*NEW!* Interviews With Past Contestants
In a brand new section, I'm privileged to share experiences with past game show contestants and their families!
*Disclaimer: On rare occasions, the opportunity to help a past game show contestant or their family by sending them a DVD of their appearance is very important to me. I take the time to search out their episode and make a DVD for them. This does not indicate that I am back into trading. These moments are simply a way of doing something nice for someone. *
October 23, 2020 - Patty & Mark Geiger
This is truly a great story. In late September 2020, I was randomly contacted by a man named Mark Geiger. Mark was telling me that his (now late) wife, Patty, was on the $100,000 Pyramid in early 1986. It took me all of about a second to connect the dots and recall the name "Patty Geiger". In fact, to many long-time game show fans, Patty Geiger is a household name. Patty was one of the best players in all of Pyramid history. It was no surprise that after her stellar gameplay on Pyramid, she would qualify for the $100,000 prize once tournament time came around.
Back when GSN aired the $100,000 Pyramid in its late-afternoon time slot, I'd occasionally record episodes to add to my collection. And most certainly, when tournament time came around. A $100,000 cash prize was quite substantial on a game show in the 80's, so capturing these rare moments were important to us game show collectors. Patty's episode was definitely one for keeps.
The third $100,000 Pyramid tournament week was staffed with celebrities David Graf and Mary Cadorette. Pyramid taped five shows in day, as many other game shows did, and the particular day Patty won the tournament was fueled with extra excitement. According to research, the five shows that aired the week of the tournament were recorded on March 31, 1986--coincidentally, Mary Cardorette's 29th birthday. Mary would be in for a heart-warming surprise when at the last possible opportunity, on the Friday show after game 2, Patty would reach the top of the Pyramid to win the $100,000 prize. After recording almost five shows in one day, with $100,000 on the line, one could only guess just how anxious Dick, David, Mary, the contestants, and everyone watching that day would have been! The episode would air, according to the same source I researched, on Friday May 9, 1986. Patty was crowned the third tournament winner, making her one of the biggest Pyramid winners of all time. (And in case you were wondering, $100,000 in 1986 equates to approximately $237,000 in 2020!)
Patty's husband Mark was seeking the episode that featured her big win, and I was happy to oblige. I had recorded Patty's episode in June 2000, yet thankfully, after 20 years on the shelf, the VHS tape that contained the episode was still intact and the content in decent shape. Mark was very kind in giving me some information on the day she won, and about her life after the show. What follows are Mark's words about that day, then a few answers to questions I had:
Mark Geiger:
"Of course, I will be happy to answer any of your questions regarding that wonderful day in 1986 which was very nerve-wracking day. I will say that everyone connected to the show was wonderful. They kept us advised and were very friendly. DIck, Mary, and David (Patty qualified with him) were all very happy for her. You could just see it in their eyes and body language.
We had two young sons at the time and two more followed. The production staff thought she was one of the best contestants they ever had and they really wanted her to interview of a contestant coordinator position. However, we couldn’t figure it out because our boys were still In diapers.
We used the money to buy a nicer house in the same town we lived in. Unfortunately, in the fall of 1990, Patty was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was a fighter in all things in her life and, at that time being the mom of 4 kids, 7 and under, she fought like hell. There was some notoriety which included testimony in the US Senate, magazine articles and a spot on A Current Affair. She passed away in early 1994 at age 41. She helped bring to light some of the problems with health care.
Her time on Pyramid and her big win were some of the best times of her life. Right up there with our wedding day and the births of our 4 children. It was a life changing experience that I will never forget."
After Mark's initial commentary I had more questions, which he was very gracious to answer:
Me: What made Patty initially interesting auditioning for the Pyramid? Was she a fan of that show, or game shows in general?
Mark Geiger: "She was a huge fan of the show from the time it was first on the mid-70s. We moved to LA in 1979 and when the $100,000 version came on, she decided to try out for it. She enjoyed Jeopardy as well but Pyramid was her favorite by a mile."
Me: How excited was she when she found out she would be on the show, and had the chance to meet Dick Clark, celebrity players, and potentially win over $100,000?
