My all-time favorite game show: I watched the original episodes whenever I was home sick as a kid (which was often!). I loved everything about it: the iconic sound of the numbers as they turned back and forth, that unbelievably frantic organ-and-xylophone duet of a theme song at the end, and the host (Art James here, usually Hugh Downs) saying "--is right!" after a contestant gives the right answer. Times were simpler then--or maybe I was just oblivious as a four-year-old!
Black and white kinescopes of the color 1961 "Nighttime Concentration" do exist; they were televised during overnight hours 20 years ago when local PBS stations were searching for some old game shows to broadcast for a "nostalgia hour." They were distinguishable from the daytime version through the music by the NBC Orchestra, wider camera angles, different-sounding actions as the board's trilons turned, and the sound of the large fans in the background that were used to help cool the set down due to the hotter lights required for color. Unfortunately, other than that they must have originally come out of NBC storage, who currently has them or whether or not they went back to NBC after airing.
I'm from Shitcago (where that operatic, bipolar monster of the music came from, and "ahhr aaacents" are terrible). I have a lot of respect and learned to love a real Southern accent. America is a big country (thank God), with 50 states. Thank God my state (outside the embarassment to nation) is HUGE, with Southern accents in the lower half.
Thanks much for this one! I had just turned two when this aired. I even (vaguely) remember that set, and I recall Art sub-hosting a handful of episodes over the years.
Did you know that Jack Barry, host of "The Joker's Wild", and Dan Enright's company created "Concentration" but had to give it to NBC because of their involvement with the quiz show scandals.
During most of it's original NBC run, Hugh Downs was host of "Concentration". In 1959, Downs was also Jack Paar's announcer/sidekick on "The Tonight Show". Since "Concentration" originated from New York, it's possible that this episode was broadcast at a time when Downs (and Paar) may have been doing The Tonight Show" for a week or two from Burbank.
Downs began hosting "Today" in 1962, after Jack Paar left the "Tonight Show". Downs was briefly announcer/sidekick for some of the guest hosts who filled in until Johnny Carson took over Downs left "Tonight" ages months before taking over "Today's".
My mother was on the show. I was in the audience at about age 10 I think 1965 maybe. I remember the puzzle was Hope you had a good time. I wish I could find the recording. I’ve been trying for years. Even wrote the network and GSN but never got a response 😢
And in 1969 and again in 1981 he would host another Concentration style game "Pay Cards!" then "Super Pay Cards!". He was one of the most underrated hosts in TV history. Also he hosted another Concentration type game called "Catch Phrase" which were animated rebus puzzles.
As for my recent inquiry, that contestant's name was either "Janet" OR "Janice." Her last name was Clark. I know she was a Concentration contestant on September 4th, 1959. Again,, is she still alive? If so, tell her she is remembered quite well! Thank you!
He'd have felt funny if the puzzle really was "The Middle of the Night." Compare and contrast the rebus puzzles in this game with the ones in later years ... Norm Blumenthal and his artists really came into their own in the '60s.
Is it me, or do the contestants podiums look different than on the shows hosted by Clayton/Narz? Everything else (the trilons and prize boards) is the same.
Was it in late August, 1959? I DO remember a man with a name similar to that. I thought his name was Schuster. BUT, it COULD have been Schuessler. This particular contestant always called number 24 first! The person who beat him was Janet (OR Janice) Clark. It was right before Labor Day weekend, in '59. Does this help any?
I don't know about that, but it's really not a very satisfying way to win--the game being given away to you by the opponent's correct response after the buzzer goes off.
Is it just me or did Concentration sometimes have crappy prizes? If you’re gonna offer spaghetti as a prize I would’ve imagined doing a year’s supply not just one plate of it.
Spaghetti, One Meatball, and Confetti were “gag prizes.” The original Concentration had them as insurance. If a contestant had a gag prize on the board and matched a Forfeit (and there were six Forfeit squares each game), they would gladly send a gag prize to the opponent. Strategy was important here; if someone had only great prizes, and called a number that was a Forfeit, often they would pass their tum, or call another number they had seen before that wasn’t a match.
Wonderful nostalgia!
Art James was the most under-rated game show host ever.
Is Art James still alive?
Passed away 3/28/2004.
I remember him best for Say When and The Who, What, Or Where Game.
You have got to love the organ!!! We played the home games all the time!
My all-time favorite game show: I watched the original episodes whenever I was home sick as a kid (which was often!). I loved everything about it: the iconic sound of the numbers as they turned back and forth, that unbelievably frantic organ-and-xylophone duet of a theme song at the end, and the host (Art James here, usually Hugh Downs) saying "--is right!" after a contestant gives the right answer. Times were simpler then--or maybe I was just oblivious as a four-year-old!
Black and white kinescopes of the color 1961 "Nighttime Concentration" do exist; they were televised during overnight hours 20 years ago when local PBS stations were searching for some old game shows to broadcast for a "nostalgia hour." They were distinguishable from the daytime version through the music by the NBC Orchestra, wider camera angles, different-sounding actions as the board's trilons turned, and the sound of the large fans in the background that were used to help cool the set down due to the hotter lights required for color. Unfortunately, other than that they must have originally come out of NBC storage, who currently has them or whether or not they went back to NBC after airing.
