What Might've Been: The Money Maze (1974)

For many years, lunch hour was where some network shows went to die.

ABC repeatedly tried various game shows at 12 noon (ET), mostly without success, on weekdays, and had the same issues with affiliate commitments to Saturday afternoon affair leading into American Bandstand for most of the 70's until Weekend Special premiered in 1977, and that particular problem was solved. Weekdays? Not so much.

Today, there is a gap between The View and their afternoon Good Morning America spin-off fronted by Michael Strahan. At the end of 1974, there was The Money Maze.

Cincinnati television personality Nick Clooney (George's dad), whom today's generation might recall more as an on camera host for American Movie Classics (AMC) in its formative years, served as host for the show, which was packaged by Dick Cavett's production company. Money Maze was your standard quiz game where the "end game" had couples going through a giant labryinth in search of prizes.

I don't recall seeing the show as I was in school, so there's no rating. Following is a sample episode from the spring of 1975, commercials included. And the ads also offer some familiar faces and voices, including:

David Doyle (pre-Charlie's Angels) shilling for Purina Tender Vittles cat food.

Mason Adams, long the voice of Smucker's jellies & jams, doing the same for Stove Top stuffing.

Gene Wood (ex-Beat The Clock) playing a salesman for Drano in a supermarket test.

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