The Match Game (NBC) w/ Gene Rayburn Tribute, "A Swingin' Safari" (( Stereo ))

[Railrodder]

I have a box set (DVD) with 30 episodes(uncut) that was given to me by my kids!

[kingbushwickthe33rd]

I remember the later version from the early 70's.

Still"Swinging Safari"is a swingin'little ditty.

[MrLehnerd]

why do i get critics i doin best can i not prefect at all.....all sayin Gene Rayburn was Mr Match Game is all

[Fooblestheclown]

BRAVO!  Gene Rayburn Forever!!

[ridgerunner721601]

I was born in 1960 and can barely remember when Swingin' Safari was the theme song for The Match Game. Just love those great old shows along with Gene and Johnny.

[toscodav]

This show was taped in the same studio that Saturday night live resides.

[gymnastix]

@toscodav Better use of that studio for "The Match Game."

[Rahxn]

Wow...I always remember Match Game on CBS as a kid. I thought they were the originators....my mistake!!!!

[UglySean]

That was fun. Gene Rayburn was fun. Sorry I have no real comment but I'm drawing a --BLANK--

[JayBBluejay]

Gene Rayburn (Eugene Rubessa) and Johnny Olsen, you both are gone but you will never, ever be forgotten. Thanks for many memories.

[gymnastix]

@MrLehnerd  Please, write your comments in complete sentences of the English language.

[tonshaad1230]

This is the first theme song of Match Game in 69!

[vikings844]

love the bass

[RJBFIRECHIEF1]

Gene Rayburn and Johnny Olson!

Two class acts.

They can never be duplicated!

[snickpickle]

VERY nice job on the tribute, with the photos and such! How did you get such a clean copy of "A Swingin' Safari"? My album is certainly scratchy!

[nanlisa]

I definitely remember this. This is use to be on right after I got home from school. Of course, this was the completely innocent one. Just your basic "John and Mary" questions. No Dumb Dora or Old Man Perriwinkle questions.

[rolko52]

I still remember my mother taking me to The Match Game taping at 30 Rock in NYC when I was a child. Don't forget his great announcer, Johnny Olson.

[TimelordR]

We miss you, Gene Rayburn...

[SgtRock57]

Thank you. I have such fond memories of this show with Gene, Brett and the rest of the gang. Those were the days my friend...

[Jimboyc21]

Thank you so much for this tear jerker. I remember that great man and that simple little show when I was a kid home with a cold. Gene was like my Dad, fun , honest but also a little devil of a personality all within good taste and class. Did not realize Gene was so close to my Dads age, he certainly brought lots of laughs to millions. God bless you.

[SueBeaWho]

Gene is always so happy! I love the pic of him when he looks like just a young kid starting out in radio and he is so OBVIOUSLY thrilled! Good man!

[143AC]

Dear Stratman, I hope that you next video tribute to Mr.Rayburn comes very soon. He was one of the truly engaging and talented tv game show hosts

and a very good actor..too.

[keca1430]

Nice to see the color shot. I think The Match Game was the very first TV show I saw in color at a friend's house in '63 or '64, since we didn't have a color TV until around 1972.

[edbjr38]

This tune is currently being used on a "quit smoking" commercial, the one with the guy breaking things on shelves with bad forklift driving.

[jwillis5039]

this is the theme i remember as a kid in the 60s, i never knew the title, it was great to hear it again, rip gene rayburn and the other members who also are no longer here.

[msu2k9]

Poor, poor Gene. Some reporter or something, back in 1985, revealed Gene's age to many in Hollywood who thought he was way younger, just as he was going to host a revival of Match Game starting that year. Sometimes life can be so damned cruel. :'( RIP Gene.

[georgegrew]

I always watched the show..and I remember the tune...nowadays No One knows the old tune...

[jityr2]

@Stratman78 Keep me posted. I don't want to lose this version. The 1970's version is easy to find but not this one.

