When did the letter turning stop?

[MX2]

I have never really watched Wheel of Fortune to begin with, but today I turned it to it because I thought my older child might enjoy seeing the letters and words spelled out.

Anyway, I noticed the letters dont turn anymore, they are just touch sensitive or whatever. When did this change take place? I thought part of the appeal and fun was the actual turning of the letters.

...sigh for technology sometimes

 

[everman]

It's been years I think.

 

[blackdogdeek]

at least a few years i think only because i saw that the letters don't get turned around anymore but i haven't watched that show in years.

 

[Pepsei]

so they don't need what's her name anymore eh?

 

[Brainonska511]

As far as I remember from watching Wheel of Fortune years ago (I'm 17 now), they have always had the tv things for the letters.

 

[ts3433]

It's been about 8 or 9 years, but they still have the girl on there to touch them. They changed it because it was too time-consuming and, therefore, expensive to have downtime in the studio as the letters were rearranged between puzzles.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: Pepsei
so they don't need what's her name anymore eh?

Nope Vanna is still there (last I saw). She juts walks over and touches the screen.

 

[jimbob200521]

i miss the turny letters

 

[sswingle]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Originally posted by: Pepsei
so they don't need what's her name anymore eh?

Nope Vanna is still there (last I saw). She juts walks over and touches the screen.

Yup, she is still there for looks. Probably part of her contract to still "do" something even though there are screens instaed of moveable letters now.

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: ts3433
It's been about 8 or 9 years, but they still have the girl on there to touch them. They changed it because it was too time-consuming and, therefore, expensive to have downtime in the studio as the letters were rearranged between puzzles.

i concur

 

[badmouse]

Google is your friend. I can't believe I actually looked this up, but I did.

February 21, 1997

 

[myusername]

Originally posted by: ts3433
It's been about 8 or 9 years, but they still have the girl on there to touch them. They changed it because it Vanna was getting on in years and arthritis was setting in.

fixed

 

[JonTom]

I miss how they uesd to go shopping in the showcase after they won. Then you could scream and shake your head at the winners for purchasing a $300 drink mixing/bartending set, or whatever crap they had that day

 

[Epic Fail]

Imagine how much quicker the show would be if they digitalize the spinning of the wheel.

 

[Kadarin]

Originally posted by: badmouse
Google is your friend. I can't believe I actually looked this up, but I did.

February 21, 1997

I now know more about Wheel of Fortune than I ever wanted to. The only thing that site doesn't chronicle is when Vanna White switched from slinky dresses to frumpy outfits.