable primarily by the green $1,000 becoming yellow, the nearby $800 becoming orange, and the Griffin logo using pacific-blue font instead of the previous silver. Likely at the beginning of the season, and definitely by the first week of December, the walls appear to change to a more "curtain-like" style; said walls are given blinking lights sometime between December 6 and February 11, which remain until the walls are replaced shortly into Season 4.

Charlie O'Donnell fills in from October 21-November 1.

Repeat Weeks: December 30-January 3, March 31-April 4.

GSN Repeat Dates: N/A as of yet.

1985


 * Late 1985? (WCHS promo for a Friday episode, showing a partial Bonus Round)
 * December 5, 1985 (#S-454: Nikki/Tony/Terry, the THRILL OF VICTORY episode; repeat broadcast)
 * [Has the reversed chase light sequence, but no Winter decorations or lights.]

Lights added to walls


 * December 1985-June 1986 (Faye/Joe/Mary; end of intro through most of contestant interviews, plus clips of Round 2 and I think Round 4)

1986


 * Early 1986 (KPRC promo with a fictional contestant and {the debut of?} the two-row logo; parade portions taped 7/6/85)


 * February 1986 (Barbara/Marc/Kathleen, with a "$149,000" money graphic; taped from WFTV, ends just before player intros)
 * February 13, 1986 (Becki/Eileen/Carron, with a "$154,000" money graphic; taped from WFTV with commercials, intro {ends just before first interview} and tail end of Bonus Round through end of show only)
 * February 1986 (?/? {redhead? female in flowery print}/Linda {purple outfit}, with someone putting $2 "On Account"; taped from WFTV with commercials, end of Round 2? only)
 * February 11, 1986 (#S-497: ? {male}/? {female}/? {female}; taped from WFTV, preceded by the close of that night's Jeopardy! and a few commercials {link is timecoded to skip them}, ends just after Vanna's entrance)
 * [Has the green $1,000 in Round 1.]


 * March 14, 1986 (#S-520: Dick/Diane/Betty)
 * [Has the reversed chase light sequence.]
 * May 5, 1986 (#S-551: Ken/John/Andra, with the AT MY CAT'S END mis-solve {alternate copy... thing, by the original uploader})
 * [Has the reversed chase light sequence. Also has the green $1,000 in Round 1 and $100 present in Round 2. I should note that the mis-solve is the only part you'll ever see on blooper specials, and Wheel itself edited the Burbank-era buzzer in to make it seem like the player lost right afterward...even though the moments after said mis-solve are way more notable.]


 * May 1986 (KRON promo with another fictional contestant who recounts how she got where she is...although really, she didn't need to go on Wheel to be hit on)

Season 4 (1986-87)
September 8, 1986 - June 19, 1987

Distinguishable primarily by the new Wheel colors (notably the pink $1,000 in Round 1), third sunburst backdrops (introduced sometime between mid-October and November 13), and aqua-blue King World logo (which remains through the end of Season 6).

Sometime between November 13 and December 22, the Griffin logo changes to add "A unit of The Coca-Cola Company" (with every word in the script font); around Spring, the text "ALL RIGHTS RESERVED" is added below the copyright stamp. Sometime between mid-October and November 13, the walls introduced in February 1984 are removed.

Oddly, $900 is removed from Round 1 and the spin order there is altered, going from $900-$250-$400-LAT to $250-$400-$200-LAT. Sometime this season, the $200 between $500 and $550 in Rounds 2+ temporarily becomes $900 while the peach $900 temporarily becomes lime green.

The "Wheel of Misfortune" episode of 227 (using the third sunburst backdrops, post-"walls" setup, the red $300 instead of $500 next to Bankrupt and the tan/lime-green $900 wedges) airs October 4; an available copy of its press release has "AUG 26 1986" stamped on it.

Repeat Weeks: December 29-January 2, April 20-24.

GSN Repeat Dates: N/A as of yet.

1986


 * October 13-17, 1986 (Julie/David/Nita; taped from WXIA, ends during Pat's wardrobe plug, video is a bit blurry)
 * [Has the original chase light sequence. One promo mentions October 18.]

Third sunburst backdrops and post-"walls" backdrop debut (began by 11/13/86)
 * November 28, 1986 (20/20 report on the show, although despite the airdate the clips are from Charlie's substitution in Season 3; towards the end of the report, Hugh Downs gives a quip from his days as Concentration host; ironically, in the first few seconds, there's a clip of a young Hugh from a random Concentration episode!)

