Page "Beat the Clock" Paragraph 17

In response to the big money prizes which began to appear on other networks ' game shows, CBS talked Mark Goodson into increasing the stakes on Beat The Clock.

Ultimately the plan was unsuccessful as the ratings never did improve much, perhaps leading to the end of the Super Bonus.

Starting on February 25, 1956, after the last regular Bonus Stunt had been won, it was replaced by the " Super Bonus " which started at $ 10, 000 and went up by $ 1, 000 every time a couple failed to beat the Clock.

Unlike with the regular Bonus Stunt and the " Big Cash Bonus Stunt " that followed it, the Super Bonus was attempted by every couple who qualified by beating the $ 200 Clock.

Originally the stunt was played at the end of the show by each couple that qualified, and " because of the high prize value " a special timing machine made by the Longines company was used, which was touted as the most accurate portable timer available.

Probably realizing that seeing the same stunt a few times in a row was a bit boring, they moved the Super Bonus right after the $ 200 Clock and before the Jackpot Clock on March 17, dropping the Longines timer.