1992 - Present
Magic # is a way-cool game played for two prizes. The object of the game is to find a value (the "Magic #") that is somewhere between the prices of the two prizes. The contestant does this by using a lever on a board that raises and lowers the Magic #. The contestant adjusts the Magic # until s/he thinks the Magic # is at a value between the two prizes. If the Magic # is ANYWHERE between the two prizes the contestant wins both prizes.
Magic # is so cool because the sound effect used to indicate an increase or decrease in the Magic # is ... just really cool. It also changes pitch and speed depending on how fast the contestant is moving the lever. The reveal of the game is also cool. Bob first shows the price of the higher-priced prize followed by the lower-priced prize. The price tags used for the reveal are unique to the game and are, well, huge.
The prizes used in Magic # may not be spectacular, but the game is frankly a cinch to win. There is usually about a $1,500 spread between the two prizes, so the contestant doesn't really have much of a challenge. Most losers in this game don't allow the Magic # to get high enough to cover the cost of the first price. The "Range Game" syndrome enters here, as audience members often entice the contestant to stop the Magic # before s/he should.
Doug Davidson really loved this game and invented a bizarre lexicon for the game on his syndicated version. The lever became the "leever" and the Magic # board was called a "geezmo". The reveal on the Davidson version was also different. Instead of having two giant price tags, the game used a three-tiered Double Prices-esque board. The top part contained the price of the lower-priced item, the bottom part contained the price of the higher-priced item, and the middle area was blank and was used to superimpose the Magic #.
Magic # usually works perfectly, but on one occassion in 1997 it got a little out of control. The lever was slightly misadjusted, so once the contestant stopped the lever, the Magic # continued to trickle down one dollar at a time. The game is completely controlled by the contestant so the producers had no recourse to fix the game!
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| Here's Magic #! Isn't this the coolest-looking thing? | And here are two equally, uh, cool prices. A crib and a wine closet! |
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| She's on the move! The further up she pulls that lever, the faster the Magic # will rise! | She wants to stop it at $680... |
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| ...but the audience tells her to go higher! | She finally decides on $1,148 for the Magic #. |
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| Well, that IS lower than the price of the closet, but is it TOO low? | Yep, the crip is $1,576. Her Magic # didn't cover both prizes and she loses. |