Author Topic: Ezekiel, Jebediah and Bob: A (Fictionalized) History of the Barker Clan  (Read 7719 times)

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Offline Teddy

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As a tribute to Drew's "named after the founder of our show" spiel in the now-retired Barker's Bargain Bar game, I thought it would be fun to do a mock research of the Barker family tree.

Ezekiel Barker--Bob's great-grandfather; of course, he's famous for being the founder of the show back in 1872!
Jebediah Barker--Ezekiel's brother and Bob's great-uncle
Frank Barker--Bob's half-brother; he once worked with Bill Cullen on the old TPIR, and nominated Bob for the hosting position in 1972 because he secretly hated Dennis James (which is perhaps why Drew mentioned him for that one time only)
Geronimo Barker--Son of Ezekiel, and Bob's grandfather (I just came up with it)
Michael Barker--Bob's nephew; he idolizes his uncle so much that when he hosts mock episodes of TPIR, he imitates Bob to the letter (another creation of mine)

And that's just for starters. If you had to write a report on Bob's relatives/ancestors, what would you include in the report? Creativity is important. You can make up any name you wish, and include a brief, detailed summary of that person's life, but you must include the last name Barker and their relationship to Bob. And now, let's hear something interesting about the Barker clan!

Offline dh027

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Re: Ezekiel, Jebediah and Bob: A (Fictionalized) History of the Barker Clan
« Reply #1 on: December 05, 2008, 11:32:01 PM »
Here's what I found in my research:

Ezekiel Barker - would travel the wild west with his traveling game show, "The Price is Right or I Will Shoot You Dead With My Six-Shooter".  The name was shorted later because it was hard to fit on a billboard.  The show was hard to move from town to town because it took over 500 horses to move all the pricing games.

Jebediah Barker  - Zeke's brother.  He was the brains of the operation.  Would collaborate with the show's producer,  Abraham Dobkowitz.  Created many pricing games, including Horse Money, which was played for a brand new Stagecoach.

Geronimo Barker - hapless drunk who tried to sell the show to "Crazy Jym" Vinnedge for some magic beans.  He was thwarted by Mark Goodson (yes, he was alive back then).  Also considered the black horse of the family.  Was a carnie for a while, hence the term "Carnival Barker".  Was also known to go on wild "spaying and neutering binges".   

Frank Barker - not much is known, but bore striking resemblance to Dennis James.  No one saw the two men in the same room together.

Travis Barker - Blink 182 member and Bob's great great nephew.  Not many people know this.




 

Offline Scott5114

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Re: Ezekiel, Jebediah and Bob: A (Fictionalized) History of the Barker Clan
« Reply #2 on: December 06, 2008, 06:43:47 AM »
The Price is Right or I Will Shoot You Dead With My Six-Shooter enjoyed popular success under Ezekiel Barker. TPIROIWSYDWMSS was well known from coast to coast, gaining an especially strong following in Macon, Georgia. Whenever the show would travel to Macon, there was a man who would buy a ticket (they cost one silver dollar) and record each show on his daguerreotype camera. It is mainly from these snapshots that we know the history of the show.

The most celebrated episode of TPIROIWSYDWMSS was the November 3, 1881 show. Chester Alan Arthur had recently taken office upon James A. Garfield's assassination, and wanted to help the nation's capital move on from the incident. President Arthur had heard of the popular traveling show and telegrammed Ezekiel Barker to see about exhibiting the show in Washington, just two weeks after taking office.[1] However, the nature of the traveling show meant that it would be further weeks before Barker could be contacted and the arrangements for the show could be made.[2]

The game started at 11 AM sharp on the White House lawn. The episode quickly devolved into chaos, however, when among the first four contestants called was Maria Blaine, wife of Secretary of State James G. Blaine. To everyone's surprise, Mrs. Blaine's dress collapsed as she made her way down to the podiums.[3] As Barker explained in later years, "YEEEE-HAW!" The Secretary of State was furious, and was convinced that the announcer, Milliard Olson, had intentionally caused the incident.[citation needed] A brawl quickly broke out, and much of the show's signature decorations, as well as some irreplacable[citation needed]  White House landscaping, was destroyed.

