Contestants chose whether to play for the offered prizes on view – such as dresses and oil paintings – or take a stab at “The Money Machine,” which could win them up to $10,000. One unfortunate woman on the debut episode won a measly two cents from the machine, for example, after being offered a prize worth $239.
On the same show, a competitor turned down a $65 prize and collected $650 instead.
Home viewers had the advantage of seeing the hidden amount on “The Money Machine” on screen, and the show had a gimmick of calling people at home to ask if they knew what that amount was, with a correct answer winning a prize.
The Money Machine could win a contestant anything up to $2,500, depending on where the decimal point landed.
Unfortunately, CBS believed the machine was rigged and removed the show from their lineup over producer Walt Framer’s protestations.
On the same show, a competitor turned down a $65 prize and collected $650 instead.