Bringing back memories of my youth, in the wake of Hugh Downs's death. Thank you!
Thanks much. Very cool game show. Really luv the Southern accent Lady. No matches n michigan only Southern. God bless America again.😇😁🗽⛪🐴
I'm from Shitcago (where that operatic, bipolar monster of the music came from, and "ahhr aaacents" are terrible). I have a lot of respect and learned to love a real Southern accent. America is a big country (thank God), with 50 states. Thank God my state (outside the embarassment to nation) is HUGE, with Southern accents in the lower half.
Thanks much for this one! I had just turned two when this aired. I even (vaguely) remember that set, and I recall Art sub-hosting a handful of episodes over the years.
Bill McCord,like Bill Hanaran also introduced Huntley,Brinkley and all other NBC News programs.
Did you know that Jack Barry, host of "The Joker's Wild", and Dan Enright's company created "Concentration" but had to give it to NBC because of their involvement with the quiz show scandals.
I thought they had sold their game shows to NBC before the scandals broke, Twenty-One at least.
I like the audience clapping in rhythm
Until "Jeopardy" came along, "Concentration" was my favorite game show.
During most of it's original NBC run, Hugh Downs was host of "Concentration". In 1959, Downs was also Jack Paar's announcer/sidekick on "The Tonight Show". Since "Concentration" originated from New York, it's possible that this episode was broadcast at a time when Downs (and Paar) may have been doing The Tonight Show" for a week or two from Burbank.
Hugh Downs was quite a busy man, being Jack Paar's sidekick on the Tonight Show, hosting the
Today Show and hosting Concentration. How did he sleep?
Downs began hosting "Today" in 1962, after Jack Paar left the "Tonight Show". Downs was briefly announcer/sidekick for some of the guest hosts who filled in until Johnny Carson took over
Downs left "Tonight" ages months before taking over "Today's".
Longtime NBC announcer Bill McCord filled in for Art James.
My mother was on the show. I was in the audience at about age 10 I think 1965 maybe. I remember the puzzle was Hope you had a good time. I wish I could find the recording. I’ve been trying for years. Even wrote the network and GSN but never got a response 😢
Art James was a very likeable host of this game.
+Russ Mason Hugh Downs was a far better host
Russ Mason q
Art was still honing his skills at this point. He would eventually become a terrific host
And in 1969 and again in 1981 he would host another Concentration style game "Pay Cards!" then "Super Pay Cards!". He was one of the most underrated hosts in TV history. Also he hosted another Concentration type game called "Catch Phrase" which were animated rebus puzzles.
@@willmack5909 And is best known for his hosting The Who, What or Where Game that aired in the early 1970's.
After all,RCA once owned NBC.
Sorry the old commercial's weren't included.
As for my recent inquiry, that contestant's name was either "Janet" OR "Janice." Her last name was Clark. I know she was a Concentration contestant on September 4th, 1959. Again,, is she still alive? If so, tell her she is remembered quite well! Thank you!
Is Janice Clark, a contestant from August/September, 1959, still alive? She was my favorite contestant on any TV game show.
Does any archival listing exist, on past contestants on ancient TV quiz shows?
He'd have felt funny if the puzzle really was "The Middle of the Night."
Compare and contrast the rebus puzzles in this game with the ones in later years ... Norm Blumenthal and his artists really came into their own in the '60s.
I don't understand why they couldn't move the prize list up when the spaghetti prize switched?
Is it me, or do the contestants podiums look different than on the shows hosted by Clayton/Narz? Everything else (the trilons and prize boards) is the same.
Do you have any other episodes of this show during this year? My father was on the show and I'm trying to find a recording of him.
Was it in late August, 1959? I DO remember a man with a name similar to that. I thought his name was Schuster. BUT, it COULD have been Schuessler. This particular contestant always called number 24 first! The person who beat him was Janet (OR Janice) Clark. It was right before Labor Day weekend, in '59. Does this help any?
Wow!!! That's art James???????
A very young Art James.
@@mikewrasman5103 He was 29 at the time, I believe.
i love art james how did he die
According to wikipedia, he died of unspecified natural causes during a visit to his brother in Palm Springs, California.
Geritol for “tired blood” lol
Contestant Millie FAKES "feeling bad"for opponent Igrid.Millie DID NOT win "fair and square",the cold hearted BUZZARD.
I don't know about that, but it's really not a very satisfying way to win--the game being given away to you by the opponent's correct response after the buzzer goes off.
She made sure she got that trip first, a plate of spaghetti wasn't much to win on.
Is it just me or did Concentration sometimes have crappy prizes? If you’re gonna offer spaghetti as a prize I would’ve imagined doing a year’s supply not just one plate of it.
Spaghetti, One Meatball, and Confetti were “gag prizes.” The original Concentration had them as insurance. If a contestant had a gag prize on the board and matched a Forfeit (and there were six Forfeit squares each game), they would gladly send a gag prize to the opponent. Strategy was important here; if someone had only great prizes, and called a number that was a Forfeit, often they would pass their tum, or call another number they had seen before that wasn’t a match.
That southern accent uck
Wasn’t geritol debunked as totally useless?
Take the loser to Argentina .