Hurriedly, Ezekiel Barker emerged from behind a large tapestry and reached for the nearest quill pen. He then wrote a check to reimburse President Arthur for the damages. The exact amount was never disclosed, but it was believed that it was between $5,000 and $6,000[4]. This inspired the game "Check Game" as seen on the modern The Price Is Right.

Eventually the game was put back on track. With large amounts of the props needed having been destroyed by the fisticuffs, several of the games were improvised on parchment. The lineup remains lost to history (as the Macon photographer was not present for the taping), but it is known that the second pricing game played was "Make Your Mark".[2] In this game, contestants were presented with four cattle, each bearing a price. Three cattle's prices matched the prices of three prizes displayed. To "make your mark", a contestant had to brand the cattle bearing what they thought were the correct prices. The game differed from the game of the same name on modern TPIR, however, as no bonus was given, nor could any mark be changed, cattle being impossible to un-brand.[1]

References
1. Saunders, Lemuel. The Grand Old Book of Travelling Game Showes. Expanded Edition. 1901, Fairfax Press, Kansas City, Kan.
2. Dillard, Clem. A Compedium of The Price Is Right Or I Will Shoot You Dead With My Six Shooter. 1909, Mortensen Publishing, Bugtussle, Okla.
3. Ipanacalot, Theodora. Shameful Things That Happened This Year. 1881 edition. 1882, Busybody Production Corp., New York, N.Y.
4. Slapout, Cletus. Game Show Chronicles of the Gilded Age. 1898, Ambrose, Macguffin & Son Printing Co., Tightwad, Mo.

Offline Teddy

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Re: Ezekiel, Jebediah and Bob: A (Fictionalized) History of the Barker Clan
« Reply #3 on: December 06, 2008, 07:34:29 AM »
One of the best-known eras of the show came at the turn of the century. The automobile was beginning to replace the stagecoach as the main mode of transportation, and to celebrate the occasion, Ezekiel decided to give away a Model T Ford in 1903. This was the first car ever offered on TPIROIWSYDWMSS. Also, the announcer at the time, Hugo Roddy, began wearing ridiculously noticeable designs on all his clothes. (You see, Hugo had an affinity for sequins, which were all the rage back then.) For a while, both stagecoaches and cars were offered as prizes, and then sometime in the 1920s, for the first time ever, the show was giving away more cars than stagecoaches. Eventually, the stagecoach fell into oblivion, and cars were the only things offered. When the stock market crashed in 1929, Ezekiel decided to create a new pricing game similar to today's More or Less. Gameplay was pretty much the same, except there were pricetags on each of the four prizes. On one side of the pricetag was an incorrect price, and when the tag was flipped over, the word "More" or "Less" was displayed, along with the actual price. The concept of a two-sided price card as seen in most of today's SP games (like Punch-a-Bunch and Shell Game) originated here. Ezekiel continued to host the show until his death in 1932, exactly 50 years after he had created the show. Afterwards, his son, Geronimo, assumed hosting duties, and had the show's name shortened permanently. Unfortunately, though, as Geronimo was known as a hapless drunk, the show was cancelled after three years, earning him the wrath of the show's staff, especially Mary Greco and Eli Fields. Thankfully, the show was revived by Drew Johnson, a close friend of the Barkers, the following year, and Drew decided to host the show from his hometown of Philadelphia. A large auditorium was constructed exclusively for the show, and Drew had it named the Ezekiel Barker Auditorium as a tribute to its founder. Today, the Ezekiel Barker Auditorium is a historical landmark in Philly, and it continues to be a popular gathering place for fans of TPIR and other great gameshows that took place on its stage.
« Last Edit: December 06, 2008, 07:40:05 AM by Teddy »

Offline Teddy

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Re: Ezekiel, Jebediah and Bob: A (Fictionalized) History of the Barker Clan
« Reply #4 on: December 06, 2008, 09:12:38 AM »
Ezekiel continued to host the show until his death in 1932, exactly 50 years after he had created the show.