[lrd9999]

I wonder how much it cost to put together all those diamonds and trapezoids. The blindingly scary color shot at 1:07 is particularly impressive. TV was something special in the '60s!

[TheGraphhound]

STRATMAN WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR VERY MUCH FOR POSTING THIS. I USED TO WATCH THIS SHOW ALL THE TIME WHEN I WAS YOUNGER. I WISH THEY WOULD THIS SHOW BUT AS WE ALL KNOW NOBODY COULD EVER REPLACE GENE. ALSO I WAS ALWAYS WONDERING WHAT WAS THE NAME OF THIS SONG AND THANKS TO YOU I DO. I EVEN PUT IN MY FAVORITES. IT SURE BRINGS BACK ALOT OF MEMORIES. ITS TO BAD THAT TODAYS SHOW ARENT LIKE THIS. RIP GENE YOU ARE SORELY MISSED THEY DONT MAKE THEM LIKE YOU ANYMORE. THANKS AGAIN STRATMAN.

[lrd9999]

I don't remember much about the match game; this theme, coming though a portable TV's speaker, didn't leave much of an impression either. But when I heard it later in HiFi, I couldn't believe how catchy it was. It's the only game show theme worth remembering. I wonder if anyone ever did a reggae or ska version.

[Musmon]

this song was very scary form me when I was a child, It was the DEMON

[samacal]

Michael Landon was on the premiere week of the CBS show. He never reappearaed since he said he hated it.

[TroyOi]

It's impossible to remember Gene Rayburn with anything but a smile on his face. Thanks for the tribute.

[spittysmom]

Great pics of Gene Rayburn ! :)

[HLeonick]

I remember this song back in the day when I was just a boy during the sixties...nice to hear it again which bring back many good memories.

[ridgerunner721601]

I remember watching the Match Game and that theme song on our old black and white Zenith TV back in the mid '60s.

[SueBeaWho]

Just went back and read all the comments...it seems I have a crush on Gene Rayburn lol ..nothing wrong with that ! :-)

[SueBeaWho]

god he was cute!!

[Mr0968]

My father drove dump trucks in Washington D.C. for Leroy Beckford Demolition Company and each time I rode with him we heard this tune on the AM radio. My father passed away in 1968This song keeps the memories alive. Thanks

[stflaw]

@Mr0968

It's wonderful how music can keep old memories alive. Glad you have this to look back on.

[jimmysudar]

boy, how much the attitudes and mores changed between this show and the one we're all familiar with; it's sort of a sociological document. (notice gene didn't ask either of the women what they did, but rather where there homes were.)

[LosAngeleno1959]

What memories! As a kid in the early 60's this song got a lot of play on Los Angeles radio.  I hear the music and remember my dad washing his car in front of the house and our neighbors. Sure wish I could go back to that wonderful time.

[spagandtuna]

Nice piece. GR was lots of fun. Picture of Gene with cow is from What's My Line.

[Lehnerd57]

If ever a Match game ever returns i feel the host should be Greg proops from Who line is is anyway? i wish that show also would return on air to

[weststar69]

Awsome song and show back in the 60's

I liked in the 70's as well. Both songs were good but the 60's song was better.

[mldbb2]

LOVE this music!! Is my happy song!

[edbjr38]

Truly one of the most underrated talents in the industry!

[themountainviewguy]

I used to watch this mindless game after school - argh.

Does anyone remember the phrase Gene Rayburn used when someone would hit on the obvious answer to a question ... the funniest answer and most ironic ... he used to say that was the ??? answer ... what was it he said??

[foot5841]

Gene would say You gave the Definitive Answer!!

[themountainviewguy]

Yeah .... that's right ... I don't know why that was so hard for me to remember ... are you sure that was the exact expression ... maybe it seemed to easy for me now whereas at a younger age it might have seemed like a big word! Thanks.

[SueBeaWho]

Yay, back again!

[SueBeaWho]

I said it once I shall say it again: Hubba, hubba, hubba!!!!!!

