User:Daniel Benfield/Dating Game Video Archive

The Dating Game was Chuck Barris' first sold game show, and spawned...well, probably most of the dating shows since. I'm not really into it, but there's a lot around and I figured I might as well give this a shot...

LEGAL STUFF SO I DON'T GET SUED: I'm only linking to these videos, none of which were uploaded by me, for the purposes of research and as a public record. Footage ©1965-74/1978-80 Chuck Barris Productions and associated entities.

ABC Daytime (1965-73)
ABC Daytime: December 20, 1965 - July 6, 1973

The original series. There were three major alterations that can help with dating: whether Jim Lange is wearing an embroidered suit (he stopped sometime in the first half of 1968). whether he's wearing glasses (he started doing so sometime in the second half of 1969), and whether the floor on both sides of the partition is plain (it added daisies in 1971 or '72).

1960s
 * 1966-67 (Game 1: Barbara, with bachelors Howard, John, & Chris; Game 2: Sandy, with bachelors Joe, Shannon, & JOHN RITTER; taped from GSN, Game 2 only)


 * June 26, 1967 (Game 1: Cathy, with bachelors Mark, Kenneth, & Manny; Game 2: unknown; taped from GSN, open and Game 1 only, "shaky-cam" upload)
 * October 2, 1967 (Game 1: unknown; Game 2: Donna Harris, with bachelors Jack, Neil, & Michael; taped from GSN, Game 2 only)


 * February? 1968 (Game 1: Carol Greco, with bachelors Darryl, William, & George. Game 2: Muriel, with bachelors Walter, Barry, & Tom; has commercials, B/W video)
 * [Game 1 prize includes a tour of the Paramount studios and a private screening of the new action-thriller Will Penny (released 2/16/68 in Finland and 4/10 in the US), starring Charleton Heston. Jim (still wearing an embroidered suit) mentions just before the second bachelorette intro that it's a leap year, suggesting February 29.]

Jim stops wearing embroidered suits
 * 1968 (Game 1: unknown; Game 2: Debbie Shelton, with bachelors Patrick, Warren Entner, & Rick Coonce; taped from GSN, open and Game 2 only)


 * May 20, 1969 (Game 1: A light-haired lady selects from three men; Game 2: a dark-haired lady selects from three men; B/W video, no audio)
 * [Jim still does not wear glasses.]

Jim starts wearing glasses
 * 1969 (Game 1: unknown; Game 2: Vicki Lawrence!, with bachelors Tony, Larry, & Richard; taped from GSN, Game 2 only)
 * [Vicki has a new record coming out called "And I'll Go" (released 1969).]


 * 1969-72 (Game 1: unknown; Game 2: Ann B. Davis!, with bachelors Hal, Elloy, & Walter; taped from GSN, Game 2 only)
 * [Ann is promoted as being from The Brady Bunch (aired 9/29/69 to 3/8/74), and Jim's comments suggest the show is pretty new. It's definitely before June '72, since the floor on both sides of the partition is plain.]

1970
 * June 19, 1970 (Game 1: DAVID CASSIDY, with bachelorettes Lori, Linda, & Debra; Game 2: JAN MURRAY (selecting for his daughter}, with three bachelors; open and Game 1 only)
 * ["Celebrating Father's Day." By this point, "pick a bachelorette" games have the choices on multi-step seats, with a yellow heart outline when each is first introduced.]


 * July 1970 (Game 1: Karen Carpenter, with bachelors Paul, James, & Mel {Part 3}; Game 2: Linda, with bachelors Mike, Terry, & Richard Carpenter. Game 1 is pretty awkward {two of the three guys are creepy}, but Game 2 is bad due to Linda's "questions" making no frickin' sense!)
 * [Jim notes that The Carpenters' newest album is Offering (released 10/9/69) and their newest single is "Close to You" (released 5/15/70). After those, their next single was "We've Only Just Begun" (released 8/21/70) and next album was Close to You (released 9/70).]

1971
 * April 1971 (Game 1: Robin, with bachelors Tom, Stan, & Richard; Game 2: Maureen McCormick, with bachelors Everett, Rick, & William; taped from GSN, open and Game 2 only)
 * [Floor on both sides of the partition is still plain.]

1972 (by this point, a flower has been added to the floor on both sides of the partition)
 * 1972 (Game 1: unknown; Game 2: RICHARD DAWSON!, with bachelorettes Pam, Kathy, & Darlene; Game 2 only)
 * 1972 (Game 1: Linda, with bachelors Chris, Greg, & Albie; Game 2: Barry Williams, with bachelorettes Patrice, Monica, & Wendy {Part 2}; taped from GSN, Game 2 only)


 * June 1972 (#72-110: Vicki, with bachelors Jeff, Grant, & Dick; Game 2: MICHAEL JACKSON, with bachelorettes LaTanya, Venus, & Demitra; taped from GSN's Jim Lange tribute marathon, first segment missing {alternate copy of Game 2, from a late-2000s airing)


 * October 31, 1972 (Game 1: LEIF GARRETT, with bachelorettes Linda, Michelle, & Dana; Game 2: VINCENT PRICE! {selecting for Janit Baldwin}, with bachelors Clint, Curt, & Rodney {all alumni players}; taped from GSN, no open, ends just after Game 2)
 * [Leif's most recent credit is the Gunsmoke episode "The Sodbusters" (aired 11/20/72). Janit had recently appeared in Prime Cut (released 6/28/72), and will be in Badlands (released 10/15/73).]

