The Game Show Forum
The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: geno57 on March 12, 2004, 10:51:23 PM
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I just received the Shokus Video release that contains this gem. It's been on the trading circuit for some time now. I have always wondered what some of the differences were, between the pilot and the show as it made it to the air. Now I know, so I will list a few for those old-timers, like myself, who are interested in such trivia.
* Although the theme song chosen for the show was "A Swingin' Safari", the pilot used Billy Vaughan's hit version. The recording used during nearly all of the NBC run was that of the tune's composer, Bert Kaempfert. (For the last year or so, I believe they used a Score Productions piece.)
* The opening animation was different. The letters in "The" and "Game" changed fonts, one by one, several times as the two halves of the word "Match" slid into place.
* Gene interviewed the celebs at the doorway, as they entered the studio.
* The celebrity team captains (Peggy Cass and Peter Lind Hayes) sat in the center of their respective desks in the pilot, with the scoring mechanisms below them. They (along with the score displays) were relocated, for the series, to the inner positions, left and right of center. For the series, the desks were pushed together.
* They didn't use a sound effect for a match in the pilot. They came up with a good, effective one for the series. (I believe it was the combined sounds of an electronic buzzer and a cash register, followed by a bell.)
* Scoring ... Ten points per match, 50 (five matches) needed to win. In the series, I guess to make the game move a little faster, they made it 25 points per match, 100 (four matches) to win.
* They didn't call the endgame the "Audience Match" yet. Also, they surveyed an audience from a recent episode of "Play Your Hunch".
There are other slight differences, but they will have to wait for another time.
Go ahead. Call me a game show geek. An OLD game show geek, even. I don't care.
Oh, by the way, there's also an episode of "The Object Is", with Dick Clark, on this tape. Horrible game, IMO. The only redeeming thing about it is, the voiceover promo at the closing credits invites us to stay tuned for "Seven Keys" with Jack Narz, next.
I'd give my right toenail to see an episode of "Seven Keys".
This tape also contains the Bill Cullen classic "Eye Guess", and an ep of "Let's Make A Deal".
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I got this gem via my most recent tape trade with Matt Kaiser. (Thanks a million, Matt!)
Go ahead. Call me a game show geek. An OLD game show geek, even. I don't care.
From one 'old game show geek' to another, wecolme to the club, pal!
Oh, by the way, there's also an episode of The Object Is, with Dick Clark, on this tape. Horrible game, IMO. The only redeeming thing about it is, the voiceover promo at the closing credits invites us to stay tuned for Seven Keys with Jack Narz, next.
I'd give my right toenail to see an episode of Seven Keys.
I got the former show via trading with Chuckie Baby Donegan. And there IS one episode of Seven Keys on the trading circuit. I got that show via trading with Brad Francini.
This tape also contains the Bill Cullen classic Eye Guess, and an ep of Let's Make A Deal.
I hope that Eye Guess episode you're talking about is a different one than what's been on the trading circuit for some time.
In the meantime, I'm still waiting for Music Bingo, Charge Account, Double Exposure, Window Shopping, What's This Song, Call My Bluff, Chain Letter (NOT Reaction!), Dream Girl of '67, and Fast Draw!
Cordially,
Tammy Warner--the 'Nanette Fabray of the Big Board!'
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I just went to the Shokus site in search of this tape and couldn't find it. I e-mailed them and they answered saying it's not on their site because it's a private sale to those who ordered from them before. They suggested I have someone order it for me. How am I going to go about this if anyone wants to help out?
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If we're talking about the same Seven Keys episode, it's the one done at a local Los Angeles tv station, right? Not bad, but I'm with you - sure would be great if a net episode with the jazzier theme song and sharper looking game board were to appear in the circuit...or IS there???
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Although the theme song chosen for the show was "A Swingin' Safari", the pilot used Billy Vaughan's hit version. The recording used during nearly all of the NBC run was that of the tune's composer, Bert Kaempfert.
Incidentally, when Varese was getting tracks together for the Best of TV Quiz/GS Themes CD released in 00, which included A Swingin' Safari, they almost used the Billy Vaughn version, but thanks to the intervention of one of our members (who was a contributor), it was caught just in the nick of time.
