# Bob Barker's Microphone **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 16, 2004, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-barkers-microphone/275011 "2004-11-16T04:58:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bcullman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bcullman/32/8207_2.png) [@bcullman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bcullman)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2004, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-barkers-microphone/275011/1 "2004-11-16T04:58:04Z")
Now that I think about it, most other on air personalities use a clip on mic - but Bob Barker (from The Price is Right) still uses a hand mic. This in itself is somewhat unual, compared to his comtemporaries, but waht is more unsual is the microphone he uses. Its a long thin model, that at first thought, seems a little old fasioned, but if you think about it, isnt even that - I cant recall _anyone_ else using that style mic. Is that a model you can even buy? if not, does he have them specially made? Why does he favor these? ---
**Author:** ![jgroub](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b77776/32.png) [@jgroub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jgroub)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2004, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-barkers-microphone/275011/2 "2004-11-16T05:21:33Z")
I think when he’s done using it on-air, it’s a handy tool for spaying and neutering any pets he comes across. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2004, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-barkers-microphone/275011/3 "2004-11-16T05:23:59Z")
> [@bcullman](#): > > Is that a model you can even buy? if not, does he have them specially made? Why does he favor these? > [@](#): > > Why don’t you use a wireless microphone? > > Often times wireless microphones will cut out as you walk around. I do a lot of walking around on the stage. (from [here](http://www.derok.net/derok/bobbarker.html) ) ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2004, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-barkers-microphone/275011/4 "2004-11-16T05:30:18Z")
I thought I was the only one who noticed the oddity of Bob’s skinny telescoping microphone. I hope when he retires they display it in the Smithsonian. ---
**Author:** ![I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2004, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-barkers-microphone/275011/5 "2004-11-16T05:55:06Z")
To address the other portion of your question—the microphone is a [Sony ECM-51 telescoping microphone](http://groups.msn.com/ThePriceIsRightUpdateMessageBoard/replicaofbobsmicrophones.msnw). ---
**Author:** ![Phantom\_Dennis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/51bf81/32.png) [@Phantom\_Dennis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phantom_Dennis)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2004, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-barkers-microphone/275011/6 "2004-11-16T12:42:14Z")
> [@Joe K](#): > > (from [here](http://www.derok.net/derok/bobbarker.html) ) Bob Barker is 167 years old? Really? ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2004, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-barkers-microphone/275011/7 "2004-11-16T13:17:43Z")
> [@Nonsuch](#): > > I thought I was the only one who noticed the oddity of Bob’s skinny telescoping microphone. I hope when he retires they display it in the Smithsonian. I’d bet my left lung that this is a given. ---
**Author:** ![db4530](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ec8ea/32.png) [@db4530](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/db4530)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2004, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-barkers-microphone/275011/8 "2004-11-16T14:28:38Z")
WAG, but I think that he uses the long, skinny model of microphone so that he can get it close to the contenstant’s faces without having his hand block the shot for the television cameras. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2004, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-barkers-microphone/275011/9 "2004-11-16T14:51:27Z")
My suspicion is that he’s been using corded mikes for so long that it just wouldn’t be the same if he didn’t, putting any technical issues aside. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2004, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-barkers-microphone/275011/10 "2004-11-16T14:54:59Z")
I think Gene Rayburn on Match Game used the same microphone. See [here](http://www.gameshowutopia.com/Rayburntribute.htm). ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2004, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-barkers-microphone/275011/11 "2004-11-16T14:56:40Z")
So I’m the only one having a hard time refraining from making a blow-job joke here? Okay. Just checking. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2004, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-barkers-microphone/275011/12 "2004-11-16T15:19:13Z")
Other than Bob not liking wireless mics, that particular model is his “green umbrella” - it’s a prop that defines his character. He could switch to a different mic, but then, he’d be someone else - just wouldn’t be the same Bob Barker. ---
