Gaming the Game Show

Michael Larson was an unemployed man from Lebanon Ohio who worked summers driving an ice cream truck. He watched a lot of TV, including the game show Press Your Luck. By using a VCR and going through the show frame by frame he was able to memorize the patterns used on their game board. Contents would “spin” the board hoping to win cash and prizes and avoid “whammys” that would erase all your winnings. Larson borrowed the money to get to the show and bought a dress shirt to wear on the show at a thrift store for 65 cents. Larson ended up winning over $110,000 in one day (a then record). CBS argued he had cheated but eventually paid him the money.

Here in 5 parts is Michael Larson’s Appearance on Press Your Luck.

Part 1


Part 2


Part 3


Part 4


Part 5


Unfortunately, Larson lost some of his winnings in a ponzi scheme and had between $40,000 and $50,000 (all he had left) in cash stolen from his home. He died in 1999 of throat cancer on the run from the Securities and Exchange Commission.