[lovetogokiev]

get a load of Michael Landon all fixed up in regular clothes and not looking like "little Joe"

[Lehnerd57]

Gene Rayburn was Mr  Match Game he was the a MC best ever in the 1st match Game till his 2nd one.......Just never same when they can show n CBS just never realized his talent....

[MegastarLV]

I totally agree. I have no idea why they denied him for the 1990 version. In my opinion, his age didn't matter. They should've picked him instead of Ross Shafer.

[the06bug]

Your so right! I mean, look at Bob Barker... he hosted TPIR until he was 83!

[SueBeaWho]

Again, I must reiterate (was that redundant?) lol!

Gene was a HUNK O' MAN!!

[BurkeDevlin66]

i miss GR

[wildcards007]

Gene, YOU ARE AND WILL ALWAYS BE ONE OF A KIND!!!! WE MISS YOU BUDDY

[scottbpt]

i dont mean 2 be depressing, but its just a shame we all gotta die some day.....this is one person for sure, who deserved 2 livve forever, there wasnt any doubt he really enjoyed this life.

[author]

Thanks for posting this. Gene Rayburn is my all-time TV Game Show host.  I used to watch the original Match Game on WRGB in Schenectady, NY when it was an NBC affiliate,

[pjcfay]

Great tribute to Gene Rayburn. I did see in your clip a brief shot of Michael Landon. A good looking young man. He had a great part as Charles Ingalls on Little House on the prarie.

[altfactor]

While not as "raunchy" as the better-known 1970's version, the original "Match Game" was still entertaining and often quite funny.

The original "Match Game" was broadcast in color, and was one of the many NBC color shows of the 1960's that today only exist as black-and-white kinescoopes (and only about a dozen episodes to boot).

And I think Bert Kaempfert's "Swingin' Safari" briefly got on the Billboard magazine "Hot 100" thanks to it's use as the theme music of "Match Game".

[llbrno84]

NBC should have a modern Match Game revival yet still keep some things mainly the Star Wheel and New Year Sign Change. I miss the show and wish it would be on NBC again, not TBS.

[rlrshepherdstown]

Happy Birthday To Gene Rayburn Born December 22nd 1917 in Christopher , Illinois ,and He passed away November 29th 1999 at the age of 81. Gene Rayburn was not only the best Gameshow Host , but he was like a good ole pal . Gene Rayburn is missed by many , but never forgotten . I have known & admired Gene ever since I were a child born in the early 60's ,and yess I do know the ole Theme Song A Swingin Safari real well ,and I own it too . My Dream is I hope to see Gene Rayburn in Heaven .

[man975dog]

@rlrshepherdstown would u believe it? i never knew Gene Rayburn from the '70's version of this TV game show did a previous 1 in the '60's, and i never knew that this famous music was the theme music for the '60's version of Match Game!-now i know all this-it's no wonder y the '70's version of Match Game was always called Match Game '73, M.G '74, M.G. '75 and so on-the theme music to the '70's version was also very nice, and the '70's version seemed 2 b more famous than '60's version.

[man975dog]

@rlrshepherdstown I never watched Gene Rayburn in the 1960's version of "Match Game" but he must have done a good job with it since he was hired again to do the '70's version-I have only seen him in the '70's version and I always enjoyed watching it.

[Lehnerd57]

I like the redid of the song n nice add on of photos of gene rayburn to

[Hondo20132]

Gene Rayburn's real name was Eugene Rubessa? That's more than meets the eye.

[Hondo20132]

I think 1:01 is just a close-up of 0:56 .

[Hondo20132]

The pictures at :11, :51, and 1:07 had the mid-2000s GSN logo. When precisesly did GSN air those episodes, and how did the 1:07 one end up in color?

[Stratman78]

I'm not really sure, and I don't have a clue when GSN aired the colour episode.

[GarfieldnPyramid]

They could have added color.

[WheelWatcher12345]

@Hondo20132 I think GSN Aired a documentary around that time. How do I know? I watched that documentary years ago.

