| Host | |
| Bob Eubanks | |
| Hostess | |
| Jane Nelson | |
| Announcer | |
| Jim Thompson | |
| Broadcast | |
 Syndication (Daily): 1/6/1975 – 7/4/1975 (reruns aired until 9/1975) | |
| Packager | |
| Fishman-Freer Productions | |
| Distributor | |
| Columbia Pictures Television | |
"And now, from the Travel Crossroads of the World in beautiful Hawaii, it's The Diamond Head Game, starring Bob Eubanks!"
The Diamond Head Game was a short-lived game show which took place on the foot of Diamond Head in Hawaii.
Gameplay[]
Format #1[]
Front Game[]
The audience was divided into four sections, each representing "one of the islands of Hawaii." Two contestants were selected from each section at a time to compete in a head-to-head match. Eubanks read a general-knowledge question (either multiple choice or "true/false"), and the first to buzz in had the chance to answer. A correct answer was worth one point, while an incorrect response or failing to provide a guess in time automatically gave the point to the opponent. The first contestant to earn two points won a prize and advanced to the next round. The process repeated until all four contestants ("representatives" from each "island") were determined.
In the second round, each of the contestants stood at the base of Diamond Head (a three-step podium). Eubanks announced a category and 12 answers that fit. The contestants alternated giving responses, having to do so from memory. At any time, if a contestant gave a incorrect response, repeated an answer or failed to answer in time, he/she was eliminated; the remaining contestants won $50 and "climbed up" one step of Diamond Head. In the rare event that all 12 responses were given correctly, everyone collected $50 and a new question was played. The process repeated on the second step, with the two surviving contestants winning $100 each. (Again, if the list was completed, all three players earned $100 and a new list was played.) The final level awarded no extra money (even if the list was successfully completed), but did determine which player advanced to the Money Volcano bonus round. All players kept the money and prizes they earned previously.
Money Volcano[]
The show's "Diamond Head Money Volcano" was a glass air chamber with a large fan in the bottom that blew around a supply of real dollar bills and "prize bills" (faux bills with prize names on them rather than money amounts). Among the cash dollar amounts in the Money Volcano were $50 bills (the minimum amount except for the $1 bills), $100 & $500 bills, one $1,000 bill, one $5,000 bill and one $10,000 bill (these last three were usually given to the player, who would drop them in the chamber before the fan was started). At the beginning of the show, Eubanks would note that there was over $100,000 in cash and prizes in the Money Volcano.
The contestant was given 15 seconds to grab as many of these bills as possible and place them within a "treasure pouch" placed around his/her waist. (Bills could not be held against the body and retrieved or picked up from the bottom of the chamber; they must have been caught in mid air.) Once the player dropped the three large bills, the remaining "money" would be dropped from the top of the chamber and the fan started. After a few seconds, Bob would say "Ready...GO!" and the 15 second timer began. Bob would also give the player a warning when only five seconds remained. When time expired, a bell rang several times and any bills in the player's hands had to be dropped. The player was escorted out of the chamber and Jane would retrieve the pouch from the player and give it to Bob.
Eubanks then pulled out up to 10 bills. The contestant had the option of stopping at any time and keeping what had been won to that point, since at any time if Eubanks revealed a $1 bill (of which there were several in the chamber), everything was lost, and the game would be over. Eubanks also offered a buyout prize in exchange for any soon-to-be-revealed cash and/or prizes.
Format #2[]
Beginning on April 7, 1975 the format was changed for the last 13 weeks.
Front Game[]
Two teams of three contestants competed in three question-and-answer rounds. In each round, a category was announced, along with five possible answers. A question was asked, and players tried to pick the answer that matched it. Any player could buzz in, and a correct answer earned a team points, while an incorrect answer or failure to respond allowed the opposing team to answer. Correct answers were worth 10 points in Round 1, 20 points in Round 2, and 30 points in Round 3.
The team with the most points after three rounds moved on to the fourth round, where they competed as individuals. The round was played much like the second round of the previous format, except that an incorrect/repeat answer or failure to respond penalized the player with a strike; two strikes eliminated that contestant. The winner received a prize and advanced to the "Money Volcano" bonus round.
Money Volcano[]
The first half of the game was played as before. However, Eubanks drew a maximum of only five bills, and offered opportunities for the contestant to quit and keep their current winnings, or trade for one of five bonus envelopes. Three of the envelopes concealed $100, another $5,000 and the fifth a grand prize. As before, the penalty for having a $1 bill drawn meant the contestant won nothing, and the game would be over.
Merchandise[]
A Board Game featuring Bob Eubanks and Jane Nelson on the cover was Manufactured by Gamut of Games in 1975. The gameplay was highly revised for home play and only peripherally follows either of the above rulesets.
Trade Ads[]
Music[]
"Diamond Head" by Alan Thicke
Taping Location[]
Kuilima Hotel, Oahu
Rating[]
Trivia[]
On the same day The Diamond Head Game debuted in syndication, two new game shows debuted on NBC: Blank Check and Wheel of Fortune (Woolery & Stafford). Check was cancelled at the same time as Diamond Head, while Wheel stayed on.
Some parts of the intro were later recycled in the intros to "Young People's Week" on Card Sharks in the late 1980s, which was also hosted by Eubanks, and in syndication, Bill Rafferty.
This was the first game show to use a money blowing machine, 27 years later, the second to use it was the short-lived revival of Beat the Clock hosted by Gary Kroeger nicknamed as "The swirling Whirlwind of Cash and Prizes" in 2002.
Hostess Jane Nelson also co-hosted Dealer's Choice, which was ALSO turned into a home game (titled "Place Your Bets") by Gamut of Games.
Stations[]
- New York - WNBC-TV
- Los Angeles - KNBC-TV
- Chicago - WFLD-TV
- Washington - WRC-TV
- Cleveland - WKYC-TV
- San Francisco - KPIX
- Philadelphia - KYW-TV
- Boston - WBZ-TV
- Pittsburgh - KDKA-TV
- Miami - WTVJ
- Cincinnati - WKRC-TV
- Atlanta - WTCG-TV (now WPCH-TV)
- Honolulu - KGMB-TV
- Indianapolis - WTTV
- Albany - WTEN-TV
- Phoenix - KTAR-TV (now KPNX)
- New Bedford-Providence - WTEV (now WLNE-TV)
- Sioux City - KCAU-TV
- Johnson City-Bristol-Kingsport - WJHL-TV
- Bellingham-Seattle - KVOS-TV
- Spartanburg - WSPA-TV
Additional Page[]
The Diamond Head Game/Video Gallery
Links[]
Rules for The Diamond Head Game
The Diamond Head Game @ Game Show Garbage
YouTube Videos[]
Intro to The Diamond Head Game
A full episode of the show
Bob Eubanks comments on the making of The Diamond Head Game in a Television Academy interview