Chuck Donegan (The Illustrious "Chuckie Baby")
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>>Incidentally, when Varese was getting tracks together for the Best of TV Quiz/GS Themes CD released in 00, which included A Swingin' Safari, they almost used the Billy Vaughn version, but thanks to the intervention of one of our members (who was a contributor), it was caught just in the nick of time.
I didn't know they came that close to using the wrong version in the CD ... but I did notice the error in the Cd insert.
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I also remember that A Swingin' Safari was also covered by Bill Justis. It's in the Smash Records album, Bill Justis Plays 12 Instrumental Hits (or Alley Cat/Green Onions).
And let's not forget the FAMOUS SHIP'S BELL heard on 100 point wins (& later The Telephone Game wins)!
The Ship's bell along with TPIR siren are my two favorite effects!
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[quote name=\'GSWitch\' date=\'Mar 14 2004, 07:22 PM\'] I also remember that A Swingin' Safari was also covered by Bill Justis. It's in the Smash album, Bill Justis Plays 12 Instrumental Hits (or Alley Cat/Green Onions).
And let's not forget the FAMOUS SHIP'S BELL heard on 100 point wins (& later The Telephone Game wins)!
The Ship's bell along with TPIR siren are my two favorite effects! [/quote]
Do you have anymore info of The Telephone Game?
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>>>Do you have anymore info of The Telephone Game?
The new show open, starring Johnny O:
"Here in our studio audience, picked by a lucky draw, is Mrs. Zelda Foont of Grimley, Ohio. Mrs. Foont, if you match the person we call on the telephone, the two of you will split 86 million dollars! Today on The Match Game!"
Cut to shot of the two teams, already standing at their positions, as "A Swingin' Safari" starts up, a verse into it.
"And now here's the host of The Match Game, Gene Rayburn!"
About midway through the show, a call would be placed to a phone number randomly picked from a phone book. The person called might not even know what The Match Game was!
If I remember correctly, 100 bucks would be added to the kitty, each day there was no winner.
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In the meantime, I'm still waiting for Music Bingo, Charge Account, Double Exposure, Window Shopping, What's This Song, Call My Bluff, Chain Letter (NOT Reaction!), Dream Girl of '67, and Fast Draw!
I'm still waiting for "Baffle", "Wizard of Odds", "Celebrity Sweepstakes", "Reel Game", "Spin-Off", early ABC "Password", original "High Rollers", original "Sale of the Century", etc.
Oh well, I can dream can't I?
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On this web page the author says that the Billy Vaughn version was used on the series.
Match Game Theme Page (http://\"http://www.classicthemes.com/50sTVThemes/themePages/matchGame.html\")
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[quote name=\'Ian Wallis\' date=\'Mar 15 2004, 08:16 AM\']
In the meantime, I'm still waiting for Music Bingo, Charge Account, Double Exposure, Window Shopping, What's This Song, Call My Bluff, Chain Letter (NOT Reaction!), Dream Girl of '67, and Fast Draw!
I'm still waiting for "Baffle", "Wizard of Odds", "Celebrity Sweepstakes", "Reel Game", "Spin-Off", early ABC "Password", original "High Rollers", original "Sale of the Century", etc.
Oh well, I can dream can't I? [/quote]
While you're dreaming, add the original "You Don't Say! in there, as well as the early 60s IGAS (the "neener-neener-boo-boo" Norman Paris theme that came between Leroy Andersen and Steve Allen)
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[quote name=\'Ian Wallis\' date=\'Mar 15 2004, 09:16 AM\']
I'm still waiting for "Baffle", "Wizard of Odds", "Celebrity Sweepstakes", "Reel Game", "Spin-Off", early ABC "Password", original "High Rollers", original "Sale of the Century", etc.
[/quote]
IIRC, The Pilots for both Celebrity Sweepstakes & Wizard of Odds are on the circuit. As far as Spin Off & High Rollers, there is at least one ep each in either the circuit, the Museum of TV & Radio archives, or both.
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[quote name=\'TimK2003\' date=\'Mar 15 2004, 03:16 PM\'] IIRC, The Pilots for both Celebrity Sweepstakes & Wizard of Odds are on the circuit. As far as Spin Off & High Rollers, there is at least one ep each in either the circuit, the Museum of TV & Radio archives, or both. [/quote]
If there's a Wizard of Odds out there, I sure don't know about it. Spin-Off is also not available to the general collector. For most of the others that have been named, at least one episode exists in some form, but the general collectors (what we call "the circuit") don't have access to them.
