15 ’80s TV Game Show Prizes That Are No Longer Offered
These old-school game show prizes were once the height of excitement, but today, they would raise more eyebrows than cheers.
- Daisy Montero
- 4 min read
This list rounds up fifteen unforgettable prizes from 1980s TV game shows that you will not see offered today. Back then, winning a VCR or a fur coat felt like hitting the jackpot. Times have changed, and so have the prizes — some just became outdated while others aged poorly. These discontinued offerings are reminders of a very different game show era.
1. Brand-New VHS Players
Priwo at German Wikipedia on Wikimedia Commons
In the 1980s, walking away with a VHS player felt like winning a piece of the future. You could record your favorite shows, rent movies for the weekend, and rewind them again and again. Today, most people would not even know where to find a VHS tape, let alone play one.
2. Ceramic Figurine Collections
Cats Coming on Pexels
Contestants once walked away with entire collections of delicate porcelain cats, horses, or birds. These were considered classy home accents back then, often displayed in china cabinets. Now they feel more like shelf clutter than a cause for celebration.
3. Steak Knives in Velvet Cases
Ramesh Kambattan on Wikimedia Commons
Few things said “premium prize” in the ’80s like a boxed set of steak knives wrapped in velvet. Game shows presented them as luxury essentials for any fancy dinner. However, to modern viewers, it feels more like a last-minute wedding gift than a prize worth buzzing in for.
4. Personal Typewriters
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Before laptops and tablets, getting your own electric typewriter felt like having a private writing studio. Contestants imagined penning novels or typing letters with flair. Today, they are heavy relics of a pre-digital age that most people would never use.
5. Exotic Fur Coats
Libricool (talk) 15:49, 11 October 2010 (UTC) on Wikimedia Commons
Winning a full-length mink coat once symbolized glamour and wealth on game shows. Hosts would hype them up with dramatic reveals and admiring gasps from the audience. Now, ethical concerns and shifting fashion trends have removed fur coats from the prize list.
6. Fancy China Dinnerware Sets
Alejandra Montenegro on Wikimedia Commons
Game shows often awarded full china sets fit for holiday feasts and high-society dinners. They were beautiful but fragile, and storing them required serious cabinet space. These days, most people prefer casual dishes that can go straight into the dishwasher.
7. Tanning Bed Packages
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A home tanning bed or salon pass was once seen as the ticket to a sun-kissed glow all year round. Back then, no one talked about the risks of skin damage or cancer. It is a prize that did not age well as health awareness caught up.
8. Console TV Sets
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These bulky wooden TVs doubled as furniture and entertainment centers, often taking up half a living room. Winning one felt like upgrading your status as a modern household. Now they are outdated relics that barely fit into today’s sleek, wall-mounted world.
9. Year’s Supply of Tab Cola
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A year’s worth of Tab Cola might have sounded refreshing in the ’80s, especially to fans of diet drinks. It was trendy, pink, and proudly low-calorie, even if the taste was polarizing. Today, the brand is discontinued and the idea of winning soda in bulk feels odd.
10. Encyclopedia Sets
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Full encyclopedia sets were once symbols of knowledge and academic ambition. Families would proudly line their bookshelves with these thick volumes, ready to answer school questions or spark curiosity. Now, a quick Google search makes these once-prized books completely unnecessary.
11. Cordless Landline Phones
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Cordless phones brought a sense of freedom — no cords, no limits, just walking around the house while chatting. Game shows made them look futuristic, showing off features like redial buttons and built-in answering machines. Today, most people would not recognize one outside of a retro movie.
12. Home Sauna Kits
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Home saunas sounded luxurious and health-focused when given away on shows like The Price Is Right. Contestants imagined unwinding after a long day, but few thought about the setup, space, or maintenance. Now, these kits often end up unused or resold online.
13. 35mm Cameras
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Before digital cameras, a sleek 35mm film camera was a photographer’s dream. Winning one meant you could finally take professional-looking vacation photos — if you had the film and patience. These cameras are now mostly for hobbyists or nostalgic collectors.
14. Satellite Dish Subscriptions
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Game shows offered satellite dishes and free subscriptions as cutting-edge entertainment solutions. The dish itself was enormous and required rooftop installation, but the channel variety felt endless. Today, streaming services deliver all that and more without the hardware hassle.
15. Glassware Trophy Sets
DanPeony on Wikimedia Commons
Crystal glass sets with fancy etching were once considered peak elegance for entertaining guests. Contestants received them like trophies, even if they rarely got used. Now they are more likely to sit in a box than on a dinner table.