User:Daniel Benfield/Catalog Covers

Over time, and especially since late 2014, I've been looking through classic game shows not just because I like watching game shows, but also because I've noticed various catalogs pop up – primarily, during much of the 1970s, Spiegel. I've found that these can really help with dating, especially for syndicated shows, but many times the dates on said covers can be difficult to read, either due to camerawork or the quality of that particular upload.

Still, thanks to Google I've been able to identify all the Spiegel covers I've come across, and hopefully this page will help you if you happen across one of 'em. :) Any additions or corrections are, as always, appreciated.

This page will show you a screencap of a particular cover, the timeframe listed on it, and all the shows I've found that cover in (all specified, when available; for instance, if I list Let's Make A Deal, I'll list the first traders and Big Deal value for each episode I've seen that particular cover in).

All covers are copyrighted to their respective holders.

Spiegel
"The famous Spiegel catalog company, over 50,000 quality items providing value, selection, and savings. Spiegel, Chicago, 6-oh-6-oh-9."

Probably the most recognizable of all the ones on this page. While they're still in business, for whatever reason they seem to have stopped providing prize support for game shows in 1976, with companies like Service Merchandise and Sears appearing in the 1980s.

The catalog was generally published twice a year: Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter. Based on the examples I've found, the former was published in January and the latter in July.

I've been unable to find any catalog covers pre-Fall 1964 or post-1976.

1960s
Fall and Winter 1964

The earliest example I'm aware of, from an unlikely place. (This is the closest the camera gets, and shortly after this point the catalog is flipped to random pages.)

Seen On:

Queen for a Day (1964 Circus Day: Shirley/Claudia/Carol/Roma; many sources I've seen date this show to 1963)

Spring and Summer 1966

Even unsold pilots can have Spiegel turn up! (This is the closest the camera gets, and shortly after this point the catalog is flipped to random pages.)

Seen On:

Crossword (Carolyn Jones/Michael Landon pilot)

Spring and Summer 1969

I chose this example since it's the earliest one I've seen of the now-traditional Spiegel plug display.

Seen On:

Funny You Should Ask!! (3/24/69 {Susan vs. Nick}, 4/69 {Rita vs. Jake})

Let's Make a Deal (daytime: 4/25/69 {begins with Turie/Jim/Dottie, Big Deal is $1,620}, 1969 {begins with Louise/Dave/Sharon, Big Deal is $3,037})

Fall and Winter 1969

Seen On:

The Movie Game (taped 11/14/69 {#80})

1970s
Spring and Summer 1970

Seen On:

It Takes Two (6/8/70 {#307}: Meredith & Gordon MacRae/Pat & Marge Harrington/Gary & Barbara Crosby, Day 4)

Fall and Winter 1970

Seen On:

Let's Make a Deal (nighttime: taped 9/23/70 {begins with Ellen/Dick/Linda, Big Deal is $10,101}, taped 12/1/70 {begins with Mr. & Mrs. Lacey, Big Deal is $10,258})

Fall and Winter 1971

Seen On:

Let's Make a Deal (nighttime: taped 7/29/71 {begins with Ida/Bernard/Mercedes, Big Deal is $8,582}; begins with Connie/Jocelyn/Mary {Big Deal is $9,064}; episode with an $8,909 Big Deal)

Fall and Winter 1972

By far, the one I've found most often.

Seen On:

The Hollywood Squares (nighttime: Karen/Ken {taped 10/72}, Gladys/Greg, Martha/Don)

Let's Make a Deal (nighttime: begins with Jeanie/Wes/Doris {Big Deal is $10,301}; begins with Donna/Kris {Big Deal is $9,260}; begins with Roger/Joyce/Pat {Big Deal is $9,143}; begins with Pat/Jewel {Big Deal is $10,786}; begins with Dorothy {Big Deal is $10,648})

The New Price is Right (daytime: 9/4/72 {#0011D}, 9/5/72 {#0012D}, 9/6/72 {#0013D-R}, 9/7/72 {#0014D}, 9/8/72 {#0015D}, 9/28/72 {#0044D}, 11/6/72 {#0101D}, 12/8/72 {#0145D}; nighttime: #006N {taped 9/4/72})