**Author:** ![jgroub](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b77776/32.png) [@jgroub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jgroub)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2004, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-barkers-microphone/275011/13 "2004-11-16T17:58:51Z")
**twickster** , please feel free to go right ahead to make whatever blow-job jokes you wish. Oh, wait, this isn’t my thread. I think **db4530** has hit the nail on the head here. Does any other gameshow host need to approach and converse with contestants? More specifically, contestants that have just been yanked out of a pool of hundreds and who aren’t miked? Bob needs that mike! Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, Court TV type-shows - they’re at a podium with a mike, or there are only three of them, so they’re already miked up. I think this is the real reason. That, and because he enjoys the many blow-job jokes that are made about him using the mike. ---
**Author:** ![bcullman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bcullman/32/8207_2.png) [@bcullman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bcullman)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2004, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-barkers-microphone/275011/14 "2004-11-16T18:10:56Z")
> [@jgroub](#): > > I think **db4530** has hit the nail on the head here. Does any other gameshow host need to approach and converse with contestants? More specifically, contestants that have just been yanked out of a pool of hundreds and who aren’t miked?.. I thought about that. But if you ever watched your local news, you’d realize that a field reporter interviewing the ‘man on the street’ is in a similar position, but I have never seen one use a Barker-style mic. I’m willing to go for the green umbrella thing - I was just hoping for some additional info… ---
**Author:** ![bleach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bleach/32/3106_2.png) [@bleach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bleach)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2004, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-barkers-microphone/275011/15 "2004-11-16T18:34:11Z")
The same sort of question is asked to The Price Is Right staff three times [here](http://www.cbs.com/daytime/price/community/qa/) on the CBS website. They don’t really add anything that hasn’t already been posted. > [@](#): > > Q: I was wondering if someone could tell me the type of microphone Mr. Barker uses (the long skinny silver one) and where one might purchase one. Thank you. > > A: It is made especially for Mr. Barker. > > Q: Finally where can I get the original microphone that [Bob Barker] used to use (the Sony silver mic) > > A: Bob’s original microphone in now in the time capsule. > > Q: My wife and I are big fans, but I was wondering in this high tech world, why does Bob use a microphone on a wire instead of a cordless one? > > A: It’s his personal choice to keep using the one with the cord. (A lot of people ask this question, though!) ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2004, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-barkers-microphone/275011/16 "2004-11-17T00:47:57Z")
> [@bcullman](#): > > I thought about that. But if you ever watched your local news, you’d realize that a field reporter interviewing the ‘man on the street’ is in a similar position, but I have never seen one use a Barker-style mic. Because this is an _expensive_ microphone. And not designed for rough, outdoor use. Your local news is not about to spend over $600 on a mike that is likely to be dropped & broken by clumsy junior reporters. ---
**Author:** ![inkleberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f17d59/32.png) [@inkleberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/inkleberry)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2004, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-barkers-microphone/275011/17 "2004-11-17T01:23:02Z")
> [@bcullman](#): > > Is that a model you can even buy? if not, does he have them specially made? Why does he favor these? It’s a little known fact that his microphone is actually a vibrator- the original Hitachi Magic Wand prototype, to be exact. The unique angle at the top functions both as a g-spot stimulator for the ladies and a prostate stimulator for the gents. Sheer genius. During the shows he utilizes its “theraputic massage” to get the contestants rosy cheeked and twitterpated. ---
**Author:** ![I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2004, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-barkers-microphone/275011/18 "2004-11-17T23:22:08Z")
According to [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Price_is_Right), Bob Barker’s current microphone is rigged together: > [@](#): > > …When [Bob Barker’s] microphone broke, CBS didn’t have an old style [Sony ECM-51] microphone to replace it; so a new microphone was simply put in a [Sony ECM-51] casing. ---
**Author:** ![SiouxChief](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@SiouxChief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SiouxChief)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-barkers-microphone/275011/19 "2004-11-18T03:13:14Z")
> [@inkleberry](#): > > twitterpated. ha! ---
**Author:** ![Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runs_With_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-barkers-microphone/275011/20 "2004-11-18T04:22:13Z")
> [@astro](#): > > I think Gene Rayburn on Match Game used the same microphone. > > See [here](http://www.gameshowutopia.com/Rayburntribute.htm). Thanks, Astro. Thanks a lot. Now I have that damned tune they’d play while waiting for the “celebrities” to write their answers down stuck in my head… Gwownt…do do do do do do do…Gwownt…do do do do do do do… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-barkers-microphone/275011.md?page=2)