Sorry, I meant to say 60 years after he had created the show. And to date, Bob has come the closest to matching this amazing longevity record of 50 years (15 on Truth or Consequences, and 35 on today's Price is Right).

Offline tpirfan28

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Re: Ezekiel, Jebediah and Bob: A (Fictionalized) History of the Barker Clan
« Reply #5 on: December 06, 2008, 11:34:17 AM »
I'm confused...how does Bill Cullen factor into the Barker clan?
They can be close at the top, too.
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Offline Jnelson09

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Re: Ezekiel, Jebediah and Bob: A (Fictionalized) History of the Barker Clan
« Reply #6 on: December 06, 2008, 12:55:28 PM »
Travis Barker - Blink 182 member and Bob's great great nephew.  Not many people know this.

Believe it or not, Travis Barker's father's name actually is Bob.
In loving memory of:
Penny Ante, 1979-2002
Buy or Sell, 1992-2008
Barker's Bargain Bar, 1980-2008

Offline Teddy

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Re: Ezekiel, Jebediah and Bob: A (Fictionalized) History of the Barker Clan
« Reply #7 on: December 06, 2008, 01:18:01 PM »
Well, I'm glad you asked. The year is 1956, and television is still something new to the American landscape. The show has not been done since 1943, when Drew Johnson was forced to suspend operations to serve active duty. Drew tried to get things going again when he came home two years later, but the public lost interest in it.

Enter Frank Barker, who is having lunch with a promising young host named Bill Cullen. Frank pitches around an idea to bring TPIR to television for the first time, and Bill likes it so much that he wants them to present it to Mark Goodson and Bill Todman, who are looking to start their burgeoning television empire. While Cullen is selected as the host, Frank works behind the scenes to make sure everything ran smoothly. He's in charge of writing the Showcases, coordinating the IUFBs, and rounding all retail prices off to the nearest dollar. Finally, The Price is Right goes on the air for the first time as a TV show, and the public loves it! From 1956 to 1965, Frank Barker and Bill Cullen are the stars of the show. At the same time, Frank is helping his brother Bob break into show business with Truth or Consequences.

Fast-forward to 1972, and Frank is still a little shaken up by the cancellation of the first TV Price seven years earlier. Goodson and Todman are conducting searches for a new host for their revival, and Frank decides to nominate Bob for the position. At first, Bob is reluctant to do the show, since he still has Truth or Consequences, but Frank convinces him to come to CBS for an audition. In the end, the judges have a hard time deciding between Bob and Dennis James, so they flip a coin to decide who gets the daytime and nighttime version. Frank calls Heads, and wins the coin toss, and that's how Bob got the daytime show. Again, Frank works behind the scenes, devising many new ideas through the years. He takes a young unknown from San Francisco named Roger Dobkowitz under his wings, and teaches him all the tricks of the trade. Frank's many contributions to the show include the idea of having to spin a giant wheel in an attempt to get into the Showcase, the idea of giving away a $100 bonus to anyone who gets bids the price of an IUFB right on the nose, the splitscreen arrow for the Showcase Showdown, and, of course, the designing and unveiling of the show's best-known pricing games. Barker's Bargain Bar is Frank's magnum opus, taking its name from a family-run business whose roots go back to the Ezekiel Barker days. The sign used for the game is the very same sign that served as the store's logo at the time of its debut. (Ezekiel, Jebediah and Frank have each helped run the store successfully, turning out huge profits while selling lots of stuff at discount prices.) Since Frank is also a noted historian, he often draws inspiration from his ancestors to come up with new ideas, like Check Game (although he accidentally calls it Blank Check upon presentation, and gets sued for copyright infringement); he even suggests using a quill pen to write the check. Everyone loves it, and the game is a hit success. Frank has an affinity for classic movie themes, and his favorite happens to be the Pink Panther Theme by Henry Mancini. In fact, he suggests using this song for Safe Crackers when the game is still in its development stage. Frank is well-liked around the studio, but threatens to quit the show after seeing the Hollywood mural on the Turntable, which he absolutely despises so much. But Bob talks him out of it, saying: "Without you, there's no Price is Right. I tell you, Frank, you're the real star of the show, a genius with some of the best ideas!" Today, Frank is retired and living in Florida, where he still watches the show from the comfort of his luxury condo. His resignation comes after Season 36, the show's first with Drew Carey as host, but he says he has no big regrets. As Frank says: "I hope Drew knows what he's doing."

