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Season 1 of Wheel of Fortune aired in first-run from September 19, 1983 through June 29, 1984. Note that while debut dates varied from market to market, Wheel itself lists September 12 as the official debut date.

August 1983[]

  • According to recollections, at least two stations (WJRT in Flint, Michigan and WKBW in Buffalo, New York) debut Wheel this month, the latter on the 22nd.
  • On August 29, four TV stations in Ohio (including WEWS in Cleveland, WKEF in Dayton, and WBNS in Columbus) debut Wheel with a special week of episodes taped at the Ohio State Fair on August 18-19. Outside a handful of black-and-white photos revealed in 2014 and brief mentions in newspaper clippings, very little was known about these episodes until the second one was uploaded to YouTube in June 2024. During these episodes:
    • WBNS anchor Jamie Cochran serves as announcer. He says during the opening, "From the WBNS-10 TV Pavilion at the 1983 Ohio State Fair...", after which the audience does the opening chant and the logo flips on-screen with the words "at the Ohio State Fair" underneath. Jamie then continues, "And now here are your host and hostess for Wheel of Fortune at the Ohio State Fair, Pat Sajak and Vanna White!" "Changing Keys" is used during this opening.
    • Pat Sajak and Vanna White draw the names of each game's contestants out of a box, with a timpani roll sounding during each. Two contestants play from red and blue podiums, each with its own microphone. After a puzzle is solved, two more names are drawn.
    • A vertical Wheel is between the two podiums, with the logo in its center. It is on a white backing with nine light-up rays protruding from the top half and a red flipper at the top. The Wheel itself uses points, ranging from 5 to 100, and a gold dot above the value. It also features Free Spin, Lose a Turn (shown as just "Lose"), and Bankrupt. While the color scheme is otherwise similar to the actual Wheel, the former two spaces are black text on blue.
    • An electronic descending tone sounds instead of the buzzer on wrong letters, the "ding" for right letters is the same one used on The $25,000 Pyramid at the time, and there is no sound effect for Bankrupt. Also, the puzzle-solve cue is used but the puzzle reveal chimes are not.
    • The category appears on the chyron, just like on the actual show.
    • Likely due to the lower point values, vowels are treated identically to consonants instead of being bought.
    • The puzzle board is three rows of ten spaces each, with an outer ring of chase lights somewhat resembling the 1975-81 board. Also, the trilons have only two sides instead of three. Above the board is the same logo used on the daytime version's mid-show bumper.
    • Games are played for points, with the contestant who solves the puzzle also receiving a prize which is described by Jamie before the round begins. A piece of stock music plays under the description. After three rounds, the player with the most points proceeds to the Bonus Round (presumably played identically to the Bonus Round in place on the actual show at this point). At the end of the week, the player with the highest points also wins a trip to Las Vegas.
    • Partway through each round, Pat does a Final Spin, which establishes the point value until the puzzle is solved. From that point onward, the round is played identically to the Speed-Up on the actual show (although strangely, Pat does not mention a five-second time limit).
  • During the second episode:
    • Unusually, Pat wears a short-sleeve shirt.
    • During the intro, Pat mentions that WBNS will begin airing the syndicated version next week.
    • After Jamie reads the copy of the available prize, the music fast-forwards to its end instead of stopping.
    • In Round 1, the D in the puzzle CALVIN COOLIDGE accidentally reveals when contestant Juanita calls V, but this is not commented on.
    • In Round 3:
      • Appropriately, the puzzle is OHIO STATE FAIR.
      • Contestant Shelley only spins once, landing on Bankrupt.
  • As the above week was done specifically for a small number of markets, it is not considered part of the official episode count. However, its existence should still be noted for completeness.
  • Several episodes this season have a contestant call a vowel other than E in the Bonus Round, which appears to be a rarity until the Bonus Round rules are overhauled in Season 6.