Mark Geiger: "While were [sic] still in Chicago, for a time she was involved in technical aspects of theatre and, to a lesser extent, film. It was not a big deal for her to be around celebrities. While we were still in Chicago we had made acquaintance with a number of folk who became prominent in the movies. For me, not so much used to the show-biz crowd, getting to meet Dick Clark was a big deal. I had watched American Bandstand since the late 50s. We were both pretty excited about the prospect. It was, and still is, a lot of money. We recorded shows and practiced a lot before she went down to Hollywood for the test. She was called into appear in late 85 but didn’t get on the show that day. On the second go-round she did and partnered with David Graf to win in about 36 seconds. She had to sweat it out a few weeks but got the call she had made the tournament and was told to come back in later March."
Me: Do you remember about what Patty’s total winnings were, between her initial appearance and final appearance winning the $100,000 prize?
Mark Geiger: "Yes. Patty won 121,500, a week in Tahiti (which was a great trip), and an air conditioner. We gave that to my brother as we already had central air in our home."
Me: You mentioned it being a nerve-wracking day. From sources I’ve read, a full week of shows were taped in one day, and this tournament week was recorded on March 31, 1986. So Patty must have had to play several games in one day before winning. How focused and determined was she? Do you remember anything between show tapings that day?
Mark Geiger: "Patty was a determined and very intelligent woman. She had 5 other cracks at the Winner’s Circle that week but couldn’t get it done. She was not on the Thursday episode that week so when she got back on Friday I could see that she was not going to let this go on much longer. I don’t recall exactly, but the next taping day wasn’t for a few weeks. She won on the second game of the Friday episode."
"She was allowed two guests and they didn’t want us having contact with the contestants. There was about a 10-15 minute interlude between segments. The celebrities changed clothes backstage. The contestants stayed out front under the eyes of the contestant coordinators."
Me: The airdate, if sources I checked are correct, was Friday May 9, 1986. Were you or Patty permitted to tell your friends and family she had won before the show aired?
Mark Geiger: "Yes. We had to keep it secret but we could imply it to our close family and friends by saying stuff like you’ll really want to watch the show and we won’t have to go back there. They figured it out pretty easily. There was no internet or texting or cell phones at that time so it was pretty easy to keep things under wraps."
Me: Has Patty appeared on other game shows, whether before or after Pyramid?
Mark Geiger: "No other game shows. Never even tried out for own [sic]. The production staff at Bob Stewart loved her and kept in touch with her after the show. They really wanted her to become a contestant coordinator but she didn’t want to put the boys into day care as I was working and she had a home-based typing business and was a stay-at-home mom. If she had wanted to do it, we would have made it work. We lived in a town outside LA called Simi Valley and she could have commuted to Hollywood as she did while she worked putting me through law school from 79-82."
Me: I'm very happy to have helped continue Patty's legacy by recording the shows she appeared on for you and your family. How is Patty best remembered? What legacy did she leave behind?
Mark Geiger: "She was and still is a hero to many. Her willingness to take on a large insurance company helped pave the way for other women to obtain treatment that had previously been denied. In the fall of 1990, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. While 1991 way a good year, in early 1992 we got the very bad news that it had metastasized into her lungs. At that time our kids were 9, 7, 4.5 and 1.5. It was devastating to us on every level. She fought her breast cancer very hard. After our medical insurer denied coverage for her cancer treatment in early 92, as I had a few contacts in the media, we went public. She was seen at all of the major cancer treatment centers in California dn [sic-and] in Houston. She was the cover story on the California Bar Association Magazine. She appeared on The Today Show and there was a segment on the TV show A Current Affair. In June of 1992, she testified before a Senate Committee that was chaired by the late Sen. Ted Kennedy who invited us to his office for lunch. She was on a very strong chemo regimen at that time. We provided info and guidance to other families that were going through what ours went through. We made a lot of noise and when the insurer finally relented to authorize her bone marrow transplant (and those of many others), the window for having the treatment closed. Over the next year, she was provided every experimental procedure available, but unfortunately, in the fall of 1993, the cancer was everywhere and all we could do was keep her comfortable. Her death in January of 1994 was not in vain. Winning on Pyramid was great and she was so very proud of that but I think how bravely she handled her disease and her willingness to publicize her struggle is her real legacy. Patty made a big difference. She was loved and is remembered by all she touched."
"One small detail I remembered. Patty’s mom, Dorothy Main (who actually was from Kansas), appeared on Jeopardy in its early days when Art Fleming was the host and the show was taped in New York. They lived in Chicago at the time and the show would do contestant searches outside of the NYC area from time to time. Patty’s mom was a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis circa 1947. As many educated women of the time, was only able to find work as a school teacher and became a stay at home mom when the kids started coming in 1950. Her Jeopardy appearance was sometime in the late 60’s. I think her mom was only on one show but the family loved crosswords, scrabble, and other word games. A bunch of English majors!"