Offline TPIRfan222

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Re: Ezekiel, Jebediah and Bob: A (Fictionalized) History of the Barker Clan
« Reply #8 on: December 06, 2008, 04:37:16 PM »
I'm laughing so hard at this. Great stuff guys. I wish Drew could read this.

Offline dh027

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Re: Ezekiel, Jebediah and Bob: A (Fictionalized) History of the Barker Clan
« Reply #9 on: December 06, 2008, 09:58:15 PM »
Many of the pricing games that were around at the beginning of the show in 1872 were forgotten until recently, when Samuel Arnold's old snapshots were found.  Games such as "Between the Eyes", similar to the retired game "On the Nose".  Except you had to fire a gun and shoot a cattle rustler between his eyes, hence the name of the game.   

Manuscripts from famed TPIROIWSYWMSS historians Elijah Green and Jeremiah Sly also reveal that the pricing game "Cliffhangers" actually originated in 1872 as well.  Well, sort of.  Hans was a real person, usually a condemned local prisoner.  They also used a real mountain.  During the entire original run of the show, a total of 394 Hanses were used as a new Hans was needed after each loss. 

Their manuscripts also reveal that the show didn't have recorded music cues, but instead a 20-piece travelling brass band.  The tuba player in the band played the losing horns.

The Great Depression was a dark time in the show's history.  It was just one year after Ezekiel's death.  The number of pricing games dwindled from 83 to just 10, as there was no money to store them.  This era saw the likes of games such as "Kick the Rock", "Soup For a Year!", and "Crappo".  The band was also laid off and the show went cueless for 10 years.

The show never really hit it's stride again until Bill (Barker) Cullen, Bob's uncle (and everyone's uncle) took over the show.

Offline FieldsFan336

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Re: Ezekiel, Jebediah and Bob: A (Fictionalized) History of the Barker Clan
« Reply #10 on: December 06, 2008, 10:32:45 PM »
ROFLMAO, this is way too hilarious! :hammer:
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Offline Prizes

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Re: Ezekiel, Jebediah and Bob: A (Fictionalized) History of the Barker Clan
« Reply #11 on: December 07, 2008, 12:31:11 AM »
I'll try my hand, sorry if it's no good.

The neutrality of this secton is disputed.

Drew Barker: Successor to Ezekiel, beginning in 1932. Perhaps best known for his creation of the game "Oats Money" [citation needed], as what we know as car games today were played for horse and buggies then. This rumor has recently sprouted up because an old telegraph from "CrimonsonHorse" discussed this game, but his message is disputed. Some say Crimson was referring to Pass the Dime, others believe Gas Oats was the referenced game. Remarkably, well after Drew Barker's death, of which is still unknown, a DNA test confirmed a he, too, was a Barker, a long-lost son of Ezekiel. Starting in late 1933, Drew began to use words such as "darn", calling the contestants "happy campers", and calling the day "bully", creating great controversy. LFaT, at the time, complained excessively to the Golden-Road telegraph headquarters, in St. Louis, MO, and Weedville, PA. My great ancestor, prizes0.2, even called Drew's acts "innapropriate for the children's ears.". Unfortunately for Drew, all tapes of his version of the show were lost in a horrific incident in which the elder Dob's male relative, mentioned earlier here, known for his speed, ran off with all of the show recordings, never to be seen again, if only recently reported to be on record players. Flash foward 50 years, a well-trained Roger had learned the almighty Dobkowbitz slogan, and used it well: You can't stop DOBS!
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Offline Teddy

