| Host | |
| Adam Wade | |
| Announcer | |
| Chet Gould (pilot) Pat Hernon (series) | |
| Broadcast | |
 CBS Daytime: 6/16/1975 – 10/31/1975 | |
| Packagers | |
| Don Kirshner-Jerome Schnur Productions | |
"This is an article for the 1975 version. For the equally short-lived 1955 version, see Musical Chairs (1)"
"Pull up a chair and play along with our three Musical Chairs challengers (insert the names of the first three contestants) a (insert occupations) from (insert their towns and capitals) and our returning champion (insert name) a (insert occupation) from (insert town and capital) who's already won (insert amount) on the musical variety game show, Musical Chairs, with Derek Smith and the Musical Chairs Orchestra, and spotlighting our special guests for this week, (insert the three musical guests)! And here's the host of Musical Chairs, our Musical Chairman, Adam Wade!"
This version of Musical Chairs was a short-lived daytime game show produced by Don Kirschner and Jerome Schnur in 1975 for CBS.
Gameplay[]
Four contestants competed in three rounds. In each round, either host Wade or a guest vocalist performed a song. When the song stopped, Wade asked the contestants which of three choices was the next line of the song. Sometimes there would be a regular question attached to the song.
For the first question of each round, the first three players that rang in with correct answers (their lecterns would light up in front with numbers 1-4 indicating the order in which the players locked in their answers and then the letters A, B, or C, corresponding to their answers) received money. For the second question, the first two players that answered correctly received money, and for the third question, the first player that answered correctly won money. Each game consisted of three $50 questions, followed by three $75 questions, and finally three $100 questions. The third round was also when the low-scoring player was eliminated after each question by having his "chair" (and desk) removed from the game via a breakaway wall (which would be used later on MTV’s Remote Control).
In the final weeks of the show, the rules were altered to have each round use a $50 question, a $75 question, and a $100 question. The rules of being the "first three", "first two", and "first" were now used for Rounds 1, 2, and 3 respectively, as the low-scoring player was now eliminated after each of the first two rounds.
In any case, the player with the most money after the final round won the game.
In either format, round three had special rules regarding how to win the game: if the leader rang in first and answered correctly on the third question, the game ended and he/she became the day's champion. If not, another song was played for $100. The game would then continue in this manner until the leader answered one more question or the opponent answered enough questions to overtake the leader.
Bonus Round[]
During the first two weeks, the winner chose one of three categories; then, after hearing one line of a song, must sing the next line. Each correct line was worth $50, and correctly guessing all ten lines in 60 seconds won $1,000. The player may pass if need so and return to that song, time permitting.
From June 30 to late August, the end game was replaced by having the winning contestant's total winnings doubled.
The last week of August introduced a new bonus game. The champion chose one of three categories, heard the melody of a song, and then had to arrange ten lyrics from that song in order on a board within 30 seconds, starting with the first part and finishing with the last part. The payoff was $100 per correct placement, with the champion winning $2,000 if all ten parts were correctly slotted.
Trivia[]
Singer Adam Wade was the first African-American to host a game show. He paved the way for many Black game show hosts to follow.
This was the first game show that had a unique way of eliminating contestants by using a breakaway wall, 12 year later, the second to do that was Remote Control in 1987.
According to an interview, Adam met his future wife Jeree on the set of this show as the two of them often performed together. 14 years later, they tied the knot in 1989 until his death in 2022.
Music[]
Derek Smith and the Musical Chairs Orchestra
Theme Lyrics[]
Sung by Adam Wade
Let's play a game of Musical Chairs
And hear some of our favorite songs
From today and yesterday.
Let's see if we can remember the words
To all our favorite songs
And when the music stops
And they give you a choice
Is it A: I love you!
B: I need you!
C: Will you meet me after the show?
Let's play a game of Musical Chairs
And give yourselves a round of applause!
Studio[]
CBS Broadcast Center, New York City, NY (pilot)
Ed Sullivan Theater, New York City, NY (series)
Rating[]
Tickets[]
.png "Musical Charis (September 04, 1975).png (724 KB)")
Episode Status[]
Because of the immense use of licensed music and several sudden format changes during gameplay, it is very difficult to find episodes of Musical Chairs (1975). However, many episodes have been discovered and are available on the YouTube page below.
Links[]
Musical Chairs @ Game Shows '75
YouTube Videos[]
- All episodes have the original commercials.
- A full episode from September 11 (Carole/Steve/Ronnie/Gerri; Special Guests: Irene Cara, Mary Stuart, The Spinners)
- YouTube Channel