Contraption (game show) facts for kids

Contraption was an exciting American game show. It was one of the very first shows on the Disney Channel. The show ran from April 18, 1983, to January 9, 1988. It also had a second run from March 8 to October 25, 1989. The show was hosted by actor and comedian Ralph Harris. Miranda Fredricks was the announcer.

Welcome to Contraption!

Contraption was a game where two teams competed. Each team had three kids. The goal was to win as many "Contraptiles" as possible. Contraptiles were special yellow plastic squares. The team with the most Contraptiles at the end won the game!

How the Game Works

Each team had three "passports." These passports had different areas of the set written on them. The areas were "Books," "Animals," or "Heroes and Villains." Each kid on a team held a different passport. This decided which kid played in each round.

Round 1: Books and Boats

First, the two kids with the "Books" passports went to the "Books" area. They watched a two-minute video clip. This clip was from a Disney movie based on a book. Each kid answered two questions about the clip. A correct answer earned one Contraptile.

After the questions, the two kids played the "Jungle Boat Race." They pedaled a special bike that looked like a boat. It was a race down a track. The first one to knock over a pole at the end won two Contraptiles. The second-place player received one Contraptile.

Round 2: Animals and Wheels

Next, the two kids with the "Animals" passports played. They watched a Disney movie clip about animal characters. Just like before, each kid answered two questions. Each right answer was worth one Contraptile.

Then, they played "Wheels Of Fire." Each kid got inside a giant wheel. They ran inside it to move the wheel across a track. The first one to reach the finish line and knock over a pole won two Contraptiles. The other player received one Contraptile.

Round 3: Heroes, Villains, and Magic Carpets

The third round was for the kids with "Heroes & Villains" passports. They watched a Disney movie clip. This clip featured the heroes and villains of the film. This time, each kid answered three questions about the clip. Each correct answer earned one Contraptile.

After the questions, they played "Magic Carpets." This game was similar to the Jungle Boat Race. But instead of pedaling with their legs, they used their arms to power the trikes. The scoring was the same: two Contraptiles for the winner and one for the runner-up.

Round 4: The Final Challenge

The last round involved all members of both teams. They went to the "Magic" area of the stage. A clip from a Disney movie about magical powers was shown. Each team was then asked three questions about the clip. The team members could talk together to decide the answers. Each correct answer in this round was worth five Contraptiles!

Winning the Game

After the final round, all the Contraptiles for each team were counted. The team with the most Contraptiles won the game! Both teams received prizes for playing. The winning team also received a special Grand Prize!