"Winning a game show is great, but seeing pictures of a game show is fun. You're about to see the following pictures of a show where contestants can win a ton!"
"You love watching two contestants do battle on television, with two rows of five playing cards as they race. But seeing these memorable pics of each incarnation, will sure put a smile on your face, INNNN...the Card Sharks Gallery!"
The original version of the closing logo from 1978. The original copyright holder is Suzanne Productions and Roman numerals are used for the copyright date.
The copyright holder was later changed to MG Productions (MG for Mark Goodson) and stayed the same until the NBC version went off the air on October 23, 1981, although some episodes started using numbers for the copyright date at that point.
The 1979 version with Roman numerals for the copyright date.
The 1980 version with numbers for the copyright date.
The 1980 version with Roman numerals for the copyright date.
The credits and closing logo were done in gold on some other episodes. Here's a version with numbers for the copyright date in 1981.
The 1981 version with Roman numerals for the copyright date, from the NBC series finale.
1986-1989: CBS daytime version[]
The copyright holder is now The Card Sharks Company. From January 6, 1986 until early 1987, the closing logo originally had no color. An early variant is seen on episodes taped before 1986, complete with a copyright date of 1985. This version also appeared for the entirety of the nighttime syndicated version's run.
The original logo with the 1986 copyright date.
The 1987 version of the original closing logo.
Beginning later in 1987 and continuing until the CBS version left the air on March 31, 1989, the logo is colorized. The cards spelling out the word CARD are red, while the cards spelling out the word SHARKS are blue.
The 1988 version of the later closing logo.
The 1989 version from a month before the CBS version went off the air.
The 1989 version from the series finale, over a shot of Bob Eubanks.
1986-1987: Syndicated version[]
Artworks[]
Card Backs[]
This is the red deck. The champion plays these cards.
This is the blue deck. The challenger plays these cards.
This is the red deck. The champion plays these cards. This was taken from a deck that was found on eBay, and as you can see, has the 1978 logo embossed on it.
This is the blue deck. The challenger plays these cards. This was taken from a deck that was found on eBay, and as you can see, has the 1978 logo embossed on it.
Ace of spades with CS logo
1978-1981 Era[]
Opening graphic.
NBC Perry set.
Here are the front game podiums. Remember, the arrow points up if the other player says "higher" (as seen here), and points down if they say "lower".
Card Sharks Hi and Low questions Based on Jim Perry The NBC version With Bicycle Cards version.
Above each contestant's row of cards was a moving bracket bearing the contestant's name which would mark one of the cards as the "base card". Each contestant's base card was the first card in the row of five. The winner of the question could choose to either play and keeping his/her base card, or have it replaced with another card from the top of the deck. The contestant then guessed whether the next (face-down) card in the row was "higher" or "lower"; if correct, he or she could continue to guess the next card after that and so on (if both cards were the same, the guess counted as incorrect). On an incorrect guess, the contestant loses his/her progress and returns to the base card with the other revealed cards being discarded and replaced by new face-down cards before the next question in the round. In this event, the opponent received a free chance to play his/her own row of cards but could not change the base card. Contestants could also choose to "freeze", thus making the last revealed card the new base card and preventing the opponent from receiving a free chance. Seen here are the placeholders for the prize cards, but they weren't used until the Rafferty version that lasted from 1986-1987.
The winner of the main game played the Money Cards bonus game for a chance to win additional money. The Money Cards board consisted of seven cards on three rows; three cards were dealt on the bottom two rows, and one card was dealt on the top row. On the NBC version, the winner's first base card to begin the bonus game was dealt from the deck after the seven cards were placed. In the pilot, Jim took the top card himself, while in the series, the dealer gave it to Jim.
Money Cards the scoreboard
busts originally registered as $0 on the scoreboard.
had Money Cards the scoreboard displaying the word BUST.
Card Sharks the only contestant to max out in the Money Cards Win $28,800 Jim Perry version.
$32,000 win in the downloadable game, combining elements of the Perry and Eubanks eras, and using the red cards for the champion. The link to the download is here.
Here's what you don't want: a BUST, and this one occurred before the Big Bet. Not only that, a BUST occurred on the second card at the bottom level. This picture uses the blue cards for the challenger-turned-champion.
A $32,000 win with the blue cards for the challenger-turned-champion.
1986-1989 Era[]
Eubanks/Rafferty set
$32,000 win with red cards for the champion in the online Flash game.
$16,000 and the Ace of Spades for the Big Bet. At this point you know what the bet will be and how the next card will be (another Ace in this case would've been a push).
$32,000 win with red cards for the champion. Even better, no cards changed!
$32,000 win with blue cards for the challenger-turned-champion. Even better, no cards changed!
Joker card used in the car/Hawaii prize game after the Money Cards.
Trade Ads[]
1978-1981 Era[]
1986-1989 Era[]
Other Pictures[]
1978-1981 Era[]
That's Jim Perry holding up the Ace of Hearts from a regular deck of Bicycle Playing Cards, the model which would inspire the backs of the decks used on the show.
1986-1989 Era[]
The first half of the 1986 CBS & Syndicated intro featuring postage stamp face cards. Again, that Ace of Spades is a little bit out of place (it needs to be BIG).
Other CS'86 Pics[]
It's Young People's Week! It's their turn to win cash and prizes on...
Card Sharks!
And if they play their cards right, they could also win a trip to Hawaii and the chance to take home up to $32,000 in cash!
Tickets[]
Card Close-Ups[]
Rafferty Version Prize Cards[]
Cards from the set[]
Face Cards (1978 & 1986 eras & G$M era)[]
Prize Cards Designs (1986 era only)[]
Generic Prize Cards (See Prize Card Close ups on this page for prizes)
Generic Cash Card (For cash amounts see the Prize Card close ups on this page)
The Car Game's dreaded NO card.
Car Card
The Win card.
Hawaii Card
Winning Graphics[]
2000/2001 Trade Ads[]
2000 (Pilot)[]
At least the 2000 pilot used postage stamp face cards of their own.
2001-2002 Era[]
Related Pics[]
Face Cards[]
CS King of Spades 2001 (A modified version of the Good Ol' King of Diamonds from the original runs)
CS Queen of Spades 2001 (UGLY UGLY UGLY)
CS Jack of Spades 2001 (Ax isstill a no no)
CS King of Clubs 2001 (This one is using that good ol' King of Diamonds design).
CS Queen of Clubs 2001 (UGLY UGLY UGLY)
CS Jack of Clubs 2001 (No No for the ax)
CS King of Diamonds 2001 (With the Good Ol' design)
CS Queen of Diamonds 2001 (UGLY UGLY UGLY)
CS Jack of Diamonds 2001 (LOSE THAT AX FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!)
CS King of Hearts 2001 (Now with the Good Ol' King of Diamonds design)
CS Queen of Hearts 2001 (UGLY UGLY UGLY)
CS Jack of Hearts 2001 (Hey! He can keep his ax)
Additional Logos[]
2006 G$M Era[]
2019-2021 McHale Era[]
Here's lady dealer Alexis Gaube with the Money Chips