1973
 * March 30, 1973 (Game 1: Louisa Moritz, with bachelors James, Michael, & George; Game 2: RIP TAYLOR, with bachelorettes Elaine, Tina, & Jaye; taped from GSN, "stuttery" pan-and-scan)
 * [Mention is made that Sunday is April Fool's Day.]
 * April 16, 1973 (Game 1: Michelle, with bachelors Earl, Bill, & James; Game 2: Maureen McCormick, with bachelors Steve, Chuck, & John; taped from GSN, open and Game 2 only)

ABC Primetime (1966-70)
ABC Primetime: October 6, 1966 - January 17, 1970

Virtually the same as daytime, just with everyone saying "tonight" or "good evening". The aforementioned suit and glasses alterations also apply here.

1966
 * October 6, 1966 (Premiere: Karen, with bachelors Bill, Charles, & ROBERT VAUGHN; Game 2: SALLY FIELD, with bachelors Dwayne, Mike, & John; taped from GSN)
 * October 13, 1966-Early 1968 (Game 1: unknown; Game 2: DON RICKLES! {selecting for a young lady}, with bachelors Lyn B., Richard, & Lyn W.)
 * [Jim is wearing an embroidered suit.]

1967
 * January 28, 1967 (#4-67: Madonna {not her}, with bachelors Sammy Jackson, TOM SELLECK, & Pete Hammer; Game 2: Patty, with bachelors Bill Dana, Dean LaGraw, & CASEY KASEM; taped from GSN, open and Game 2 only {alternate copy of Game 2, Barris logo shown briefly at the end suggests a 1984 repeat)


 * February 25, 1967 (#8-67: Nancy, with bachelors Greg, Jim, & Brian; Game 2: Susan, with bachelors Chuck, BURT REYNOLDS, & John; taped from GSN)
 * June 17, 1967 (Game 1: unknown; Game 2: GROUCHO MARX! {selecting for his daughter Melinda}, with bachelors Gary, Lou, & Troy; open and Game 2 only)


 * August-September 1967 (Game 1: YVONNE CRAIG, with bachelors Dwayne, Dave, & Charles; Game 2: unknown; Game 1 only)
 * [Jim's comments indicate this is just after Yvonne joined Batman. Game 1 prize is a trip to the official opening of the Cork Film Festival in Cork, Ireland. (Best I can find is 9/20/67.)]
 * October 28, 1967 (#44-67: Donna, with "bachelors" Louis Nye, Sandy Baron, & RICHARD DAWSON {Trick}; Game 2: Steve, with bachelorettes Virginia, Nancy, & Francie {Treat, all three were winners on Dream Girl of '67!}; studio master with timecode, end of Game 2 only)

1968
 * 1968 (Game 1: unknown; Game 2: Debbie, with bachelors Morris, Don, & Robin {Part 2}; Game 2 only)
 * [Jim is not wearing an embroidered suit.]
 * June? 1968 (Game 1: Saundra, with bachelors RICHARD DAWSON!, Shawn, & Bill Bixby; Game 2: unknown; taped from GSN, Game 1 only)
 * [Bixby just completed Speedway (released 6/12/68) for MGM. Jim (not wearing an embroidered suit) mentions that it's Summertime.]

1969
 * March 29, 1969 (#13-69: Farrah Fawcett, with bachelors Lance, Joey, & Paul {goes off the rails after Farrah chooses, with the bachelors getting into a fight!}; Game 2: unknown, involves Marc Copage; taped from GSN, Game 1 only)

The New Dating Game (1973-74)
Syndicated, Weekly: September 10, 1973 - September 1974 (39 episodes)

Only real difference is the addition of "New" to the logos, in blue.


 * October 1, 1973 (#4-N.D.G.-73, taped 8/17): Judy Norton, with bachelors George, Dan, & Michael. Game 2: Ann B. Davis, with bachelors Bill, Dan, & Alan {taped 8/17/73}; studio master with slate and timecode, ends just into Game 2)


 * 1973 (Game 1: Gail, with bachelors Austin, Richard, & Nick; Game 2: DICK CLARK! {selecting for an American Bandstand regular}, with bachelors Bryan, Gary, & Jim; taped from GSN)
 * 1973 (Game 1: unknown; Game 2: PHYLLIS DILLER! {picking for her son}, with bachelorettes Mary, Debbie, & Pam; taped from GSN, Game 2 only)


 * 1973 (Game 1: Suzanne Somers, with bachelors Chuck, B.G., & Paul; Game 2: Ken Norton, with bachelorettes Charlene, Cynthia, & Jan Jan; taped from GSN, partial open and Game 1 only)
 * [Suzanne's credits include Mantrap (1971-73), American Graffiti (released 8/2/73), and the new TV series The Sensuous Man (which may not have sold).]