September 1983[]

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King World logo - 1983
  • The nighttime Wheel officially debuts on September 19. It plays identically to the NBC daytime version, with Pat and Vanna hosting, Jack Clark as announcer, and only six major differences at this point:
    • There are no returning champions.
    • The prize budget is noticeably higher.
    • Round 2 adds a Prize Wedge to the orange $150 near Lose a Turn.
    • The top value in Round 3 is increased to $5,000, which is on a shiny, silver wedge covering the $2,000 wedge.
    • Following the Merv Griffin Productions logo, Jack adds "Distributed by King World Productions, Inc." The King World logo ("KING WORLD PRODUCTIONS, INC."), using the Eurostile Heavy font, is shown over Pat, Vanna, and the day's winner.
    • Each week is compiled from five taping sessions, and episodes typically air out of sequence due to the "bicycling" method of syndication still in use at this point.
  • For at least the early tapings, the syndicated version airs in six segments with five commercial breaks.
  • On September 19 (#S-1, Jeff/Leslie/Linda, taped July 6):
    • There is no close-up of the $5,000 wedge when Pat announces it as the top value for Round 3.
    • As there is a commercial break during Round 3, the Final Spin chimes do not sound when Pat goes to spin the Wheel coming out of the commercial.
  • On September 20 (#S-2, Kelli/Barry/Pam, also taped July 6):
    • There is no closeup of the Prize wedge when it is mentioned at the start of Round 2.
    • When Pam hits Bankrupt in Round 2, Pat does not ask her to hand over the Prize wedge, nor does he retrieve it himself. He also comments on her still having the Prize when the round returns from commercial. It is not known whether Prizes were initially invulnerable to Bankrupt, or if this was a one-time error. This does not affect the outcome, as Pam does not solve.
    • There are two consolation prize plugs (both of which are pre-recorded ads, with "Changing Keys" continuing to play over them) shown immediately before the car plug, which is itself done before the start of Round 3. As no other known episodes include this, it is unknown whether this was a regular occurrence.
    • The Final Spin chimes sound immediately after Barry spins the Wheel. He is allowed to complete his turn, after which Pat does the Final Spin.
    • "Changing Keys" does not begin to play until several seconds after Jack starts reading the fee plugs.
    • The ticket plug is done between the fee plugs and sponsor list. On at least this episode, it is done over a shot of the audience (itself an extremely rare instance of an audience shot during the show's years in Burbank). The address on this episode is "TICKETS WHEEL OF FORTUNE 3000 W. Alameda Ave. Burbank, CA 91523" on four lines.
    • On at least this episode, the eligibility disclaimer and Pat and Vanna's wardrobe plugs are in yellow.
    • The Merv Griffin Productions graphic omits the "WHEEL OF FORTUNE Is Produced by" portion at the top.
  • On September 23 (Lisa/Bob/Nancy, also taped July 6):
    • No vowels are bought in Rounds 1 or 3.
    • The contestants are shown turning their backs during the commercial outro in Round 2.
    • Six consecutive turns are lost in Round 2.
    • Pat's Final Spin lands on Bankrupt, but against precedent at the time, the slide whistle does not sound.
    • There is a brief pause between Bob solving the Round 3 puzzle BIRTH CERTIFICATE and Pat ruling it correct, possibly due to Bob adding an A before the answer.
  • On still another early taping (Kathy/Janet/Barry):
    DollarSignPrizeWedge
    • Janet had previously played on the October 8, 1980 episode.
    • The Wheel Prize is $500 cash, displayed as five $100 bills in a bird nest (a "nest egg"), and the wedge has a large dollar sign in the same font as other Prize wedges. This is not the least expensive known Prize, as according to one recollection, a $425 camera was offered early in the show's run.
