3 Contestants from April 1 (April Fool's Day) to June 28, 1974 and became 2 Contestants from July 1, 1974 to October 1, 1976 (1 A Returning Champion on the weekday NBC-TV Show & 2 New ones each week on the nighttime syndicated program from September 9, 1974 to September 11, 1977) compete for cash & A New Car. Seated before them in podiums lined up similar to a horse-racetrack "Starting Gate" numbered from "1" to "6" are 6 stars. As Host "The Owner of CELEBRITY SWEEPSTAKES" Jim McKrell reads a question and after which the members of the studio audience select the one celebrity they believe will answer correctly. The 2-3 Contestants bet up to the take of U.S. Dollar Bills of $2, $5 & $10 {Later from $1 to $10} (of their bankroll, initially $20 from 4/1 to 6/28/1974 and increased into $50 from 7/1/1974 to 10/1/1976 on NBC-TV and $100 on Syndicated from 1974 to 1977) on who will believe what they answer correctly in a different way. The odds of a celebrity having the correct answer are determined by the audience odds making machines as being cast the vote for 1 of the 6 celebrities on the air as the 6 celebrities write down the answer to an question with the tip sheet (Meaning, the odds for 1 celebrity might be 1:1 {The Favorite}, while for another celebrity could be 99:1 {The Longshot} though the odds were often misleading nor not as always to be every often.) Once the bets announced by the contestants and the odds are both revealed and shown & As McKrell called the celebrities for their answers in a different way. 1 of the Stars is correct, The Contestants win the money based on their bets and the odds set on the star that he or she is picked {e.g.: $1 X 1 = $1}. Otherwise, 1 of 2-3 Contestants has lost the bet for a wrong answer. On "The Homestretch," contestants can double their bets on 2 Celebrities (if they believed either 1 or 2 of the 6 Celebrities has the right answer). For the Last question called "All or Nothing," 2-3 Contestants were allowed to bet either all or nothing of their bankroll to counting on the odds determined by how 1 of the 6 Celebrities will answer the last question. All contestants keep their winnings; The Champions on the weekday NBC-TV Program and returned the next day (Tomorrow for what's the program's champion comes back). 3-Day Champions wins "The Triple Crown Game" A New Car & Retired Undefeated After 5-Day wins. Bettors must compete before defeated.
—Ben Hallums<benhallums1@hotmail.com>