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[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' date=\'Mar 15 2004, 10:22 AM\'] On this web page the author says that the Billy Vaughn version was used on the series.
Match Game Theme Page (http://\"http://www.classicthemes.com/50sTVThemes/themePages/matchGame.html\") [/quote]
I know. I've told him that he's got incorrect information up there. But he says he's going by the Varese Saraband CD insert, which couldn't possibly be incorrect.
(But it is.)
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[quote name=\'geno57\' date=\'Mar 15 2004, 06:31 PM\'] But he says he's going by the Varese Saraband CD insert, which couldn't possibly be incorrect. (But it is.) [/quote]
There are 2 Varese Saraband CDs:
"Classic TV Game Show Themes" doesn't contain "A Swingin' Safari" . It simply has an error in the liner notes that discuss the history of "The Match Game".
"The Best of Quiz & Game Show Themes" has the cut and correctly states that it is composed and performed by Bert Kaempfert.
Now take out your magnifying glass and look for my name under "special thanks" in the acknowledgements on the CD that got it right! ;-)
Randy
tvrandywest.com
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The first Score Productions music cue I ever heard was bumper music for the Telephone Match segment. Thus ended G-T's association with Bob Cobert for what, almost two decades?
100 bucks would be added to the kitty, each day there was no winner.
So in your example, the next two contestants would play for $86,000,100, right?
Classic TV Game Show Themes incorrectly lists Norman Paris as the composer of Plink Plank Plunk. The actual composer was the prolific Leroy Anderson:
http://www.classicthemes.com/50sTVThemes/t...GotASecret.html (http://\"http://www.classicthemes.com/50sTVThemes/themePages/iveGotASecret.html\")
http://www.pbs.org/sleighride/Video&Music/...kplankplunk.htm (http://\"http://www.pbs.org/sleighride/Video&Music/Compositions_plinkplankplunk.htm\")
http://www.leroy-anderson.com/html/biography.htm (http://\"http://www.leroy-anderson.com/html/biography.htm\")
I'm having trouble placing the words "neener-neener-boo-boo" with Norman Paris' IGAS theme. Would the phrase "piccolo march" be an apt description? Anyhoo, on the IGAS theme page linked to above it says "The Theme from 'A Summer Place'" was used for the 1961 - 1962 season. Can anyone here vouch for this? If it's the same composition I'm thinking of, it's a schmaltzy, syrupy piece for strings that falls so squarely into the genre of "dentist's office music" that you can practically hear the drill and smell the novocaine -- not something you'd use to get a game show started.
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Anyhoo, on the IGAS theme page linked to above it says "The Theme from 'A Summer Place'" was used for the 1961 - 1962 season. Can anyone here vouch for this?
Yep, it lasted for about a year. It was in a faster, big band style, and actually sounded pretty good.
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[quote name=\'chris319\' date=\'Mar 16 2004, 12:28 AM\'] I'm having trouble placing the words "neener-neener-boo-boo" with Norman Paris' IGAS theme. Would the phrase "piccolo march" be an apt description?
[/quote]
T'would be another way to describe it, yas.
It's the one used during the late Garry Moore period with the logo of I'VE GOT A in big dark letters and SECRET flashing in the crossbar of the A. (Usually brought to you by General Foods.)
Would "nyah-na-na-NAA-na" be more appropriate?
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Here's how The Telephone Game went for example.
In the middle of the show, a telephone rang on Gene's podium.
(Phone rings)
JOHNNY: Gene Rayburn, the telephone is ringing!
Gene rushed over to the phone & answers it.
GENE: Hello, are we speaking to Larry from Corsicana, Texas?
LARRY: You sure are.
GENE: Well if you match what Mrs. Anita Colin wrote on her card, you will split a jackpot that is @ $2,400! Ready?
LARRY: Sure am.
GENE: Fruit ________. You got 10 seconds to think that over.
When the time expires...
GENE: OK Larry, please gives us an answer to our fill in. Fruit __________.
LARRY: FRUITCAKE!
