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Four years after Jim hung up his game show microphone on Sale of the Century, Jonathan Goodson called Jim and asked him for a favor. Goodson's company was producing a lottery franchise game show that would be sold to individual state lotteries around the country. Goodson needed to produce a pilot episode to show the state lotteries and television station managers. That's where Jim came into play. Although Jim was now retired from television, he and Jonathan Goodson had been friends for years, so he gladly came back to host the pilot episode for the franchise.
Four years after Jim hung up his game show microphone on Sale of the Century, Jonathan Goodson called Jim and asked him for a favor. Goodson's company was producing a lottery franchise game show that would be sold to individual state lotteries around the country. Goodson needed to produce a pilot episode to show the state lotteries and television station managers. That's where Jim came into play. Although Jim was now retired from television, he and Jonathan Goodson had been friends for years, so he gladly came back to host the pilot episode for the franchise.
Similar in structure to The Price Is Right, the show would feature a variety of mini games in each episode. The pilot was titled Lottery Cash Explosion and was taped at CBS Television City on July 18, 1993, on the same stage as The Price Is Right. However, the name Cash Explosion was already being used by the Ohio State Lottery for their weekly television game show, so the 1993 pilot was edited and the name changed to Cash Tornado. The pilot was edited into an 11 minute sales presentation video on April 5, 1994. According to Jim in a 2005 interview, this pilot helped Jonathan Goodson sell the lottery franchise to Illinois, Florida, and Massachusetts. However, Jim was not interested in hosting the show once it sold considering himself retired from television.
Similar in structure to The Price Is Right, the show would feature a variety of mini games in each episode. The pilot was titled Lottery Cash Explosion and was taped at CBS Television City on July 18, 1993, on the same stage as The Price Is Right. However, the name Cash Explosion was already being used by the Ohio State Lottery for their weekly television game show, so the 1993 pilot was edited and the name changed to Cash Tornado. The pilot was edited into an 11 minute sales presentation video on April 5, 1994. According to Jim in a 2005 interview, this pilot helped Jonathan Goodson sell the lottery franchise to Illinois, Florida, and Massachusetts. However, Jim was not interested in hosting the show once it sold considering himself retired from television.
Since the show taped at Studio 33 at CBS Television City, several props from The Price Is Right ended up being used on this pilot. Here are some screenshots to illustrate some of the games used on Cash Tornado:
Since the show taped at Studio 33 at CBS Television City, several props from The Price Is Right ended up being used on this pilot. Here are some screenshots to illustrate some of the games used on Cash Tornado:
Here is a ticket to the pilot taping when the show was called Lottery Cash Explosion.
Here is a ticket to the pilot taping when the show was called Lottery Cash Explosion.
Ticket from the Bob Boden Collection: Click below to see the website where the scan of the ticket can be found: https://www.facebook.com/TVPMM/photos/a.622859004395547.1073741825.137270176287768/622895954391852/
Here is the slate for the sales presentation video for Cash Tornado. This presentation was compiled on April 5, 1994 from footage taped in July 1993.
Here is the slate for the sales presentation video for Cash Tornado. This presentation was compiled on April 5, 1994 from footage taped in July 1993.
The opening title shot of the pilot. This was taped in the same studio as The Price Is Right and even used similar camera shots.
The opening title shot of the pilot. This was taped in the same studio as The Price Is Right and even used similar camera shots.
Here's Jim. The colored lights surrounding him look similar to the lights used on The Price Is Right Primetime Specials from 1986.
Here's Jim. The colored lights surrounding him look similar to the lights used on The Price Is Right Primetime Specials from 1986.
Jim looks happy to be back in action again.
Jim looks happy to be back in action again.
The contestants in the audience are divided into three sections named for lottery scratch-off games: Keno, Winning Hand, and Treasure Hunt. Each contestant wore matching tee shirts with the color of their section.
The contestants in the audience are divided into three sections named for lottery scratch-off games: Keno, Winning Hand, and Treasure Hunt. Each contestant wore matching tee shirts with the color of their section.
Jim spins a wheel to determine which contestants will play.
Jim spins a wheel to determine which contestants will play.
Each player is holding a light that corresponds with positions on the wheel.
Each player is holding a light that corresponds with positions on the wheel.
The wheel selects three contestants at a time. For this round, all players will be chosen from the Treasure Hunt section.
The wheel selects three contestants at a time. For this round, all players will be chosen from the Treasure Hunt section.
The three selected players move to podiums similar to Contestant's Row on The Price Is Right. The contestants play a qualifying round for the right to come on stage and play the next game.
The three selected players move to podiums similar to Contestant's Row on The Price Is Right. The contestants play a qualifying round for the right to come on stage and play the next game.
Roger wins the qualifying round and comes on stage to play "Force Field." Roger is actually Roger Dobkowitz, the long-time producer of The Price Is Right and a long-time Goodson-Todman staff member.
Roger wins the qualifying round and comes on stage to play "Force Field." Roger is actually Roger Dobkowitz, the long-time producer of The Price Is Right and a long-time Goodson-Todman staff member.
Jim shows the board for "Force Field." A yellow pendulum hanging on a line hovers over the board. Each money space has a magnet underneath to attract the pendulum.
Jim shows the board for "Force Field." A yellow pendulum hanging on a line hovers over the board. Each money space has a magnet underneath to attract the pendulum.
Roger pulls the pendulum back and turns it loose to move around over the board.
