The bonus round premiered in 1981 on the daytime edition. Originally, contestants chose to play one final puzzle for a grand prize they selected from five on stage. They chose five consonants and a vowel. In 1988, they were spotted five consonants (R,S,T,L,N) and one vowel (E), and chose 3 more consonants and one vowel. In 1989, the prizes were hidden under letters W H E E L, and the contestant picked a letter, winning whatever prize the letter concealed. That changed in 2001, to where contestants spun a mini wheel that selected the prize.
more
