High-rate phone services weren’t just a nationwide cable TV cash grab; there was plenty of grift for the local markets, too. Case in point: a California service, 976-HITS, that offered local prizes if you could solve music trivia questions.
It’s probably a safe bet that the actual questions aren’t chorus lifts from Billboard #1 songs, and it’s probably a safe bet that a successful answer doesn’t guarantee you a prize. But how about that grand prize?
![](https://i2.wp.com/www.timidfutures.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Prize-1.jpg?fit=500%2C375&ssl=1)
I can imagine the director of the commercial telling an intern to make a graphic describing the grand prize and the intern just turning around and transcribing the director’s description word for word. Also, what weird room is this phone in? It’s a creepy corner of ’80s rock hell.
![](https://i1.wp.com/www.timidfutures.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Mess-5-1.jpg?fit=500%2C375&ssl=1)
![](https://i2.wp.com/www.timidfutures.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Mess-3.jpg?fit=500%2C375&ssl=1)
![](https://i1.wp.com/www.timidfutures.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Mess-6-1.jpg?fit=500%2C375&ssl=1)
-ds