The Game Show Forum

The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: Dbacksfan12 on August 31, 2010, 06:47:55 AM

Title: Playing the Part of a host
Post by: Dbacksfan12 on August 31, 2010, 06:47:55 AM
Marc Summers once related a story where he said something to the effect of "he was standing on his bed, imitating Bill Cullen".

Do others have any similar memories--not of watching shows--but doing some gameshow activity when you were young?  I'll start...I distinctly remember using our mini blinds to "play" Classic Concentration.
Title: Playing the Part of a host
Post by: SamPrainito on August 31, 2010, 09:08:22 AM
Pretending to be Barker, I'd use a drinking straw and piece of string for a microphone and remind my audience to have their pets "spayed or noodled".
Title: Playing the Part of a host
Post by: Mr. Armadillo on August 31, 2010, 09:20:13 AM
I used to play Dice Game with these (http://\"http://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=011627&reviewsShowAll=true\") back when I was a kid, among many, many other examples of similar geekiness.
Title: Playing the Part of a host
Post by: DrBear on August 31, 2010, 09:27:50 AM
Actually, I wanted to be Johnny Carson - I'd go stand in front of the big garage doors at the power company's district facility next to my house and pretend I was Johnny standing in front of the curtain.

The only problem was that the feed mill across the street was a lousy audience.

(I know this seems sarcastic, but it's true)
Title: Playing the Part of a host
Post by: Steve Gavazzi on August 31, 2010, 09:40:04 AM
I used to play The $25,000 Pyramid with my grandmother using playing cards.

I don't really remember how that worked anymore...when you're five years old, you can make sense of some pretty goofy ideas.
Title: Playing the Part of a host
Post by: GMar on August 31, 2010, 10:00:18 AM
(Really showing my age here) When I was a kid, I was addicted to "Strike It Rich" (the original Warren Hull 50s version). My grandfather, who was a carpenter, built me a replica of the big FAB box with the giant heart scoreboard, complete with a telephone for the "Heartline".  I would get behind the living room curtains...introduce myself...then come out. I would even ask the quiz questions, but my dogs never did give the right answers.
Title: Playing the Part of a host
Post by: brianhenke on August 31, 2010, 11:38:43 AM
[quote name=\'GMar\' post=\'246591\' date=\'Aug 31 2010, 10:00 AM\'](Really showing my age here) When I was a kid, I was addicted to "Strike It Rich" (the original Warren Hull 50s version). My grandfather, who was a carpenter, built me a replica of the big FAB box with the giant heart scoreboard, complete with a telephone for the "Heartline".  I would get behind the living room curtains...introduce myself...then come out. I would even ask the quiz questions, but my dogs never did give the right answers.[/quote]

I played a GS host in school (1978).

Brian
Title: Playing the Part of a host
Post by: JasonA1 on August 31, 2010, 12:30:14 PM
Of course; probably too many to mention. Remember those parts of the swing set where you sat facing a friend (http://\"http://www.foreverredwood.com/images/st_anthony_swing_dsm2.jpg\")? I would rope kids into playing the Winner's Circle with me using these. The only category I can still remember trying to convey was "brands of beer."

I used to use my Legos to build the PYL contestant island, using our record player as the mechanism to turn it.

I also had a set of building blocks on a wagon whose shapes were perfect for recreating Classic Concentration's take cards and strike displays.

The large cement piece gas stations have to protect the pumps always used to remind me of the Power Surge railing on Get the Picture.

And of course, I had an array of toy microphones as a kid, to go with my thrift store-obtained wardrobe of kids' suits.

-Jason
Title: Playing the Part of a host
Post by: clemon79 on August 31, 2010, 12:52:09 PM
[quote name=\'Steve Gavazzi\' post=\'246589\' date=\'Aug 31 2010, 06:40 AM\']I used to play The $25,000 Pyramid with my grandmother using playing cards.[/quote]
"The Jacksons... Duran Duran...Studio 54..."

"The Five of Clubs!"