 * April 29, 1974 (#34-N.D.G.-73: ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, with bachelorettes Elaina, Kay, Melody; Game 2: involves Amanda Jones, but removed by GSN {which did retain the credits, though}; taped from GSN, open and Game 1 only)

Late 1970s (1978-80)
Syndicated, Weekly?: September 4, 1978 - September 1980 (taped through November 28, 1979)

Pretty much the same as before, with some color changes and the logo behind Jim becoming flat.

1978

Red-and-orange backwall, Jim enters the traditional way
 * September? 1978 (Game 1: Sandi, with bachelors Tim, Randy, & Daniel; Game 2: Carl, with bachelorettes E.G., Marilyn, & DJ)

Jim enters from the viewers' left side of the stage
 * 1978 (Game 1: unknown; Game 2: JAYE P. MORGAN!, with bachelors "Biff Nerd" {Tom Neuhoff}, Larry, & Sam; Chuck Barris makes a cameo!; taped from GSN, open and Game 2 only)


 * September 13, 1978 (Game 1: Cheryl, with bachelors RODNEY ALCALA?!, ?, & ?; Game 2: unknown; studio master with timecode, montage of open and Rodney's answers)
 * [Date is likely when this was recorded.]
 * November 21, 1978 (Game 1: Patrice, with bachelors John, George, & ANDY KAUFMAN!; Game 2: Candace, with bachelors Jeff, John, & Lee; taped from GSN)

Unknown entrance
 * 1978 (Game 1: unknown; Game 2: Jackie, with bachelors Frank Verroca, ?, & ?; Game 2 only, video tends to screw up)
 * [Has a blue backwall.]
 * 1978 (Game 1: Katherine, with bachelors ?, Frank Verroca {2nd visit}, & ?; Game 2: unknown; Game 1 and credits only)
 * [Has a solid red backwall.]
 * 1978 (Game 1: unknown; Game 2: RIP TAYLOR, with bachelorettes Sophie, Bertha, & Irene; possible WOR repeat from 1985-86, Game 2 only)

Blue-and-purple backwall
 * 1978 (First 35 seconds, with BOB EUBANKS opening the show!)


 * 1978 (Game 1: Judy, with bachelors Christopher, Lee, & Gregory; Game 2: unknown; begins as Jim walks out, Game 2 missing)
 * 1978 (Game 1: Jennifer Granholm, with bachelors Michael, Steve, & Roger; Game 2: unknown; Game 1 only)
 * [Jennifer later became the Governor of Michigan!]
 * 1978 (Game 1: unknown; Game 2: Mona Lisa, with bachelors Tim, Dave, & Jack; has commercials, begins shortly before bachelorette intro of Game 2)

'Uncertain
 * 197? (Clip of Jackie Fox, with bachelors Mitch, John, & Todd)
 * 1979? (Game 1: unknown; Game 2: Robin, with bachelors Kevin, Sandey Grinn, & Hutt? {all alumni players, with Kevin being on "last season"}; Game 2 only, with Contestant Plug!)
 * 1979? (Game 1: Terri, with bachelors Sandey Grinn, Robert, & Larry {first two are alumni}; Game 2: unknown; ends just after Game 1)

1979-80
 * 1979 (Game 1: Keri, with bachelors Bill T., PEE-WEE HERMAN, & Bill G.; Game 2: Leigh, with bachelors Tommy, Michael, & Rick; taped from GSN, ends after Game 1)
 * 1979 (Clips of Paulette, with bachelors Danny, ?, & Harlan)
 * [A question is about the outcome of the Michelle Marvin case (from what I can tell, the ruling of 4/18/79).]
 * 1979 (Game 1: Monica {who Jim briefly flirts with!}, with bachelors Dave, Darryl, & Steve Allen{?!}; Game 2: unknown; recorded with a Super-8 camera)


 * 1979 (Game 1: Linda, with bachelors BOB SAGET, Tom, & Gary; Game 2: Ingrid, with bachelors Chip, Ernest, & Ronnie; taped from GSN)
 * [Saget, here and on Make Me Laugh, comes across as a nice, sincere guy who feels a bit awkward in social situations like this and makes jokes to ease tension. Also notable: when Linda asks the bachelors to blow a balloon to how large they think her face is, Bob only blows his up a little whereas the other two make theirs large.]
 * 1979 (Game 1: Donna, with bachelors Carl, Chet, & James; Game 2: Kim, with bachelors Michael, Alec, & Walt; 1980s repeat with new promotional consideration plugs, video freezes from 18:12-20:15)


 * November-December 1979 (#A4-79: TERI COPLEY, with bachelors Jim, Joe, & Edward; Game 2: A'lane, with bachelors Jim, George, & David {taped 5/30/79}; taped from KTLA, with commercials)
 * [One promo is for a Levitz five-hour furniture sale tomorrow. Another is a Hickory Farms plug with Santa looking for Christmas gifts.]


 * April 18, 1980 (Game 1: unknown; Game 2: Patty, with bachelors David, Joel Hale{?!}, & Rob {taped 11/28/79}; taped from KTLA with commercials, begins at Game 2, ends during credits)
 * [From the final week of taping.]