"A unit of The Coca-Cola Company" added to Enterprises logo


 * November-December 1986 (Kate/Marc/Caryn, with a full credit roll; begins during intro {"-merchandise..."}, average quality)

1987


 * 1987 (WWL promo with a partial "Vanna, Pick Me A Letter" rewrite; mostly contains clips from early this season with one shot of the third sunburst backdrops)
 * 1987 (WCBS promo with no clips, but still really weird {they try for Vanna White and get James Brown; really, guys?} {alternate copy})
 * 1987 (WCBS promo asking "What will Vanna wear tonight?")


 * 1987 (WLOS promo)


 * January 5-7, 1987 (#S-66?: Ann/Valerie/Helen; begins immediately before money graphic, ends a few seconds into fee plugs {alternate copy, no commercials})
 * [Has the original chase light sequence.]
 * January 1987 (KHOU promo with clips from late Season 3 and maybe early Season 4)
 * January 13, 1987 (#S-672: Mary Anne/?/?, with a full credit roll; taped from KHOU, begins at start of sponsor list)
 * February 12, 1987 (#S-694: LeGrande/?/? {taped 1/18/87}; partial Bonus Round only)
 * [Has the reversed chase light sequence. The airdate is given here, and the tapedate is listed here. LeGrande later became an Oprah staffer/producer from 1990-97.]


 * March 30-April 3, 1987 (?/Nancy/Eleanor, with a couple of fun moments during Round 2; Round 2 only, with a very brief shot of a "Toyota Spring Break Event" logo at the end)
 * [Has the reversed chase light sequence.]
 * May 1987 (Mark/Barbara/Susan; begins at Round 4, fee plugs missing, ends during Jack's closing spiel {"Wheel of-"})
 * [Has the reversed chase light sequence.]
 * June 1987 (Martine/Jim/Gerri; has commercials, begins just before player interviews {alternate copy, no commercials})
 * [Two promos mention Father's Day as upcoming, while a third plugs a car giveaway on the 18th. Griffin logo still has "A unit of The Coca-Cola Company".]

Season 5 (1987-88)
September 14, 1987 - June 24, 1988

Distinguishable primarily by the Big Month/Bonanza of Cash (October 5 through at least February 12); Free Spin is available in Rounds 1-2 until sometime between February 12 and maybe March 23, at which point it's replaced by an off-model $200; sometime between then and April 28, it's upgraded to an off-model $300.

By October 30, the Enterprises logo's background becomes yellow and "A unit of The Coca-Cola Company" changes to "A unit of Coca-Cola TELEVISION". On February 8, the Coca-Cola credit becomes "A unit of Columbia Pictures Entertainment, Inc."

To (most likely) celebrate the switch from shopping to play-for-cash, the stage is adorned with rugs and turntables with mostly-nonexistent Wheel layouts (some strange, some not). Probably on November 2, the "only vowels remain" beeps are halved from eight to four.

Sometime in November, while "continue by popular demand" is used in the open and after both Geri/Chip/Betsy and Norm/Marci/Dean, the tan $600 in Round 1 becomes $900. Also, the $250 and $500 between Lose A Turn and Bankrupt in Round 3 swap positions, the spin order going from $500-$400-$250 to $250-$400-$500.

Sometime afterward, possibly on November 9, the opening is altered to replace "continue by popular demand" with "present". I know Norm/Diane/Linda uses this, along with the below.

"Big Bonanza" is dropped from the opening sometime between February 12 and March 23, with the money graphic returning to the center of the screen sometime between then and mid-April.

Jack leaves on May 6, with Charlie returning for at least the next two weeks. Other than the different-looking fee credits, Summer repeats are distinguishable by the fee plugs being read by Pat and/or Vanna.

Repeat Weeks: December 28-January 1, April 4-8.

GSN Repeat Dates: Early 1996-October 4, 1998.

1987
 * Uncertain placement (From the 1989 movie Lethal Weapon 2, clips from what are for sure an episode of the 1987-1988 Syndicated season.)


 * 1987 (Promo for an "all-new season" with Kool & The Gang doing "I'm A Wheel Watcher"; there's no mention of playing for cash {or even any hint of the switch}, suggesting it's from beforehand – and if so, it's likely the last promo done before some big changes...)
 * September? 1987 (WTHR promo with some clips of the above interspersed with some new ones, notably sans a "new season" graphic)
 * November 25, 1987 (WJHG promo)

"Big Month of Cash" begins, "Coca-Cola TELEVISION" replaces "The Coca-Cola Company"


 * October 5, 1987 (#S-796/Big Month of Cash, Day 1: John/Nancy/Peter; taped from GSN on 8/18/07)
 * [Has the reversed chase light sequence.]
 * October 1987 (Big Month of Cash, Day ? {"That's genuine cardboard."}: Rhonda/Patt/Jay, with Pat acting a bit like something's bothering him; taped from GSN)
 * [Not from the same week as above, as there's different prizes onstage.]