    • After the above plug, the players are shown turning around to face the puzzle board.
    • One of the fee plugs is a pre-recorded ad, although "Changing Keys" continues to play over it. This practice appears in several other episodes this season.
  • On another early taping (Cyn/Susan/Steve):
    • The board malfunctions during Round 2, as on at least two letter calls the trilons do not light up in sync with the dings.
    • The footage for the Bonus Round prize (a boat) is likely edited in, as Vanna is shown modeling it from behind the puzzle board.
    • The bonus puzzle WISH YOU WERE HERE uses all four lines of the puzzle board, one of the few known instances of a bonus puzzle doing so.
  • On yet another early taping (Laura/Lisa/Glenn):
    • The contestants are shown turning their backs during the commercial outro in Round 2.
    • In the final segment, Pat explains how players choose bonus prizes.
  • Shortly into tapings for the season, the top value in Round 1 is increased to $1,000, which is placed over the $100 near $750 (which was previously the top value).
  • On an episode after the $1,000 top value is introduced, but before the trees change (Barbara/Harlene/Kevin):
    • While Pat is still in the middle of the rules spiel, the shot cuts to the puzzle board. The puzzle chimes then sound, to which Pat jokes that there's someone at the door who has a Person (the Round 1 category) for them.
    • The Prize wedge's lettering (SILVER) is much smaller than usual. The smaller lettering continues to appear at least occasionally until early next season.
    • The Round 3 puzzle DYED-IN-THE-WOOL has three hyphens, a likely record for the most punctuation ever revealed on the trilon boards until 1994.
    • Mark Corwin, then the associate director, fills in as director.
  • On another episode from the above timeframe (Bill/Brenda/Valeda):
    • The Prize wedge (VIDEO) uses the smaller lettering.
    • In Round 3, Brenda begins to spin but stops as the Final Spin bells sound. Pat says she did not spin completely, and resets the Wheel before doing the Final Spin.
  • On another episode from the above timeframe (Richard/Claire/Melissa):
    • During Round 1, the buzzer sounds on a correct letter.
    • The Prize wedge (VIDEO) uses the smaller lettering.
    • The players are shown turning their backs during the commercial outro in Round 2.
    • Claire puts $25 on account after Round 2, which she claims in Round 3.
  • On yet another episode from this point (Lou/Cindy/Karen):
    • The Round 3 puzzle THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA is on the second through fourth rows, a practice normally done only if the first word is too long for the top row.
    • Cindy lands on $5,000 three times in a row in Round 3. She then solves for $25,100, buying a total of 12 prizes (including two cars). The resulting prize copy runs for three minutes and twelve seconds.
Bike1000Misplacement
  • On an episode likely from this month, taped August 1983 (Debbie/Luella/Doug):
    • Vanna wears a suit.
    • The Round 1 puzzle DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATH uses all four rows, even though it can fit on two. Even more unusually, the bonus puzzle SEX APPEAL uses only one line.
    • Debbie obtains three Free Spins in Round 1 although none of them are used.
    • The Prize is a $1,919 Kawasaki motorcycle. Instead of being placed on its regular $150 space near Lose A Turn, however, it is placed on the other $150 next to $1,000.
    • Round 3 (ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY) is the longest puzzle.
    • Only Phrase and Thing(s) are used: the former in Rounds 1 and 3, the latter in Round 2 and the Bonus Round.
  • On an episode taped this month (Hariette/Christine/Susie):
    • No vowels are bought in Round 1.
    • The Prize is the same Kawasaki motorcycle offered on Debbie/Luella/Doug.
  • On another episode from around this point (Ruth/Rhonda/Randy), against normal practice, the buzzer sounds on a repeated T in Round 3.