I want to thank Mark yet again for being so kind and forward with all the information he shared. Fans of Pyramid and other game show aficionados alike now have a great story to enjoy. It was truly an honor to hear from Mark and I wish the best for him and his family. Thank you Mark!
February 2018 - Darrell Linderman
Teen Win, Lose, or Draw was a kids' spinoff of the adult Win, Lose, Or Draw that aired from 1987-1990 on NBC and in syndication. Much like shows such as Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, and The Joker's Wild, Win, Lose, or Draw had such the format that was very easily adaptable to become a kids version. And that's just what Disney did in the spring of 1989. Teen WLOD premiered on April 29, 1989 hosted by Marc Price. For 80's TV trivia buffs, you'll remember Marc as the zany next door neighbor, Skippy, on the sitcom "Family Ties." Marc brought great energy, enthusiasm, and yes, quirkiness to the show. He was like the goofy big brother you and your friends would hang out with in your back yard after school. In terms of longevity, like its parent show, Teen WLOD enjoyed a nice three-season run spanning from 1989-1990 and then again in the fall of 1990-1992.
Not long ago in February 2018, I was contacted by a past contestant from Teen Win Lose or Draw, Darrell Linderman. Teen WLOD wasn't a show I sought out back in the hay-days of trading, but I'm glad to have picked up a small few episodes to have in my collection. Little did I know that years later, I'd be able to help someone out and make a copy of the episode he appeared on. In exchange, Darrell provided the following transcription of his experience...along with some bonus memories from his appearance on Wheel of Fortune! Enjoy!
Darrell Linderman: "I don't have a recollection of the game play itself, such as any of the clues that we had to draw, but here's what I do remember... From the outside of the Disney Channel studios, it looked like an ordinary office building. The stage was small (which is typical, as I found out later from sitting in the audience at TPiR and then again appearing on Wheel) and I remember sitting in the green room with my mom watching another episode being taped. David Faustino was the celebrity on the boys team, and I was hoping that I would not get paired with him because it seemed like he was not as engaged as the other celebrities... he wouldn't shout out random guesses, as though he didn't want to look bad if he was wrong, maybe? So I was relieved when I found out that Chris Young was going to be on our team (even though I had no idea who he was haha). But from watching Full House and Growing Pains, I knew who Candace Cameron and her brother were, so that was cool to be on the same show as her. Marc Price was awesome -- he seemed very genuine, and I liked that (I've always wanted to be a game show host, and that trait seems to be lost on half of them). Family Ties was one of my favorite shows, so being on TV with Skippy was fun."
"Side note: When I was on Wheel, Vanna White stopped in that morning while we were filling out paperwork. She had just arrived, wearing a t-shirt and sweat pants -- Vanna is just as beautiful without all the stage make up! She told us that she's not allowed to visit with contestants, but just popped in to wish us all luck and remind us to breathe and take it all in because "it will be the fastest 30 minutes of your lives." Whereas I never saw Pat Sajak until the taping began, and he was off stage every single break... it seemed as though he really wanted nothing to do with it."
"Added Note: I was broadcasting baseball in an independent league in 2005, and I saw Sajak and invited him to join me in the booth for an inning (he was an investor in the league). The man that I chatted with on air for 20 minutes that day was a completely different persona than the one that I remembered seven years earlier... so I finally stopped considering him a jerk ; )"
"So anyway back to WLoD, the one thing that I do remember from the game play is the general feeling that the girls were getting easy stuff, while we had challenges. I remember telling my friends later that the girls were getting things like "flower" and "tree" and we were getting terms like "nuclear fusion."
"I also remember that the other contestant on my team was disappointed that we didn't win the trip to the water park in Palm Springs, but then I explained to him that our prizes were better! We won a basketball backboard and a boom box stereo. And yes, the girls won an awesome trip... but once it's over, it's over. Our prizes will be enjoyed a long time (and almost 30 years later, my younger brother still has that stereo going in his garage while he works on cars). And wouldn't you know it, my best friend invited me to go with his family to Palm Springs a couple years later, and we went to that water park!"
It was great interviewing Darrell. After all this time, I'm finally getting to share this story and I want to thank Darrell for his time and consideration for this article. Thank you!
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