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Post by dawsoncombs on Mar 25, 2005 22:45:12 GMT -5
This has probably been asked before, but wasn't Ray Combs' set just Richard Dawson's set w/ a makeover? Or was it an incredible recreation? I read on the GSN boards a few years back that some set pieces were original, some were newley fabricated. On one Combs episode ( circa 1990, during a single round question) I noticed on the left side of the gameboard in the upper left hand corner, there were some nicks and scratches of yellow showing through the blue. Does anyone know if the set/pieces were re-used.
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Post by Todd Robinson on Mar 26, 2005 11:11:43 GMT -5
On the Game Show Forum, there's a thread out there somewhere that talks about this. According to the poster there (I can't find the exact thread), the set was apparently supposed to remain the same from the Dawson era. The set was left outside and exposed to the rain. So since it needed repair anyway, they repainted and changed the color scheme.
I don't know how true this is. Someone else posted it. Apparently, Family Feud isn't the only show that has problems with leaving props out in the rain; The Price is Right leve Penny Ante out in the rain, too.
I'd say that almost everything from the orignal Dawson Feud could have been brought for the Comb's version. The blue light-board and the large rotating board I'd say were definitely brought back. If you look at the last '85 show and the '88 premiere, a lot of the panels flip and bounce almost exactly alike, for example.
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Post by dawsoncombs on Mar 26, 2005 11:48:28 GMT -5
Makes you wonder where that set is sitting now. If it's buried in some L.A. landfill or sitting out in the elements decaying. I think it would be cool to restore and reassemble it and put it in a kind of "First 50 years of Television" museum. Along with sets from other shows/gameshows.
Mr. Goodson must have had the intention of keeping the set for a later date (1988) back in '85.
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Post by TV Favorites on Mar 26, 2005 21:41:00 GMT -5
Actually, the way I heard it was that the set was suppose to remain the same and it was left outside for storage as Todd said. Since the majority of the set was wood, the weather elements warped so much of it (such as the Double and Triple signs that would hang on the board) that they just rebuilt most of it. I'm not sure if the electronic board was left outside as well or not, but by the time Combs Feud premiered, technology allowed a better wire on the board, hence the newer animation. One of my ultimate dreams is to build a life size replica of the Dawson Feud set. Although I'll have to wait till I'm a millionaire and have a big house in order to build something so massive.  |
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Post by Todd Robinson on Mar 26, 2005 22:37:17 GMT -5
If someone were to rebuild the game board, ordering the computerized flip-dot board would probably be easy because it's pretty easy (but expensive) to have a company meet the specifications for you. Both sides with the flip panels, though, would be the real kicker since no one really knows how they worked on the show. So much for that!
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Post by barneyg on Mar 27, 2005 23:10:14 GMT -5
If you look at the gameboard trim carefully from both shows, you WILL see a difference other that the colors. You will also see a difference in the family "picture frames". Anyway, I think the '88 set was a well built, well painted modification of the '76 set.
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Post by Todd Robinson on Mar 28, 2005 6:53:03 GMT -5
Oh yeah, the trim is new. I just think the bulk of the set was carried over, minus a few elements here and there.
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Post by TV Favorites on Mar 28, 2005 8:02:42 GMT -5
Yeah, IIRC, the family doors and big board were original, just painted over. The carpeting and computer board were brand new as were the "Double" and "Triple" signs hanging on the big board during the appropriate rounds. Not sure about the faceoff and family podiums.
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Post by dawsoncombs on Mar 28, 2005 16:32:39 GMT -5
Y Not sure about the faceoff and family podiums. My guess is those were just repainted. The texturing on the fronts of the family podiums looked identicle to Dawson's only repainted grey. The faceoff podium however puzzles me. Combs' faceoff podium had that same rectangle shaped "box" underneath like Dawson's did late in his tenure (1983-85) which makes me think it's the same one only retrofitted with new paint/trim and lights. Come to think of it, I think they recarpeted Dawson's set around that same year, the blue carpet near the last two years (Lollipop trees era) was a brighter, shorter piled more pastel-ish blue and not as long piled/shaggy as the deeper bright blue carpet from '76. Just an observation when comparing the show between 1970's eps and 1983-1985 shows. |
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Post by barneyg on Mar 28, 2005 19:34:26 GMT -5
Combs' faceoff podium had that same rectangle shaped "box" underneath like Dawson's did late in his tenure (1983-85) which makes me think it's the same one only retrofitted with new paint/trim and lights. Come to think of it, I think they recarpeted Dawson's set around that same year, the blue carpet near the last two years (Lollipop trees era) was a brighter, shorter piled more pastel-ish blue and not as long piled/shaggy as the deeper bright blue carpet from '76. Just an observation when comparing the show between 1970's eps and 1983-1985 shows. I thought it was because of newer TV cameras. Dawson's Feud currently (Nov. '78) uses Norelcos, same as used at CBS TVcity from late '60s till early '80s. (NBC used RCA cameras if anybody cares.) As for the faceoff podium. I think they were completely redone. The four squares at the four corners are larger on the Combs podium than Dawson's. BTW, why was the bottom part of the Combs podium filled in in '92 (or '93)? Just for looks, or was there a purpose to it? |
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Post by TV Favorites on Mar 29, 2005 9:58:14 GMT -5
They did recarpet the Feud set in the early 80's probably around 83 or so as mentioned. Richard mentioned on air the new carpeting.
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Post by dawsoncombs on Mar 29, 2005 23:48:16 GMT -5
As for the faceoff podium. I think they were completely redone. The four squares at the four corners are larger on the Combs podium than Dawson's. BTW, why was the bottom part of the Combs podium filled in in '92 (or '93)? Just for looks, or was there a purpose to it? Your probably right about the faceoff podium being re-fabricated. As for the red "filler" under Comb's podium during '92-94, I have no clue why it was there. It looked out of place compared to the family podiums. Maybe some wiring was exposed when they added the stubby microphones during "Challenge". Just a speculation. Probably was just for looks. |
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Post by barneyg on Apr 9, 2005 19:24:16 GMT -5
Dawson's Feud currently (Nov. '78) uses Norelcos, same as used at CBS TVcity from late '60s till early '80s. (NBC used RCA cameras if anybody cares). Tonight on GSN starting at 8pmCST, there will be a FAMILY FEUD "Saturday Night CLASSICS" marathon. If you looked at the promos for this marathon, all of the clips are from 1977. I mention this because GSN might show episodes from '77. Here's a question for all of you... why is the picture quality from '76 terrific, '77 is c**p, and '78 is so-so? |
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Post by dawsoncombs on Apr 10, 2005 11:46:16 GMT -5
Tonight on GSN starting at 8pmCST, there will be a FAMILY FEUD "Saturday Night CLASSICS" marathon. If you looked at the promos for this marathon, all of the clips are from 1977. I mention this because GSN might show episodes from '77. Here's a question for all of you... why is the picture quality from '76 terrific, '77 is c**p, and '78 is so-so? This is pure speculation, probably couldn't be further from the truth. Maybe they just got somewhat complacent (sp?) with the lighting/video tape quality around years 2 and 3 and let it slip a little. I agree the lighting/picture appeared to be better in '76. Even around '81 the set looked darker as was Dawson's disposition at that time. Just my 2 cents worth. |
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Post by Todd Robinson on Apr 10, 2005 15:26:02 GMT -5
I have a feeling it's more all about either one of two things: the cameras used or the way the tapes were stored. If it's not the type of camera being used to record the show, I would speculate that maybe the way some of the tapes were stored caused some damage and decay.
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