October 1983[]

  • At some point in the early Fall, the on-set trees change from green to brown.
  • On an episode around this point (Linda/Phil/Carole):
    • Against normal practice, the buzzer sounds on a repeated A in Round 1.
    • Pat's Final Spin lands on Bankrupt.
    • Round 1 and the Bonus Round are Event.
    • The camera is positioned at an angle and too far to the right during the Bonus Round.
  • On an episode likely from this point (Theresa/Patti/Scott):
    • One of Scott's prizes in Round 1 is a trip to Hawaii, represented on-set by a fake volcano. As Jack finishes the copy, Pat runs onstage and pretends to put the volcano's "smoke" out with his jacket.
    • The Round 2 Prize is a Bajaj motor scooter.
    • Theresa finishes with $63,493.
  • On an episode with the brown-leaf trees (Ed/Dawn/Ellen, taped in September):
    • Ed solves the Speed-Up puzzle with $16,050. Pat throws to commercial, but is quickly stopped and Ed shops. "Changing Keys" is heard briefly while the situation is resolved.
    • Ed sweeps the game and wins a hot tub in the Bonus Round.
    • Around this point, contestants who win the Bonus Round have their final totals displayed on a chyron (usually in yellow Helvetica text).
  • By the above episode, the syndicated version now airs in five segments with four commercial breaks. Likely in relation to this, all games are now played without a mid-round break. (Daytime continues to have mid-round breaks until at least February 1989, if not the end of the NBC Studios run.)
    • If there is a fourth round, or if the Round 3 shopping portion is in its own segment, the Bonus Round is played in the last segment, generally followed by Pat and Vanna signing off immediately after.
  • On another episode with the brown-leaf trees (Bob/Pearl/Carmen), Jack does not do his "the prices of the prizes..." spiel, possibly due to the available copy being a repeat.
  • As of the above episode, the original King World logo is still in use.
  • On another episode from around the same point (Dan/Gloria/Ola):
    • No vowels are bought in Round 2.
    • Gloria sweeps the game but loses a Mazda in the Bonus Round.
  • By the above episode, the Prize wedge can now be lost to Bankrupt.
Late Season 1 King World Logo

November 1983[]

  • On an episode from the Fall (Becky/Maury/Elaine):
    • None of the puzzles have an A in them.
    • For one of the only known times during the Burbank era, the audience is seen on-camera. This is due to Pat saying "Anybody here from Dallas? I'm just curious" after walking out.
    • During one of Elaine's turns in Round 1, Pat walks over to reattach her mic after it falls off.
    • The promotional plugs (before Round 3) are pre-recorded with "Changing Keys" continuing to play underneath.
    • Elaine sweeps the game and wins a set of bedroom furniture in the Bonus Round. At $1,699, this is very likely the least expensive bonus prize ever offered on the nighttime show.
    • Round 2 and the Bonus Round are Title.
    • Elaine accidentally calls R twice in the Bonus Round, and the second R briefly appears on the chyron.
  • Around this point, the on-set trees become white with lights on them.
  • On an episode with the light-up white trees, but before the Griffin logo changes (Rick/Joan/Cecelia):
    • The Prize wedge uses the smaller lettering.
    • Neither Thing nor Phrase is used.
    • Round 3 is a factually inaccurate answer of ELEMENTARY MY DEAR WATSON (this phrase does not occur in any of the Sherlock Holmes stories).
  • November 15 (Francine/Kim/Paul) is #S-52, taped August 28.
  • Around November 28, the Griffin logo is replaced by a full-color drawing of a griffin against a black background. The griffin blinks, and the company's name is animated with light blue inside; below the Griffin company name is a Califon Productions copyright notice.
    • Most likely at the same time, and definitely by about the end of January, the King World logo is also altered: it now uses a rounder font, similar to Helvetica, with "KING WORLD" larger than "Productions Inc." The new logo is shown over a slowly-spinning Round 1 layout.

December 1983[]

  • On an episode around this point (Diane/Sue/Jeff):
    • Charlie O'Donnell fills in as announcer.
    • Vanna wears a suit.
    • Diane sweps the game and wins a Pontiac Fiero in the Bonus Round.
  • Reruns air during the week of December 26. Repeat airings use a new set of fee plugs and cut away to a gold gradient background listing the replacement sponsors during the normal sponsor crawl.