Spring and Summer 1973

Seen On:

The Dating Game (ABC)

The (New) Price is Right (daytime: 1/22/73 {#0211D}, 1/25/73 {#0214D}, 1/29/73 {#0221D}, 2/14/73 {#0243D}, 4/9/73 {#0321D}, 5/8/73 {#0362D}, 7/13/73 {#0455D}, 7/19/73 {#0464D})

Three on a Match (3/15/73)

Fall and Winter 1973

Proof that just because a catalog shows 1973 doesn't necessarily mean the episode aired in '73.

Seen On:

Let's Make a Deal (nighttime: begins with Jeff/Kathy {Big Deal is $9,247})

The Price is Right (daytime: 10/5/73 {#0575D}, 11/14/73 {#0633D})

Three on a Match (12/17/73 {#587}, 2/6/74, 2/7/74)

Spring and Summer 1974

Seen On:

Celebrity Sweepstakes (Pilot #2 {taped 1/21/74; Sandi/Cy/Jackie})

Dealer's Choice (Hastings: Liz/Dick/Linda {has a 1973 copyright date}; Clark/Vegas era: Janet/Mel/Terry)

The Price is Right (daytime: 5/28/74 {#0912D}, 5/29/74 {#0913D}, 7/12/74 {#0975D})

Three on a Match (2/8/74, 2/11/74, 2/12/74)

Fall and Winter 1974

Seen On:

Let's Make a Deal (nighttime: begins with Linda/Earl/Darlene {Big Deal is $9,057})

The Price is Right (daytime: 8/15/74 {#1024D})

Spring and Summer 1975

The "Super Star Values" cover, sometimes with a pale yellow star covering most of said words.

Seen On:

Dealer's Choice (Clark/Burbank era: Marilyn/Carolyn/Kate {show #301})

High Rollers (7/4/75 {has the yellow star})

The Hollywood Squares (nighttime: Jane/Bruce {has the yellow star})

Let's Make a Deal (nighttime)

Fall and Winter 1975

I chose this one because Dennis James Price doesn't get enough love. :)

Seen On:

The Hollywood Squares (nighttime: Bill/Judy, LeRoy/Sheila)

Let's Make a Deal (nighttime: taped 11/29/75 {begins with Ruth/Irma/Troy, Big Deal is $9,923})

The Price is Right (nighttime: #122N {taped 7/21/75})

Spring and Summer 1976

I gotta admit, I was surprised when I saw this turn up on Wheel. :)

Seen On:

The Hollywood Squares (nighttime: Harriet/Alan, Jody/Tom, Vicki/John, Cis?/Auburn)

Let's Make a Deal (nighttime: taped 5/4/76 {begins with Dave & Jay, Big Deal is $9,665})

Wheel of Fortune (1/19?/76 {All-Star Dream Machine, Day 1})

Fall and Winter 1976

For the longest time, the Spring/Summer '76 cover was the latest one I could find...and then this showed up in an unlikely place.

Seen On:

Hot Seat (Fred & Debbie/Jeff & Susan)

Aldens
1973 Spring and Summer Book of Big Ideas

Seen On:

Let's Make a Deal (nighttime: episode where someone traded in 59 cents for a shot at the Big Deal {$8,757})

Lillian Vernon
1977

Seen On:

The Hollywood Squares (nighttime: Lolly/Don)

Montgomery Ward
Fall and Winter 1973

Seen On:

Match Game (daytime: 11/12/73 {#0086})

The Early Christmas Shopper's Book of Values (1975)

Sorry for the Game Show Temple watermark and YouTube tracking "dot". This was the only copy of this episode on YouTube, and it's since disappeared.

Seen On:

Let's Make a Deal (nighttime)

Yield House
1971

Seen On:

Beat the Clock (George & Audrey/Howard & Ruth {Special Guest: Tom Kennedy})