What studio was it taped in? Same as Millionaire?

No. I believe it was taped in the Elysee Theater, like the $20,000 Pyramid and Blankety Blanks of the day. Said building was demolished years ago and is now, as far as I know, a school.

It's the Saint Thomas Choir School.

You could see the Pyramid set in the fly space of the Elysee if you looked up during a taping of Big Showdown. The other Don Lipp show, The Money Maze taped in Studio 1, where Millionaire currently tapes at ABC on West 66th Street.

I thought that the Money Maze studio (which I believe was TV-15) was converted into a parking garage.... am I getting my NY studios crossed up?

TV-15 = Elysee. I remember reading that "Money Maze" was in TV-1.

TV-1 at ABC's Upper West Side facility is still very much in use. The only change is that the Millionaire audience now enters the building on West 67th Street. Back in 1975, the audience for Money Maze entered through the loading bay door on West 66th Street.

When I saw Money Maze being taped, I remember thinking it was a garage due to us entering through that door.

In fact, ABC's 66th street studio used to be Durland's Riding Academy. Here is a link to a picture of what is apparently now TV-1, way back in 1908.

You're correct, bricon. I recall someone telling that story; mentioning that the loading bay/garage door was the original stable door for the Riding Academy.