"Ding!"
Title: Playing the Part of a host
Post by: chad1m on August 31, 2010, 01:45:59 PM
[quote name=\'JasonA1\' post=\'246594\' date=\'Aug 31 2010, 12:30 PM\']Of course; probably too many to mention...And of course, I had an array of toy microphones as a kid, to go with my thrift store-obtained wardrobe of kids' suits.[/quote]Pretty much. I've got video of my Facebook of hosting a game of Wheel of Fortune with my mother (using the front of the NES game box) before age three and hosting a trivia game before age four ("Okay, mom... What is your phone number?") that I keep getting distracted from because of the USA game shows.
My second grade teacher also let me prepare and present a Jeopardy game for the class every now and again with clues based on taught material as an exam preparation. Looking back, I'm really lucky and appreciative all of the adults in my life tolerated and, somehow, encouraged my obsessive crap. :P
Title: Playing the Part of a host
Post by: Neumms on August 31, 2010, 02:10:25 PM
I played "Truth or Consequences"-era Barker. I had a long souvenir pencil and would go up to family members and ask, "name please?" Or so I'm told. And I'd host some kind of game next to the tailgate of my dad's pickup with the embossed letters in "Chevrolet."

Thank you for letting me get these repressed memories out.
Title: Playing the Part of a host
Post by: BrandonFG on August 31, 2010, 03:47:32 PM
The only one that immediately comes to mind is me playing the Davidson "Hollywood Squares" board game with my family, and somehow playing the car key game with a Matchbox car.
Title: Playing the Part of a host
Post by: Winkfan on August 31, 2010, 03:51:39 PM
Showing MY age here: As a kid, I dressed up as Elaine Stewart for Halloween...two years in a row. (Of course, I had to wear an eye mask.....)

Cordially,
Tammy
Title: Playing the Part of a host
Post by: alfonzos on August 31, 2010, 05:22:20 PM
Oh yeah, I asked for at least one game show home game every Christmas just so I could play host. I would draw my own games out of cardboard for the ones I didn't have. Games that didn't need a host (such as Password) I would host anyway.
Title: Playing the Part of a host
Post by: gameboy2000 on August 31, 2010, 05:53:37 PM
I used to play game show host with some of my friends back in school.
Title: Playing the Part of a host
Post by: Kevin Prather on August 31, 2010, 07:17:52 PM
At age 4, I would watch The New Price is Right and emulate Doug Davidson. When that show went off the air, I turned to Bob Barker.
Title: Playing the Part of a host
Post by: Bob Zager on August 31, 2010, 07:37:24 PM
Having had a lot of game show home games over all these years, I'd often play the role of host, or if a friend(s) of the same age as me were playing, I'd let my older brother do the job.

I liked how when my brother played host to a friend and me at a game of CONCENTRATION, when he'd reveal two pieces of the puzzle, he would occassionally say "CAREFUL, AUDIENCE!!" as Hugh Downs and Bob Clayton were often heard saying!
Title: Playing the Part of a host
Post by: BrandonFG on August 31, 2010, 07:40:17 PM
[quote name=\'Kevin Prather\' post=\'246623\' date=\'Aug 31 2010, 07:17 PM\']At age 4, I would watch The New Price is Right and emulate Doug Davidson.[/quote]
You. Lawn. Hell. OFF.
Title: Playing the Part of a host
Post by: sideshowPA on August 31, 2010, 07:44:43 PM
I built Price sets out of Legos all the time, with working doors and turntable.  Made "trilons" using cardboard and toothpicks.  And set up Wheel of Fortune shopping areas in my basement.  Always saw myself more as the announcer than the host, though.
Title: Playing the Part of a host
Post by: gameshowcrazy on August 31, 2010, 08:11:01 PM
Glad to see I'm not the only one...

Growing up, the kids in my neighborhood were subjected to playing TPIR, Pyramid, Scam of the Century (yes, it was a scam, when we didn't buy the instant rip-offs the host would raise the price), WOF and many others.

