I don't doubt you - same in Popular music too - Corporate dominance now rules & decrees: 'keep it Dumbed down' for the masses - they don't want anything intelligent that would LIFT the standards in either TV or music, in The USA, UK, Europe or other countries either !
Funny enough shows like 'The Name of The Game' actually WARNED us of this all coming with many episodes deal with Messers Barry / Franciosa / Stack fighting corruption & greed in the corporate world of organised crime
Tony Franciosa was also a fine Broadway actor. I loved Gene Barry in "Bat Masterson" and "Burkes Law". Robert Stack was nominated for an Oscar. These were three very polished actors together. Interesting story idea. But it didn't stay on very long.
To juanunderground, your comment is spot on, i agree with you 101%. Now days they make programs just as people make home movies. The Art of good program/ / film making has gone by the wayside, its sad to say but producers and directors are no longer up to the task of CREATIVITY . Maybe its because they went to film making College and now have no idea how to use their own abilitys. Remember ! its all about simple entertainment ,no shocks or horror..We dont those to be entertained.
@pearsedoran HOLD IT. I'm a film and television producer, and some of us DO want to bring this era back. Don't blame us. Instead blame the corporate owned studios with an agenda to keep American viewers mentally lazy, even "dumb". Nothing truly intelligent is ever greenlit. Trust me. They simply WILL. NOT. FUND. PROJECTS. THIS. INTELLIGENT. ANY. MORE.
It's not us producers and directors. We're the ones who want it back. Studios won't back it.
@iwantoldschool If you want this kind of programming back on the air, bring money to the table. Your money. Become the next moguls and fund our shows. If more people like you pooled your money together and formed new studios, and said, make these kinds of shows, we would. I risked everything to bring shows like this back and had no budget left over for advertising. The studios went, "See? There's not an audience for that stuff." And there you are.
@iwantoldschool Don't bother checking my YouTube channel to see any of the New Retro material. They're on another, very popular channel. This one, iwantoldschool, is the one I use when I want to just watch lazily and post things. Your post caught my attention.
Proof can be found here: Type the usual three letters that start a website address, add a dot, type "sellinofilms", add a dot, type the usual three-letter ending, and then hit enter. If what you see doesn't convince you I'm real...
@iwantoldschool Shot non-union, a show like Name Of The Game would cost about $150,000 and take about two weeks to produce. Advertising would need to be offline to start attracting real viewership. It would run about $250,000.
So find about $400,000 and contact me. We can develop a retro detective show as good as this that looks and feels just as old school, and I'll shoot it and have it on the air for you by June. Again:
IF YOU WANT THINGS CHANGED, CHANGE THEM. Good night.
Seriously, having been in high school at the time this program was on, It depresses me to see this clip. It depresses me to see the way the world used to be back then. All the creativity and future outlook society had at the time.Even I had that hope and optimism. Also things were alot cheaper! Sad......
What about some of these lesser known characters like Robert Webber? They didn't appear in enough performances for it to be a full time job, yet they seem so true to the characters they played. Were they really politicians who moonlighted as actors...or businessmen who moonlighted as actors? Scientists who moonlighted as actors?
Isn't it great to see these shows again. They were made at a time when the audience were not perceived to be dunces. They had well-written scripts, style, panache and excellent accompanying music. Like many posters in this thread, I watched this show as a kid with my parents back in the 60s. This is the sort of quality which takes me back...We're unlikely to see the like of it again.
Some things can take me back to how I remember what it felt like when I was 6 years old in 1969. This is one of them, watching "Name of the Game" with my dad. Squint and I'm watching it again on a round-tubed color "console" TV -- a Sears Silvertone, which my dad serviced -- on Philadephia's channel 3.
Some things take me back to how I remember what it felt like when I was 6 years old in 1969, watching TV with my dad. This is one of them. Squint and I'm watching it again on a round-tubed color "console" TV -- a Sears Silvertone -- on Philadephia's channel 3.
great cast of actors...nothing like it today...they used to show re-runs very late at night here in los angeles, around midnight. Of course I got the see all these when they first aired. TV in the 60's was very different than it is today.