"Big Bonanza of Cash" begins, "only vowels remain" beeps shortened from eight to four


 * November 1987 (Norm/Marci/Dean, with...am I hearing this correctly? – a clear loss ruled as a win; montage including intro and end of Round 4? through end of show {no fee plugs, although the sponsor list indicates this is a repeat broadcast})
 * November 10, 1987 (#S-822: Elliot/?/?, with Pat talking to a pair of mannequins on-set and full credit roll {albeit less "full" than usual due to an NBC technicians' strike}; original broadcast!, last segment only)
 * [Has the reversed chase light sequence. Don't know which period this fits into, sorry.]

Tan $600 in R1 becomes $900, pink $500 and purple $250 near light-blue $400 in R3 swap positions


 * November 1987 (Deb/Art/Amy, with Pat acting like something's bothering him {taped 10/87}; taped from GSN {alternate copy})

"Present" replaces "continue by popular demand"


 * November 1987 (KJAC promo for the weekend feed {Season 4 based on the clips, possibly the first three weeks of Season 5, although one clip has the 1984-86 walls}, airing on Sundays at...10:30 PM?!}


 * November-December 1987 (Sheila/Greg/Dick, with Pat dropping his pants!; WOKR repeat from 2/18/89, with commercials {alternate copies, no commercials: #1, #2})
 * [Has the reversed chase light sequence. Pat does the replacement fee plugs.]
 * December 17, 1987 (#S-849: Eileen/Peggy/Paul; has commercials, ends just before King World logo)
 * [Has the reversed chase light sequence.]


 * December 1987-January? 1988 (Rick/Julie/Gretchen, with the first known nighttime tie {taped 12/87}; taped from GSN)
 * December 1987 (KATU behind-the-scenes report {the main behind-the-scenes clips are definitely from Christmas 1987, as the set is decorated for the holiday and the original $25,000 sign is present}; clips are also shown of Lois Wainer's nighttime appearance from October 1983-February 1984 {the light-up white trees are present}; doubles as a Consumer Close-Up report, part of a series of game show stories and whether they're really scams {they aren't, but still...you have to remember to pay taxes, even if you only win cash!})

1988


 * 1988 (WCFT promo)
 * 1988 (WUSA promo)
 * 1988 (KCCI promo)
 * January 4-February 5, 1988 (Suzie/Jay/Lorie; WEWS repeat from 7/20/88 with commercials, begins shortly before Round 4)
 * [Jack does the replacement fee plugs...and he's clearly ill.]


 * January-March 1988 (Marj/Paula/Denia {Part 3, Part 4}, with a "How did that get past the censors?!" moment in Round 4 {taped 1/88}; has brief bits of commercials, begins as Jack says the value of the last item, no last segment)
 * [Has the "squished" Prize wedge lettering.]


 * January 31-February 6, 1988 (Promo for Acme's Wheel scratch-off tickets, with a "Changing Keys" that's similar to...the 1994 version? {interestingly, the overhead logo shot at the beginning has the tan $600})

"Columbia Pictures Entertainment, Inc." replaces "Coca-Cola TELEVISION", off-model $200 debuts in Round 2, "Big Bonanza of Cash" dropped


 * March 24-April, 1988 (Gerri/Maria/Kevin, with the off-model $200 present through the opening spin, a thin-font $3,500, and Vanna getting her dress soaked; 6/28/88 repeat, with a brief Family Feud promo by Rod Roddy{?!})
 * [Pat and Vanna do the replacement fee plugs.]

Off-model $200 becomes off-model $300 (same font)
 * April 28, 1988 (#S-934: Jan/Peter/Phil; taped from WMAR with commercials, news promo voiceover blocks out most of Jack's fee plug voiceovers, ends just before sponsor list {the station's doing, for whatever reason})

Jack leaves


 * May 9-June 24, 1988 (?/?/?, with Charlie announcing and a full credit roll; begins just after fee plugs)
 * [Different week than the below. One YouTube comment claims this is from May due to the season ending May 27, which I doubt because that's the 37th week.]


