Australian
Screen

Clip description

Tony Barber announces that he and the winner Grant are going shopping, and the doors open to reveal a studio set full of prizes. As new champion, Grant could only afford the first prize, a ’zippy little economical’ motor scooter. Barber and co-host Victoria Nicholls tell Grant about the prizes he could win if he returns, including furs and household appliances. Professor Sam Bull, whom Tony introduces to Grant as the man who sets the questions and adjudicates, models another prize – a dining setting.

Curator’s notes

Sponsorship and prizes play a big role in Sale of the Century and the end of every episode is devoted to showing off the merchandise. This is true even of this first episode, when new champion Grant has only earned enough to buy the motor scooter. The potential goods on offer are designed to tempt him to return the next night to keep playing. They’re also an effective form of advertising for viewers at home.

Note that brand names get a prominent mention; in the case of the domestic appliances we see a product shot of the Leonard company logo. The prizes do not just sit by themselves on a podium but are accompanied by models to bring them to life while a detailed voice-over extols their features.

The embedded sexism of the time is also demonstrated here with the images of sexy fur-clad models. Grant is told by Tony 'you may touch the merchandise’ and he strokes the fur coat as he answers questions about his love life. A selection of domestic appliances (fridge, dryer and washing machine) are advertised in the voice-over as being ’the answer to every woman’s dream’.