I'm glad I grew up in the 60's and got to see all these great shows.
This NOTG episode was remade virtually line by line in 1973 as "Savage", this was the last TV project of Steven Spielberg before he went on to become a major film producer.
50 years ago your standard degenerate was out clubbin every night, today every other fool thinks they're in show biz. The Name of the Game is a great title for now. Trangbangers
Back when shows were shows, interestings plots, great stars, I noted that show quest starred John Payne, Zsa Zsa Gober, Jeanie Craine, you would not see a single show for tv today with that many stars, we are cheated by tv today, thanks for posting I had not seen any part of this show since it aired in the 70's.
htrrz- the reason why you saw those famous names in television during that time was because these were celebrities during the 40's and basically they were washed up movie stars
Unless you know for a fact that each and everyone of these people are a "washed up movie stars" you are stating facts without any real sources, that's a unfounded opinion. And like tv today there's nothing substanial.
I love all of the Universal Studios shows like this one from the late '60s and early 70s--the theme music, the same yellow fonts used for the opening credits, the often cheap-looking sets ( I think the same restaurant set was used for every "Columbo," "McCloud," etc.--simple things that we didn't notice then (I was just a kid at the time), but strike me as charming now.
By the way, is there any way to get full episodes of "The Name of the Game"?
Thanks Billo912. Great post, I appreciate how informed you are about this show. In your opinion, was the borderline ridiculous I Love You Billy Baker an attempt to re-create an episode like Hard Case of the Blues? Also, have you heard the urban legend of what happened when they offered Sister from Napoli to Bette Davis? She wrote, I aint playin no f**kin nun, on the script, and sent it back.
Billo912, do you remember the one with Sharon Farrell as Janis Joplin? A Hard Case of the Blues, still my favorite episode. Farrell blew everyone away with her performance, a spectacular tour de force. The ending is still shattering. Years later, when Bette Midler came out in The Rose, I heard famous power agent Sue Mengers say, I saw Sharon Farrell give the same performance and she was better.
First, while the pilot film was called "Probe," the series was generally known as "Search"; secondly, I seem to recall that show being produced by Warner Bros. Television. Yet, it's true that O'Brian, McClure and Franciosa starred in that show.
I remember visiting Universal back when this show was being produced. The Howard Publications Building was actually Universals office building at the studio. There were also billboards featuring "The Name of the Game" on the sound stages. The tram would take you down the street of the Cleavers, Marcus Welby and the Munsters, now Wisteria Lane on Desparate Housewives. The McHale's Navy rear projection was still being demonstrated in one of the stages. Universal was truly a magical place!
Geministic is a 26 year old virgin from Salt lake City. Utah. He has 6 youtube accounts and likes to spam videos. He also likes to watch Mickey Mouse and play with little boys. At least that's what his cousin Barrett Morgan told me. Or was it Dan?
I agree with you. I bet if someone looked up a video with Don Knotts and said he was everywhere in the 1960's and that they were sick of seeing his face, Don Knotts fans would take that as an insult too.
He didn't trash Franciosa at all. He was just commenting on what was fact back then. It's no big deal to anyone but you. It's actually the other way around than what you say - it seems you have a hate for Knotts. No one has a hate for Franciosa. You're just way too damn defensive. And it's "their" own, not "there" own. Most of us learned this in the third grade.
I always hate it when people start comparing people. Everyone's completely different and original. It's hard for some to imagine Don Knotts as a great actor but if you were an actor yourself, you'd know he was a genius. Just watch him go from a nervous wreck to a suave debonair ladies man in the blink of an eye. His facial expressions were always right on the money. He was probably the best actor in the Griffith show.
When you compare the 60's shows with Law and Order you realize that during the 60's there was a very avant-garde concept or progressive style that you cannot appreciate on the actual television shows. Music and dynamic acting performance were something that created a high pride on crime shows. Today, many things are empty.
Of course, when Claudine toured with Annie Get Your Gun, they had to change the big, showstopper song to You CAN Get A Man With A Gun. Ah-ha-ha. Ah-ha-ha.