 * May 16, 1988 (#S-946 {"Here's a block of wood that Vanna White once touched."}: Rosemary/?/?, with Charlie announcing; taped from KCOP with commercials, very end of last main-game segment through beginning of Bonus Round segment and very end of Bonus Round segment through end of show only, followed by the first 1:11 of that night's Jeopardy! {Seniors Tournament I, Day 1: Tom/Louise/Jim})

Season 6 (1988-89)
September 5, 1988 - June 16, 1989

Distinguishable primarily by M. G. Kelly announcing and the more familiar $25,000 sign. $2,500 becomes darker this season, while $3,500 adopts the same font. $5,000 does the same by October 3.

The New York Contest is held from September 5-26, with the winners attending a special set of tapings in October. The 10-second/three-and-a-vowel Bonus Round debuts October 3, and the 1,000th nighttime show (Maureen/Morris/Howard) is that Friday.

M.G. leaves after February 17, with Charlie returning on the 20th.

(Massive thanks to Greg Brobeck and his huge Season 6 collection for sorting out the September-October and May-June episodes. Further thanks to Chuck Donegan for the airdate of Fred/Fran/Betty.)

New Categories: Same Name on September 6, Before & After on February 27.

Road Shows: Radio City Music Hall, New York City (November 14-25; Don Pardo announces).

Repeat Weeks: December 26-30, March 27-31.

GSN Repeat Dates: October 1, 2001-August 22, 2004 (three complete cycles).
 * Probably around June 2003, and definitely by mid-November, the credit crunch promo went from being on the right side to the left.
 * On March 15, 2004, Game Show Network rebranded itself as GSN: The Network For Games, the logo changing from "GAME SHOW" (which it had in some form since about September 1997) to "GSN" (which remained, with minor changes, until about November 2008).

Things To Look For

Various things mentioned in the timeline that haven't been attributed to any specific episode as of yet.

Sometime in September (these could be from a single episode):


 * A Speed-Up puzzle is thrown out for reasons unknown, but due to poor editing the thrown-out puzzle is introduced normally at the top of the round (just as the Final Spin bells sound) with the replacement puzzle seen immediately after Pat's Final Spin. The error is more obvious in that the original puzzle is Phrase and the replacement puzzle is a one-word People.
 * The third known appearance of Quotation in the Bonus Round: TWO IF BY SEA, which is not solved.

Sometime between October 4 and (possibly) February 17:


 * A contestant fills in the bonus puzzle WHAT'S THE CATCH completely.
 * The O in the bonus puzzle POLICE CAR accidentally lights up while Vanna turns the RSTLNE letters, but turns back off.
 * A game with a Place puzzle of SECRET HIDING PLACE, believed to be the first time the category name is also part of the answer. (This could be from any of the above three shows.)
 * A game where every puzzle in the main game is Thing and the Bonus Round is Fictional Character (OLD KING COLE).

Sometime in May:


 * For what is most likely the first time, a contestant calls Z in the Bonus Round. Interestingly, she only does this because she already called the other two consonants in the puzzle (A HIT OR A MISS).

1988


 * August 1988 (Promo for the New York Contest, posted by the male actor of said commercial; features Don Pardo! {alternate copy})


 * September 5, 1988 (#S-976/Season Premiere: Ann/Constance/Jan, with a tribute to Jack; taped from GSN, with commercials {alternate copies of Jack Clark tribute: #1, #2})
 * September 6, 1988 (#S-977: Sharon/Nathalie/Peter, with M.G.'s first nighttime on-camera appearance!; taped from GSN)


 * September 22, 1988 (#S-989: Varda/Sam/Kathy; taped from GSN)

"Three-and-a-Vowel" Bonus Round


 * October 4, 1988 #S-997: Rick/Renee/Chris; taped from GSN})


 * October-December 1988 (Shari/Tom/David, with the bonus puzzle THE RED BADGE OF COURAGE and some particularly-short contestants; taped from GSN with commercials, fee plugs missing)

Radio City Music Hall


 * November 12, 1988 (CBS special on the Radio City tapings {Part 2}, recorded prior to them {except the closing segment, taped the day of})


 * November 14, 1988 (#S-1026: Meg/Dave/Matt, with a "$337,000" money graphic; taped from GSN circa 2003 {alternate copy, taped from GSN on 8/18/07})
 * November 17, 1988 (#S-1029: Amy/Bill/Mary Lou, with a "$328,000" money graphic; original broadcast, begins at newspaper graphic {alternate copy})

Back to Burbank


 * November 29, 1988 (#S-1037: Pamela/Robin/Chet, with Pat's comments suggesting this is the debut of the Shipboard Party; taped from KTBS, ends during Pat's wardrobe plug {alternate copies of intro (begins at "-t this studio...") and credits, with commercials})

1989


 * 1989 (WEWS promo)
 * 1989 (KJAC promo for the weekend feed, with clips from Season 5 {hard to miss the original $25,000 sign...})


 * January 2-February 3, 1989 (Eileen/Irene/Ray {Part 3, Part 4}; taped from GSN)
 * [Same week as below.]