I guess it never stopped since in recent years I've hosted trivia night at a local pub and as I've been creating game shows, I've had game show parties at home with friends testing my games to see if my ideas work.
Title: Playing the Part of a host
Post by: Marc412 on August 31, 2010, 10:03:47 PM
My first vivid memory of playing the part of a game show host comes from when I was about 5 or 6.  High Rollers was on at the time, so we had the idea that I'd "be" Wink Martindale, and Mom and Dad would be my contestants.  I had 9 square wooden building blocks on which Mom had written the digits 1 through 9, and I'd set up for each round by arranging them randomly in a square on the end of our coffee table.  As for questions, I had a little electronic toy with a bunch of multiple-choice question cards (written for kindergartners, mind you).  I'd ask them the questions, and a right answer earned control of the dice.  It was fun.

Also, in 1999, my junior year of high school, I took Spanish III with a bunch of kids who were taking Spanish II.  When it came time to review for a test, our teacher, being a nice woman and knowing I knew the material better than the younger students, would let me host various game show-inspired games, such as Jeopardy!, Tic Tac Dough, Wheel of Fortune, even The Joker's Wild (I used three dice instead of a slot machine, and 6's were wild).  I'd make up questions on the spot based on the categories needed, and a good time was had by all.
Title: Playing the Part of a host
Post by: TLEberle on August 31, 2010, 10:06:32 PM
[quote name=\'Marc412\' post=\'246634\' date=\'Aug 31 2010, 07:03 PM\']even The Joker's Wild (I used three dice instead of a slot machine, and 6's were wild).  I'd make up questions on the spot based on the categories needed, and a good time was had by all.[/quote]Oh, you poor sod. Somehow, I had in my posession a copy of the rerelease of Go For Broke, with various actual moving parts and stuff. One of them was a slot machine, and the Rich Guy in Top Hat became Joker, and the other five fruit machine symbols became verb conjugations, nouns, numbers, potpourri, and of course, Fast Forward: Pain.
Title: Playing the Part of a host
Post by: Strikerz04 on August 31, 2010, 10:43:46 PM
When I was 6, and after watching $ale of the Century, I tried to talk like Jim Perry--with both diction and speed.


/Helped out when I was on the Debate Team 8 years later.
Title: Playing the Part of a host
Post by: clemon79 on August 31, 2010, 11:55:07 PM
[quote name=\'TLEberle\' post=\'246636\' date=\'Aug 31 2010, 07:06 PM\']and of course, Fast Forward: Pain.[/quote]
Matt Ottinger once reeled off 47 correct answers in a row in this category.
Title: Playing the Part of a host
Post by: Jeremy Nelson on September 01, 2010, 12:12:25 AM
[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'246644\' date=\'Aug 31 2010, 10:55 PM\'][quote name=\'TLEberle\' post=\'246636\' date=\'Aug 31 2010, 07:06 PM\']and of course, Fast Forward: Pain.[/quote]
Matt Ottinger once reeled off 47 correct answers in a row in this category.
[/quote]
Well played.

[quote name=\'chad1m\' post=\'246597\' date=\'Aug 31 2010, 12:45 PM\']Looking back, I'm really lucky and appreciative all of the adults in my life tolerated and, somehow, encouraged my obsessive crap dream. :P[/quote]
Fixed that for ya, but seconded nonetheless. :)

I was big on Wheel of Fortune; I'd use the cardboard circle from the most recent frozen pizza to make a wheel, along with magnetic fridge letters for my puzzle board. I also had the pleasure of hosting Family Feud or Generic Trivia Game whenever my school had some sort of school spirit event where we had to pit grades, genders, or students and faculty against each other.
Title: Playing the Part of a host
Post by: Neumms on September 01, 2010, 10:50:27 AM
[quote name=\'Bob Zager\' post=\'246625\' date=\'Aug 31 2010, 06:37 PM\']I liked how when my brother played host to a friend and me at a game of CONCENTRATION, when he'd reveal two pieces of the puzzle, he would occassionally say "CAREFUL, AUDIENCE!!" as Hugh Downs and Bob Clayton were often heard saying![/quote]