January 1984[]

  • Kathy Najimy is a contestant sometime this year, between appearances on the nighttime Family Feud (1981) and The $25,000 Pyramid (July 31, 1985). On May 2, 1989, she appears as a guest on The Pat Sajak Show and shows a picture of her Wheel appearance.
  • On an episode from this month (Lloyd/Linda/Debbie):
    • During the opening, Pat sits in the on-stage motorhome and throws a wadded ball of paper out the window, causing Jack to laugh. After the logo appears, Jack introduces him as "And now, here's your litterer, Pat Sajak!"
    • Following the Bonus Round, Vanna spins the Wheel for the first known time. She does so from the host's area, and (with the red contestant arrow, much like the Final Spin) lands on the red $200 next to Lose a Turn.
  • Around this point, the puzzle board's chase light sequence (used when the category is revealed and after the puzzle is solved), which normally goes counterclockwise on the left side and clockwise on the right, is occasionally reversed. As far as is known, episodes used either the original sequence or the reversed one, but never both.
  • On an episode from January or February (Thelma/Sam/Lisa), with the animated Griffin logo and light-up white trees:
    • Pat models the Cadillac in the opening, causing Jack to introduce him as "And now that he's parked, here's your host, Pat Sajak!"
    • The curtain becomes stuck on the right-hand spiral pillar after Pat's entrance, and he successfully pulls the remainder down into place. After Pat introduces Vanna, the curtain does not open and she has to push it apart herself.
    • The hyphen in the Round 1 puzzle MASON-DIXON LINE (itself inexplicably categorized as Thing instead of Place) fails to light up for several seconds.
    • The Round 2 puzzle (BACHELOR'S-BUTTON) is incorrectly hyphenated.
    • There are two sets of repeated categories: Rounds 1 and 2 are Thing, while Round 3 is People and Round 4 is Person.
    • Surprisingly, no vowels are bought in the entire game.
  • On an episode from around this period (Tom/Cindi/Velma):
    • No vowels are bought in Round 1.
    • Neither Bankrupt nor Lose a Turn is hit.
    • Rounds 1, 2, and the Bonus Round are Phrase.
    • In the final segment, Pat and Vanna plug the Arlington Hilton in Arlington, Texas, at which they stayed (apparently during a contestant search).
  • On another episode from around this period (Leanne/David/Becky):
    • The Round 2 puzzle SOMEONE HAS BEEN LYING IN MY BED is on the second through fourth rows, a practice normally done only if the first word is too long for the top row.
    • No vowels are bought in Round 2
  • On an episode taped this month (Fern/Darlene/Michael):
    • The Prize wedge (BIKE) uses the smaller lettering.
    • In a rather rare occurrence, Michael spends all of his money in the Round 3 shopping segment.
    • Mark Corwin fills in as director.

February 1984[]

  • Early this month, the on-set trees are replaced by walls with foliage on them. The walls are altered according to the time of year (with snowflakes and lights in Winter), while the trees continue to appear occasionally.
  • On an episode from after the walls are introduced (Teresa/Mark/Gladys):
    • All three puzzles are very short: Rounds 1 and 3 are only 15 letters, and Round 2 only 10.
    • Even more unusually for this era, the Round 2 puzzle RAY CHARLES uses only one line.
  • On another episode from around this point (Mike/Sonya/Betty):
    • All three puzzles are very short, with Round 3 being the longest at only 16 letters.
    • Pat's Final Spin lands on Bankrupt.
    • GSN's airing of this episode in the 1990s includes the replacement fee plugs.
  • On yet another episode from about this point (Frances/Elaine/Duane), Rounds 1, 3, and the Bonus Round are Phrase.
  • On yet another episode from around this point (Joy/Norm/Ann):
    • The Prize wedge (WATCH) uses the smaller lettering.
    • Ann calls R twice in the Bonus Round, and the second R is displayed briefly before Pat tells her to choose a different letter.
    • GSN's airing of this episode in the 1990s includes the replacement fee plugs.
  • Although the daytime show alters the Griffin logo to use much smaller text in the Peignot font and remove the blinking animation from the Griffin, the nighttime series retains the late-1983 design for the remainder of the season, adopting the new design at the start of Season 2.

