Before the session, two "authenticating judges" evaluated the questions to "be sure that they are absolutely correct according to several reference works and that they conform to the rules in a 199-page instruction book".
[4] The player who stumped the professional for five weeks, had the show survived that long, would have had the privilege to answer five questions submitted by home viewers, and ended up with a grand total of $100,000 if successful.
[citation needed] On the premiere episode, amateurs defeated their professional counterparts with knowledge of content about the Civil War and opera.
A promotional video featuring the set and a contestant exists, traded among private collectors.
"[5] Chris Welles wrote in Life magazine: "What the producers should have done was junk the quiz and televise their backstage cloak-and-dagger preparations.