The second Wipeout Week presumably airs February 6-10. It was previously thought to have been 2/13-17, but the below would suggest otherwise.


 * February 16, 1989 (Sandy/Jodie/Vallie, with a fun contestant and a pretty amazing Speed-Up solve; taped from GSN)

Charlie returns


 * February-March 1989 (Michelle/Bettye/Andy; montage of Rounds 1-3 and Bonus Round, prefaced by Andy's brother Jeff winning a car in October-December 1986 {third sunburst backdrops, post-"walls" backdrop, late-1984 Griffin logo})


 * February-May 1989 (Karen/?/?; clip of the FANCY THAT Bonus Round where Karen says a word that has to be censored by the Pyramid cuckoo)
 * February-June 1989 (? {female}/Paula/? {male}; clip {possibly whole} of Round 4 or 5, no audio)


 * March 24, 1989 (Sue/Susan/Vince; has commercials, including one for Spring Air with Vanna!)
 * [Has the bright blue King World logo on a dark blue background, usually seen on other King World shows such as Jeopardy!]
 * April 18, 1989 (#S-1127: Fred/Fran/Betty, with Pat briefly calling Before & After a new category; taped from WPVI with most commercials, begins at animated logo, no audio until after Pat walks out {and it's pretty low throughout})

NOTE: May 5 is Barbara/Tom/Ed, and Family Week is May 8-12.


 * May 12, 1989 (#S-1155/Family Week, Finale: Ed & Wayne/Alan & Madelyn/Joanne & Pat, with a full credit roll; taped from KCCI, begins at start of sponsor list, tape fuzz throughout but still audible, "Don't be Cruel" special report preview replaces last part of the credits {the station's doing, for whatever reason})
 * May 16, 1989 (#S-1147/College Week, Day 2: Kristi/O.J./Gary, with a rare one-word Phrase; has most commercials {jump-cuts from early in a commercial to just before Pat signs off}, begins shortly before interviews, ends just after the fee plugs begin)

Post-Season 6
Originally created by me for the episodes that contain a bunch of clips, Guint and John (primarily, but I've also chipped in) started adding episodes from various seasons...but then there started getting to be way too many episodes, so we needed sub-subpages.

Seasons 7-12 (1989-95)
The move to CBS Television City and all the new stuff, the $10,000 Wedge debuts, Megaword stinks up the place for 6½ months, Slang stinks up the place for three years, the rise of Friedman, and other notable events:


 * Season 7
 * Seasons 8-11
 * Season 12

Seasons 13-18 (1995-2001)
The show moves to its permanent home at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, the Jackpot debuts, the backdrops become randomized, themed weeks appear every single week, the puzzle board is given an (honestly needed) overhaul, the Wheel's automation is discontinued for good as are the multiple templates, the decision that Merv's music is good enough to keep on Jeopardy! but not Wheel, and more:


 * Season 13
 * Season 14
 * Season 15-18

Seasons 19-26 (2001-09)
The Bonus Round kicks out all not-a-car-or-cash prizes (look ma, no variety!) and changes to the Bonus Wheel, the Mystery Wedges debut, "Happy Wheels" temporarily pays lip service to "Changing Keys", and many other things:


 * Season 19-22
 * Season 23-26

Seasons 27-30 (2009-13)
Far more mis-solves and obviously-bad letter calls than prior seasons, barely-responsive Culver City audiences, nonsensical puzzles (mostly Trip Puzzles), decisions by the staff that give off a general feeling of "We really don't care anymore.", massive(ly-unnecessary) post-production, a half-decent anniversary season, and other stuff:


 * Season 27
 * Season 28
 * Season 29
 * Season 30

Seasons 31-Present (2013-)
The traditional logo returns to primary usage, the Wheel minimum gets upped (but vowels still cost $250), the Bonus Round minimum changes to always match the season number, road shows become a thing of the past, and more...