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Re: Ezekiel, Jebediah and Bob: A (Fictionalized) History of the Barker Clan
« Reply #12 on: December 07, 2008, 08:28:03 AM »
TPIROIWSYDWMSS was the first gameshow to utilize sound effects. The DING! sound was played on a piano stored offstage, and a disgruntled cow was used to record the infamous MRRRRRRRRP! buzzer. Also, the CLANG-CLANG-CLANG-CLANG! used an actual cowbell.

Offline Teddy

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Re: Ezekiel, Jebediah and Bob: A (Fictionalized) History of the Barker Clan
« Reply #13 on: December 07, 2008, 12:33:34 PM »
Here's a little-known fact about one of the most famous dates in history: October 15, 1987, the day Bob's hair turned gray.

On the morning of the taping, Bob woke up and noticed that his hair had gone completely gray. The first thing he said was: "Oh darn, forgot the hair dye!" When he went into the bathroom, he noticed that his hair dye was gone! This infuriated Bob so much that he shouted: "I can't go on the air looking like this!" He looked all over the house, but couldn't find the dye. He then realized that he must've left it at CBS Television City, so he got dressed and drove to the studio. He looked in his dressing room, but the dye wasn't there, either! Finally, he confronted his brother Frank, and he accused him of stealing his hair dye. Of course, Frank denied this at first, but then admitted that he had snuck it out of Bob's house during a visit the previous night. Frank's explanation? "I think you've had enough of the stuff. Besides, no matter how much you use, your hair will go completely gray eventually." Bob demanded that Frank give him back the hair dye, but Frank refused. The two brothers got into a wrestling match, which Rod Roddy would later describe as "one of the cruelest events I've ever seen in my life." It was Rod who first said he liked Bob's new look, then the models said the same, and then Frank ended up sobbing as he embraced Bob. Frank apologized for this clever prank, and Bob forgave him. Then it was time for taping to begin, and when Rod announced Bob's arrival, Bob came out smiling like it was no big deal. The taping went normal as usual, but during one of the commercial breaks, when someone in the audience said: "Bob, you must've had one hell of a night!" Bob responded: "Yeah, because I couldn't find my freakin' hair dye!" He pointed offstage, where Frank was standing behind a curtain, and told the audience: "Remind me to wring this SOB's neck at the end of the show!" The audience, and even Rod, exploded into uproarious laughter. But eventually, everyone liked Bob's new look so much that he decided not to go back to hair dye again. In fact, he thanked Frank for curing him of his addiction, and treated him to dinner in an upscale Beverly Hills restaurant that night.

Now you know the whole story behind Bob's first-ever gray-hair episode!

Offline dh027

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Re: Ezekiel, Jebediah and Bob: A (Fictionalized) History of the Barker Clan
« Reply #14 on: December 07, 2008, 12:35:00 PM »
Here's more lost TPIROIWSYDWMSS history:

Lawlessness was prevalent in the wild west.  Gambling was a big problem.  TPIROIWSYDWMSS was not immune.  Thomas "Buddy Thomas" Cahill had a thriving bookmaking business that thrived off of fans of the show.  He called it "Cahill's Showcase Shootout", or CSS for short.  People would literally bet their farms for a piece of CSS glory.  

One of these people was Theodore "Golden Yorkie" Gillmen.  This one proud man was one of the richest men in Carson City until he became involved in CSS.  He constant overbidding made him a pauper in a hurry.  Another was Stephanie "ZekeFan336" O'Leary.  She lost one of her children in one of these illegal betting matches.  

« Last Edit: December 07, 2008, 12:36:45 PM by dh027 »