(audience moans & booes)
GENE: What would you have said?
(Audience yells out various stuff)
GENE: I heard salad, cobbler, & loops. LOOPS? Anyway, Mrs. Colin, for $2,400, what did you say?
Mrs. Colin flips the card over to reveal........CAKE! The audience applauds while the FAMOUS ship's bell rings. Gene suddenly hears Larry doing his Curly cry! Mrs. Colin comes down on stage & talks to Larry thaking him!
GENE: What's with all the hoopla about fruitcake?
LARRY: Corsicana's famous its fruitcakes around Christmas!
GENE: Guess you live in a fruitcake home (LOL)! What are you going to do with $1,200?
LARRY: Store it away like a squirrel does its nuts!
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The tape arrived yesterday and I watched it. The Match Game was interesting and fun to watch. Twice during the episode I could glimpse someone barely in the camera frame and running around backstage.
BTW, The Eye Guess episode shows ample evidence of Bill Cullen's genius. He cracked wise with contestants and the announcer, Jack Clark.
Ah, those were the good old days.
Alfonzo Smith
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[quote name=\'chris319\' date=\'Mar 16 2004, 01:28 AM\']Classic TV Game Show Themes incorrectly lists Norman Paris as the composer of Plink Plank Plunk. The actual composer was the prolific Leroy Anderson:
http://www.classicthemes.com/50sTVThemes/t...GotASecret.html (http://\"http://www.classicthemes.com/50sTVThemes/themePages/iveGotASecret.html\")
http://www.pbs.org/sleighride/Video&Music/...kplankplunk.htm (http://\"http://www.pbs.org/sleighride/Video&Music/Compositions_plinkplankplunk.htm\")
http://www.leroy-anderson.com/html/biography.htm (http://\"http://www.leroy-anderson.com/html/biography.htm\")[/quote]
I've had my copy of Classic TV Game Show Themes since about October 2002, and it doesn't even have the IGAS theme. I don't know if this change of tracks is/was common among the batch(es) of the CD pressed when mine was, but I suppose the mis-credit on the IGAS theme in earlier pressings might have something to do with it.
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[quote name=\'Tony\' date=\'Mar 16 2004, 06:47 PM\'] [quote name=\'chris319\' date=\'Mar 16 2004, 01:28 AM\']Classic TV Game Show Themes incorrectly lists Norman Paris as the composer of Plink Plank Plunk. The actual composer was the prolific Leroy Anderson:
http://www.classicthemes.com/50sTVThemes/t...GotASecret.html (http://\"http://www.classicthemes.com/50sTVThemes/themePages/iveGotASecret.html\")
http://www.pbs.org/sleighride/Video&Music/...kplankplunk.htm (http://\"http://www.pbs.org/sleighride/Video&Music/Compositions_plinkplankplunk.htm\")
http://www.leroy-anderson.com/html/biography.htm (http://\"http://www.leroy-anderson.com/html/biography.htm\")[/quote]
I've had my copy of Classic TV Game Show Themes since about October 2002, and it doesn't even have the IGAS theme. I don't know if this change of tracks is/was common among the batch(es) of the CD pressed when mine was, but I suppose the mis-credit on the IGAS theme in earlier pressings might have something to do with it. [/quote]
Mine doesn't either---it only has 19 tracks, the IGAS theme missing.
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Would "nyah-na-na-NAA-na" be more appropriate?
That's better. You were adding an extra beat in your other version.
Bizarre about some CDs not containing Plink Plank Plunk.
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I've had my copy of Classic TV Game Show Themes since about October 2002, and it doesn't even have the IGAS theme. I don't know if this change of tracks is/was common among the batch(es) of the CD pressed when mine was, but I suppose the mis-credit on the IGAS theme in earlier pressings might have something to do with it.
Mine doesn't either---it only has 19 tracks, the IGAS theme missing.
My own copy of the 1st Game Show Themes CD (which I've had since 1998) does have the original IGaS theme on there. Either that theme was pulled from later copies, or you probably have your CDs confused.
Cordially,
Tammy Warner--the 'Nancy Myers of the Big Board!'
