Vanna White Remembers Pittsburgh’s Wheel of Fortune Tapings

PITTSBURGH, May 1, 2025 — Fans of Wheel of Fortune may recall that the popular game show filmed in Pittsburgh in 1998, a connection that host Vanna White remembers fondly.

During a recent interview with Channel 11 Anchor Jennifer Tomazic at Sony Pictures Studios in California, White reflected on her time in the city. “I remember the airport!” she said, reminiscing about the filming that took place at some of Pittsburgh’s iconic locations, including the Benedum Center.

“Everybody was so nice,” White added. “It was a great city. I really enjoyed it!” White’s time in Pittsburgh included a memorable appearance by local icon Fred Rogers during Pittsburgh Week.

As Channel 11 reported, many Pittsburghers reached out to check in when they heard about the crew’s presence at the studios. Pittsburgh continues to have a connection to the show; stage manager Jimmy McGuire is from the city, and announcer Jim Thornton grew up in Huntington, West Virginia. “I remember when I was 8 years old, I had the Pittsburgh Pirates pajamas and I loved those things,” Thornton recalled. “We love Pittsburgh!”

The love between Pittsburgh and Wheel of Fortune remains strong. This season, three contestants from the city have already participated, including twin sisters Katie and Christina Currie, who won $88,248 on January 9.

Randy, a contestant who had been trying out for more than 10 years, finally made it onto the show in March. “It was just absolutely thrilling!” he told Channel 11.

While no contestants from Pittsburgh appeared during the taping in April, Ryan and Vanna sent a message to the Steel City: “We appreciate everybody in Pittsburgh watching this show for so many years and continuing to love this show and watch it,” Ryan said.