[rlrshepherdstown]

You know , I believe if Gene Rayburn & Mark Goodson were still with us today ,and saw how their show & the old Theme Song were still alive . They both would be so delighted ,and I could almost Gene's word saying >> YOU ALL ARE JUST TERRIEFIC :D Perhaps maybe Gene does know ,and I am sure that he is up there in Heaven smiling down to us . :D

[pbatommy]

Along with Johnny Olsen saying, "This is Johnny Olsen speaking for The Match Game--A Mark Goodson Bill Todman Production."

[SueBeaWho]

yes!!

[rlrshepherdstown]

A Swingin Safari was my favorite part of the NBC's Original Match Game ,and was the heart beat of the show . To this day why was it ever changed to another Theme , in which it did not fit Match Game like A Swingin Safari did . I have the song by Billy Vaughin & this one by Bert Keampfert is really the one I always knew & heard on the show . I like give this song 6 stars off the chart .

[latina1616]

You are ABSOLUTELY right. I was in the 3rd grade when the original Match Game was on and remember living for this wonderful song at the beginning. I couldn't beleive the new Match Game theme with it's series of silly bass guitar beats. About 3 weeks ago I spent 4

hours trying to figure out the name of this song and was so emotional when I found it was Swingin Safari. It just shows you the impact of a strong childhood memory!!

[thegamesthatrate]

For years my family argued with me that this was not the original Match Game theme, until Youtube fans posted actual clips from the 1960s and I showed them the "real" Match Game theme. I remembered the theme so well from the 1960s, and the day Gene Rayburn died, it was this theme and not the 70's version that was played on the CBS tribute on the radio news.

Does anyone have a clip of a 1960s Match Game episode with credits rolling and Swingin' Safari playing?

[igivupsosad]

@latina1616

I did the same thing yesterday! This song is a happy part of my childhood memories. My mom knew right away that it was the theme from Match Game, however, at first I could only find the 'newer' theme song which wasn't this. Anyways, I'm happy to know what it is now.

[igivupsosad]

@igivupsosad

Just a side point....the Ad council is now using this for two of their smoking cessation commercials which are cleverly and comically made and the music adds to the mood.

[rdcuff]

The original aired in Buffalo at 4 PM until 4:25 PM with a five-minute news program at that time. I remember someone off-stage blue a whistle when they had to stop play once they ran out of time.

[SueBeaWho]

I was just a dumb kid at the time, I guess, so I did not appreciate how handsome Gene was- but hubba hubba - I especially LOVE the pics with him in the turtle neck sweater with the hearts and the very last pic with the scarf. I had no idea he was so buff! I wrote on the last site that stratman put up about how I love this song too!!! Actually the reason I looked this video up today was that I woke up humming this song. I had NO idea strat had just posted this yesterday!!! Am I psychic lol???

[Stratman78]

"I especially LOVE the pics with him in the turtle neck sweater with the hearts...."

I think that picture of Gene Rayburn was from a photo shoot for the game show "The Amateur's Guide to Love" on CBS (March 27, 1972 to June 23, 1972). Rayburn was the host.

All of the episodes (except for one episode which was found this year) are believed to be wiped/erased.

[latina1616]

Isn't that turtle neck sweater picture divine!

I was about 8 years old, but old enough to know he was super good looking. I used to love the way he handled that super long mike

and how he used to stand with his feet turned out.

[SueBeaWho]

COOL. I never noticed the feet thing tho. :-)

[SueBeaWho]

@SueBeaWho boy I was babbling that day! Still love this!!

[SueBeaWho]

YAY!!!

[gamshwfan]

Oh I love that music. Very classy music that fits great with a show taped in New York City. With a simple game we have on our sets and Goodson-Todman behind the scenes; we know were going to have a good show. It almost sounds like going to a broadway theatre and hearing the overture for a ballet or tony-award winning musical; I could have gotten use to that for the 7 year run. IT is a great theme to hear and dance to; I'll give it 5 stars since it fit in all around.