That made me chuckle. I also know of a talk-show host in his 60s who frequently says, "Not a match. Board goes back."
Title: Playing the Part of a host
Post by: Tim L on September 01, 2010, 11:01:21 AM
When I was probably 6-8 years old I would take an old desk or TV stand and I would play host on "The Price Is Right" (Cullen Version) with family members..We would use the Spiegel or Montgomery Ward Catalog for Bidding prices, this would have to be during the ABC years (1963-65)
Title: Playing the Part of a host
Post by: geno57 on September 01, 2010, 11:28:46 PM
[quote name=\'Modor\' post=\'246583\' date=\'Aug 31 2010, 05:47 AM\']...I distinctly remember using our mini blinds to "play" Classic Concentration.[/quote]

We had a pair of wooden doors with slats, between the kitchen and the dining room.  Those were my "Concentration" prize doors.  Contestants had to come in through them (although they didn't slide like elevator doors).
Title: Playing the Part of a host
Post by: TLEberle on September 02, 2010, 12:01:21 AM
[quote name=\'fostergray82\' post=\'246626\' date=\'Aug 31 2010, 04:40 PM\'][quote name=\'Kevin Prather\' post=\'246623\' date=\'Aug 31 2010, 07:17 PM\']At age 4, I would watch The New Price is Right and emulate Doug Davidson.[/quote]
You. Lawn. Hell. OFF.[/quote]Pay no mind to the cranky black man, Grasshoppa. :)


[quote name=\'Strikerz04\' post=\'246639\' date=\'Aug 31 2010, 07:43 PM\']When I was 6, and after watching $ale of the Century, I tried to talk like Jim Perry--with both diction and speed.[/quote]A couple of weekends ago, the family met up in Port Angeles. As The Guy Who Knows Games, that falls upon me, and I cart along Time's Up: Title Recall. I have the misfortune of having Mumsy as my partner, and a combination of bad short term memory and...daftness, I guess, has brought some gems like (For Green Acres) "OK, what do you get when you mix blue and yellow?" "Orange!"

When I said "Wrong!" you would think that someone had just blown their shot at a cash jackpot.
Title: Playing the Part of a host
Post by: mbclev on September 02, 2010, 04:12:01 AM
In my 11th grade English class I hosted a regulation match of "Gambit" using questions based on the play Cyrano de Bergerac (which we were studying).  I even recreated the "Gambit" logo from that time as part of the Any 21 jackpot sign (the jackpot I used for this match was $8000).  Nowadays, I enjoy imitating Mac McGarry whenever I see Washington It's Academic videos on YouTube and on WJZ-TV's web site (the most recent It's Ac "Super Bowl" is now up).  (I watched the Washington It's Academic in the 1970s when my grandmother on my father's side was still living in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, and I got to see a taping there on November 11, 2000 and got to meet Mac, as well as show creator Sophie Altman.)
Title: Playing the Part of a host
Post by: MyronMMeyer on September 02, 2010, 05:22:46 PM
Most of the games I'd play as a kid were some variation of Card Sharks, since I could deal out a game of that and play by myself. For prizes, I'd cut out prizes from those Benson and Hedges 100s contest ads they used to have. Anyone else remember those?

-M
Title: Playing the Part of a host
Post by: GiraffeBoy on September 05, 2010, 12:16:09 PM
Used the front wheel from a "Big Wheel" trike to play the Showcase Showdown -- wrote numbers on the spokes.  (probably late 70s)

Wrote questions for a game of "Tic Tac Dough" for an English class project (all the questions were about "A Tale of Two Cities").  For the class presentation, my friend hosted, and I *played* the game against another classmate. (Talk about a RIGGED game...he was purposely trying to lose, and I could only remember the answers to the questions I wrote!)

Tried out for "Joker! Joker! Joker!" when I was 9 and the "Jeopardy!" teen tournament in my HS years.

--Charlie

/celebrating 30 years of trying out for game shows