The Painting

[RegisFan]

During Millionaire's original primetime run on ABC, the top portion of the set was actually a painting. Two lighting columns and several individual lights were painted as part of this "fake" set extension, and the painting was either physically placed or superimposed on the top half of the set.

No design elements from the painting, or even the painting itself, have been used on the show in some time. I've never really paid attention to the painting in the international formats, so I'm not sure if any country other than the US even used a painting.

It was an extremely well done illusion. Most people didn't even know the top part of the set was fake.

Does anyone around here know anything about that painting? Why was it created? Was it actually on the set or superimposed in post production? Who made it? All of these are questions that I've never really heard answers to. The painting is an interesting part of Millionaire history, and I know I'm not the only person who'd like to know more about it.

[RyanZ]

Ha! That's extremely interesting; I had no idea. And I agree about wanting to find more information about it...

[FrankT]

Really?! Where's the proof of this?!

[Reidb1700]

Wow, that is quite amazing, I had no idea that it was a painting.

[boogyman10o1]

That is interesting, I was wondering what that was when the audience was voting.

[FinalAnswer19]

Aug 30, 2010 17:25:15 GMT -5 FrankT said:

Really?! Where's the proof of this?!

Do you need proof to believe him? Chances are, he read this a long time ago, and chances are, if it was on the internet, that article, site, whatever is taken down by now.

[FrankT]

Aug 30, 2010 21:29:47 GMT -5 FinalAnswer19 said:

Aug 30, 2010 17:25:15 GMT -5 FrankT said:

Really?! Where's the proof of this?!

Do you need proof to believe him?

Well.. no... I just wondered if there was a photo of the painting.

[RegisFan]

I thought this was common "Millionaire" knowledge. I had no idea you guys didn't know about this!

You can see the painting whenever "Ask the Audience" is used. Does anyone have a screenshot of an "Ask the Audience" clip from the original US primetime series?

[FinalAnswer19]

Here's a link to a site with some pictures of the old set. I'm not sure if the quality is great enough to be able to see the painting you're talking about, but it might be: www.angelfire.com/tx5/imander/gameshows/millionaire/index.html

[ljouvin]

Wow, I never noticed that before but now.. this really seems like obvious!

[FrankT]

Ohhhh, I see it now!!!! Wow! It had me fooled!!

[Reidb1700]

I must agree, it looks very obvious now that I have seen it.

[ketsuban]

Yeah, I don't see it.

[GSK]

ketsuban: So it doesn't look weird to you that the light columns just seem to fade into darkness?

[ketsuban]

Oh, /there/ it is.