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[quote name=\'Winkfan\' date=\'Mar 17 2004, 12:00 AM\'] [quote name=\'PeterMarshallFan\' date=\'Mar 16 2004, 02:50 PM\'] [quote name=\'Tony\' date=\'Mar 16 2004, 06:47 PM\']
I've had my copy of Classic TV Game Show Themes since about October 2002, and it doesn't even have the IGAS theme. I don't know if this change of tracks is/was common among the batch(es) of the CD pressed when mine was, but I suppose the mis-credit on the IGAS theme in earlier pressings might have something to do with it. [/quote]
Mine doesn't either---it only has 19 tracks, the IGAS theme missing. [/quote]
My own copy of the 1st Game Show Themes CD (which I've had since 1998) does have the original IGaS theme on there. Either that theme was pulled from later copies, or you probably have your CDs confused.
Cordially,
Tammy Warner--the 'Nancy Myers of the Big Board!' [/quote]
I can't speak for Mr. Davidson, but I am absolutely, 100% sure that my CD is the first volume, Classic TV Game Show Themes. I don't even have the second one, called The Best of TV Quiz and Game Show Themes.
Like I said before, my copy was (probably) pressed in 2002. According to you, yours was pressed in 1998, the year the CD was first issued. Therefore I state with relative confidence that "Plink Plank Plunk" was pulled from later pressings if the first CD, and with absolute confidence that I do not have my CDs confused.
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I'd be astonished if they had an additional pressing in 2002.
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I guess with the direction that GSN is now going in, we can probably give up hope of ever having a third CD??...
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[quote name=\'Ian Wallis\' date=\'Mar 17 2004, 02:27 PM\']I guess with the direction that GSN is now going in, we can probably give up hope of ever having a third CD??...[/quote]
Varese Sarabande doesn't need to have GSN's cooperation to continue the series--they could just release a third volume without GSN logos or graphics on the package.
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[quote name=\'Tony\' date=\'Mar 17 2004, 02:57 PM\'] [quote name=\'Winkfan\' date=\'Mar 17 2004, 12:00 AM\'] [quote name=\'PeterMarshallFan\' date=\'Mar 16 2004, 02:50 PM\'] [quote name=\'Tony\' date=\'Mar 16 2004, 06:47 PM\']
I've had my copy of Classic TV Game Show Themes since about October 2002, and it doesn't even have the IGAS theme. I don't know if this change of tracks is/was common among the batch(es) of the CD pressed when mine was, but I suppose the mis-credit on the IGAS theme in earlier pressings might have something to do with it. [/quote]
Mine doesn't either---it only has 19 tracks, the IGAS theme missing. [/quote]
My own copy of the 1st Game Show Themes CD (which I've had since 1998) does have the original IGaS theme on there. Either that theme was pulled from later copies, or you probably have your CDs confused.
Cordially,
Tammy Warner--the 'Nancy Myers of the Big Board!' [/quote]
I can't speak for Mr. Davidson, but I am absolutely, 100% sure that my CD is the first volume, Classic TV Game Show Themes. I don't even have the second one, called The Best of TV Quiz and Game Show Themes.
Like I said before, my copy was (probably) pressed in 2002. According to you, yours was pressed in 1998, the year the CD was first issued. Therefore I state with relative confidence that "Plink Plank Plunk" was pulled from later pressings if the first CD, and with absolute confidence that I do not have my CDs confused. [/quote]
I'm looking at both of them right now. The second has twenty tracks, MG6x through Rock and Roll Jeopardy. The first one only has 19, WoF to Chain Reaction. Missing is indeed the IGAS Plink Plank Plunk theme. Mine has a 1998 copyright but I bought it in 2002.
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[quote name=\'PeterMarshallFan\' date=\'Mar 17 2004, 04:18 PM\'] I'm looking at both of them right now. The second has twenty tracks, MG6x through Rock and Roll Jeopardy. The first one only has 19, WoF to Chain Reaction. Missing is indeed the IGAS Plink Plank Plunk theme. Mine has a 1998 copyright but I bought it in 2002. [/quote]
Ditto here.
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[quote name=\'chris319\' date=\'Mar 17 2004, 02:21 PM\']I'd be astonished if they had an additional pressing in 2002.[/quote]
Hence, the "probably" in:
my copy was (probably) pressed in 2002.
Another possibility could be that the second pressing occored in 2000, to coincide with the release of the second GS Themes CD.