Treasure Hunt

Treasure Hunt was a popular UK game show, based on a French format called La Chasse Au Trésor, and appeared on Channel 4 between 1983 and 1989 and was revived by BBC 2 in 2002 and 2003.

1970s and 1980s version

Another version, produced by Chuck Barris, had nothing to do with the original concept. This version of Treasure Hunt involved women (there were no male contestants) competing to select one of 30 boxes (or 66 boxes in the 1980s version) for a cash jackpot.

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To begin, female members of the studio audience are given balloons. As host Geoff Edwards instructs them to pop the balloon, three of them had stars (only one in the 1980s version, facing a champion), in which the three women then picks three jack in the boxes (with only two women and two surprise boxes in the 1980s version). The one who had the surprise pop up went on to select one of the 30 (or 66) boxes on display. Once the box was chosen, the contestant had the option of taking a cash payoff (anywhere from $500 to $1,000) or keeping the box instead and winning whatever was in the box (which could be a prize package, vacation, automobile, or a worthless prize called a "klunk"...or a check for the top prize).

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The top prize in the 1970s version was a flat $25,000. When the series returned in 1981, there was a jackpot for the grand prize, which began at $20,000 and increased $1,000 each day until won or when the jackpot reached the maximum of $50,000. Four women in the 1980s version won the jackpot ($23,000; $20,000; $50,000 and $21,000). One woman when the jackpot was $46,000 took the cash payoff instead and the check of $46,000 was later revealed, causing her husband, who encouraged his wife to take the sure thing, to walk out of the studio.

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Edwards, who created the phrase klunk (similar to that of zonks on Let's Make A Deal), hosted the 1970s and 1980s version. Security was extremely tight, and no cue cards were used as a result. Edwards, who has acting experience, had to memorize up to 30 skits per episode (66 in the 1980s version) due to the lack of cue cards. No skit was involved when the top prize was won, other than confetti and balloons dropping from the ceiling. On one episode in 1982, a woman won $50,000 and proceeded to bear-hug Edwards and pick him up and down a few times in excitement of winning the jackpot.

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Each day, if the jackpot was not won, the box that had the check was revealed. But before doing so, Edwards would go on a monologue with bonded security agent (in actuality, a studio security guard) named Emil Auturi in an attempt to strike a conversation with him, but to no avail. Eventually, Auturi did speak, only using the words "Yes I did" when Edwards asked Auturi if he knows where the box with the check is.

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One of the more famous models of the 1980s version was Jan Speck.

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Producer Chuck Barris wanted to make Treasure Hunt more sadistic during the 1976-77 season, including a skit in which he would instruct Geoff Edwards to tell a contestant that she won "a brand new... car windshield!". Edwards wanted no part of Barris' deeds and was initially fired, but was brought back soon thereafter. Barris had no involvement in the 1981-82 version, and Edwards stated in recent years he enjoyed this version more than he did with the initial 1973-77 version.

Related Topics:
Chuck Barris - Treasure Hunt

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