Roger pulls the pendulum back and turns it loose to move around over the board.
The pendulum floats around the board teasingly moving into all of the various dollar amounts as the magnets attract it. It finally settles on $3,000.
The pendulum floats around the board teasingly moving into all of the various dollar amounts as the magnets attract it. It finally settles on $3,000.
Roger has banked $3,000. Now a Zonk is placed over the $3,000 slot for his second turn. If the magnet lands on the Zonk, Roger loses all of his money.
Roger has banked $3,000. Now a Zonk is placed over the $3,000 slot for his second turn. If the magnet lands on the Zonk, Roger loses all of his money.
Further in the game, we now have two Zonk spaces on the board.
Further in the game, we now have two Zonk spaces on the board.
Now we are up to three Zonks on the board. The $20,000 space has been replaced with $100,000. This is Roger's last turn. He can take his money and quit or risk it all on one final turn.
Now we are up to three Zonks on the board. The $20,000 space has been replaced with $100,000. This is Roger's last turn. He can take his money and quit or risk it all on one final turn.
Roger goes for it and ends up winning $30,000!
Roger goes for it and ends up winning $30,000!
It's time to play another game, so Jim spins the wheel to select a player from a different section of the audience.
It's time to play another game, so Jim spins the wheel to select a player from a different section of the audience.
This time, three players from the Keno section will be selected to play.
This time, three players from the Keno section will be selected to play.
The three Keno players compete in the qualifying round. It looks like they are ready for the next item up for bids. Oh, sorry, wrong show!
The three Keno players compete in the qualifying round. It looks like they are ready for the next item up for bids. Oh, sorry, wrong show!
Bettye wins the right to come on stage.
Bettye wins the right to come on stage.
Bettye's game is "Grand Prix". Three cars (red, yellow, blue, and white) are placed at the starting line. Bettye calls out numbers on a board (numbered 1-16). Behind each number is one of the four colored cars. Each car appears on the board four times. As each car is revealed, it moves forward on the board toward the finish line. The first car to cross the finish line is the winner. Bettye will receive the amount of money connected to that car ($1, $5,000, $15,000, or $100,000).
Bettye's game is "Grand Prix". Three cars (red, yellow, blue, and white) are placed at the starting line. Bettye calls out numbers on a board (numbered 1-16). Behind each number is one of the four colored cars. Each car appears on the board four times. As each car is revealed, it moves forward on the board toward the finish line. The first car to cross the finish line is the winner. Bettye will receive the amount of money connected to that car ($1, $5,000, $15,000, or $100,000).
The third game played is "Free Fall".
The third game played is "Free Fall".
Edna pulls a lever to launch a ball to the top of the "Free Fall" game board.
Edna pulls a lever to launch a ball to the top of the "Free Fall" game board.
The ball drops through a series of pegs and lands in one of eight spaces at the bottom of the board. The object of the game is to drop one ball in each of the eight slots without repeating. Edna receives $5,000 for each time she can land a ball in an empty slot. If a ball lands in a slot already occupied by another ball, Edna receives a strike. Three strikes ends the game.
The ball drops through a series of pegs and lands in one of eight spaces at the bottom of the board. The object of the game is to drop one ball in each of the eight slots without repeating. Edna receives $5,000 for each time she can land a ball in an empty slot. If a ball lands in a slot already occupied by another ball, Edna receives a strike. Three strikes ends the game.
Our three winners play the final round called "Avalanche." To start the round, each player is given $100,000.
Our three winners play the final round called "Avalanche." To start the round, each player is given $100,000.
Jim shows the "avalanche" in the game: a series of balls inside a container. There are 12 rods inserted below the container to hold the balls inside.
Jim shows the "avalanche" in the game: a series of balls inside a container. There are 12 rods inserted below the container to hold the balls inside.
Bettye draws one of 12 numbers from the bag.
Bettye draws one of 12 numbers from the bag.
Bettye draws number 3. She pulls the rod labeled number 3 and hopes that an avalanche of balls is not released. She is lucky and no balls are released.
Bettye draws number 3. She pulls the rod labeled number 3 and hopes that an avalanche of balls is not released. She is lucky and no balls are released.
Edna draws number 9.
Edna draws number 9.
She pulls out the number 9 rod and releases some of the balls. For every ball that is released, the contestant loses $10,000 of their $100,000 stake.
She pulls out the number 9 rod and releases some of the balls. For every ball that is released, the contestant loses $10,000 of their $100,000 stake.
Unfortunately for Edna, she releases ten balls meaning she loses $100,000.
Unfortunately for Edna, she releases ten balls meaning she loses $100,000.
This puts Edna down to zero and out of the game.
This puts Edna down to zero and out of the game.
Later in the game, Bettye is down to $60,000 while Roger only has $20,000.
Later in the game, Bettye is down to $60,000 while Roger only has $20,000.
Roger draws number 1.
Roger draws number 1.
Roger pulls rod number 1. Will he cause an avalanche?
Roger pulls rod number 1. Will he cause an avalanche?
Unfortunately for Roger, he did. He drops four balls which wipe his total down to zero.
Unfortunately for Roger, he did. He drops four balls which wipe his total down to zero.
Bettye is the winner of Cash Tornado with $60,000.
Bettye is the winner of Cash Tornado with $60,000.
Jim signs off by telling the viewers, "thank you, goodbye, and good fortune."
Jim signs off by telling the viewers, "thank you, goodbye, and good fortune."
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