March 1984[]

  • On an episode taped sometime this month (Misa/Chloe/Frank):
    • The Wheel spins very slowly during the intro.
    • No vowels are bought in Round 3.
    • In a rather rare occurrence, Chloe spends all of her money in the Round 3 shopping segment.
    • During the final segment, Pat and Vanna discuss unusual names, including Misa (which, despite the spelling, is pronounced "Mischa"). During this, they note that "Vanna" is not short for anything and is not unusual (at this point, Vanna has met four other people with the same name).

April 1984[]

  • On an episode sometime this month (Virginia/Bob/Norma, taped February 14), Virginia wins with $5,000, due entirely to hitting that amount on the very last spin of the game. This also amounts to a win by only $75.
  • On an episode from this month (Chuck/Sonja/Cindy, taped February 23):
    • Pat mentions that the Round 1 puzzle (ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL) is both a Title and a Phrase, although the chyron only shows Title. This is one of only three known instances of Pat stating that a puzzle can fit in more than one category.
    • Chuck puts $63 on account following Round 1; he ends up putting this same $63 on a gift certificate following Round 2.
    • The Prize wedge, a $566 trip to Lake Tahoe, is a rare instance of a Wheel Prize valued at less than $1,000.
    • Chuck sweeps the game and wins a Pontiac Fiero in the Bonus Round.
  • On an episode taped sometime this month (Betty/Debbie/David):
    • The opening graphics do not have their white outlines.
    • During the opening, Pat and Vanna model a motorcycle with sidecar. Pat acts as if they are going around a curve, falling into Vanna's lap in the sidecar. After the logo appears, Jack introduces Pat as "And now, here's your motorcycle friend, Pat Sajak!"
    • Debbie puts $19 on account after Round 1, but loses it to Bankrupt in Round 2.
  • On another episode taped this month (Bill/Jude/MaryAnn), at least two cracks are visible on the gold ring of the red sunburst backdrop.
  • On still another episode taped this month (Mark/Carol/Debi), Rounds 2, 3, and the Bonus Round are Phrase.
  • Reruns air during the week of April 23.

May 1984[]

  • On an episode sometime around this point (Edith/Andrew/Lorraine):
    • There appear to be edits during Edith's and Andrew's interviews.
    • Round 1 (THREE-MILE LIMIT) is categorized as Phrase instead of Thing.
    • No vowels are bought in Rounds 2, 3, or 4.
    • Round 3 (CUCKOO CLOCK) has only three unique consonants and none of the five most common ones.
    • Vanna falls down when stepping down from the puzzle board to congratulate the Bonus Round winner, a moment she has repeatedly cited as her most embarrassing.
  • On an episode from around this time, a contestant only spins once, calling an incorrect letter on $700 in Round 3. Although he later participates in the Speed-Up the following round, none of his letter choices appear in the puzzle.

June 1984[]

  • On June 4 (Mike/Elizabeth/Diane):
    • Round 1 has three hyphens (RING-AROUND-THE-ROSY). This is both misspelled and improperly hyphenated, as it should be "ring around the Rosie".
    • Elizabeth puts $37 on account after Round 1, but loses it to Bankrupt in Round 4.
    • The lettering on the Round 2 Prize (Silver) is vertically compressed.
    • Rounds 1 and 3 are Quotation.
    • Round 4 (MARCH OF DIMES) uses three lines, but the bonus puzzle (AL HIRT) uses only one.
    • The above bonus puzzle is the second shortest confirmed bonus puzzle to be used under the "five consonants and a vowel" rules.

Post-Season[]

  • Among the Summer repeats are Thelma/Sam/Lisa (June), Teresa/Mark/Gladys (July), Frances/Elaine/Duane (August), and Lloyd/Linda/Debbie (August).
    • While Bob/Pearl/Carmen, Tom/Cindi/Velma, and Joy/Norm/Ann are known to have rerun copies circulating, it is not known when they were reshown.
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