Then theres that rare, alternative version of the Bon Jovi song:
Shot through the heart and, baby, youre to blame. Dont mess with Claudine Longet.
It was shot in B/W...too make feel more real! Great eps, but I love the Gene Barry eps...the wild crazy esp where Gene is the devil wit h Wm Shatter! Call Tarto Card..
Do you remember the one with Sharon Farrell as Janis Joplin? A Hard Case of the Blues with Robert Stack. She blew everyone away with her performance. It was a spectacular tour de force and it gave her career a huge lift. The ending is still shattering. Years later, when Bette Midler came out in The Rose, I heard famous power agent Sue Mengers say, I saw Sharon Farrell give the same performance and she was better.
A really classy series that was way ahead of its time and still looks good today. All the lead actors were excellent and Susan Saint James who appeared in most of the episodes was Drop Dead Gorgeous.
This was THE show we counted the minutes to see each week! I enoyed all of them but Gene Barry was my fav. The futuristic episode is the most memorable. Remember when the young girl told the other's that "a new pattern" was going to be on the TV? If this show ever comes out on DVD, I'll be one of the first in line! How did you get this? Have any more!?! Please! Thanks for posting!
Do you remember the episode entitled "All the old familiar places" (or something like that)? The one with the choir that would pop up unexpectedly? Surreal! And yes, just the title sequence and theme to this one is better than many shows these days!
This was one of those shows I used to sneak into my parents bedroom and watch while they thought I was asleep. I thought Tony Franciosa was so swave! But the funny thing...wasn't the publication called, "People" Magazine? This is way before People actually came out! Imagine That!
I'm delighted to see this has got over 32,000hits and I'm counting the days till it's released on DVD, like so many others obviously. When I was 13 it was my favorite show, I even had a Gene Barry poster on my bedroom wall! It was on Friday night's on Channel 0 Brisbane, Australia, after Love American Style. I'd watch it cleaning my footy boots. It was a really cool show and I wanted to be just like Glenn Howard when I grew up!!!
i was born in 1964 and i have been humming a tune from a t.v series since i was a kid. no-one knew what the tune was. i had given up hope of ever finding out what the tune was from.
until today, this is the tune that i have been humming for decades.
This was the best T.V. series in the history of television!!! Too bad the entire series isn't available on DVD... I contacted Universal Studios severals times but I believe the reason why it will never be released is due in part to many contractual disputes with Tony Franciosa and also that most of the actors and guest stars are now deceased.
The series followed the High Chapparal at 8:30p.m. Friday evenings on NBC in the L.A. metropolitan area.
I looked forward to seeing this every Friday evening. This was a high class, high quality 1 1/2 hour movie every week; VERY innovative for TV back in the 60's. I miss Robert Stack and Tony Franciosa. Gene Barry is still alive; he had a tiny cameo role in the remake of "War of the World."
And the first half of the first season of Mr. Barry's 1963-65 "Burke's Law" series is now out on DVD. Not only one of Aaron Spelling's early hits, but also paving the way for the "all-star guest star" format of shows like "Murder, She Wrote."
I agree completely!!! Each episode of The Name of The Game cost $400,000 because of the quality actors that appeared: Sammy Davis Jr., Burl Ives, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Robert Gulet, Barry Sullivan, Lee J. Cobb, Edward Bagley, Juliette Prowse, Claudine Longet. Of all the movies Tony Francisosa made, the pilot, Fame Is The Name of The Game with Jill St. John and this series is by far his best talent and work.
Interestingly, "TNOTG" was the second series where Gene Barry played a role that was played by another actor in a pilot. The other? "Burke's Law," whose de facto pilot, "Who Killed Julie Greer?" from 1961, starred the late Dick Powell as Amos Burke. (The role of Glenn Howard was played in the 1966 "FITNOTG" pilot by George Macready.)
don't remember much about this show, except for gene barry. didn't susan st. james play a secretary in this show before she was on "mcmillan and wife"?
To reiterate, behind-the-scenes people's problems with Franciosa differed wildly from 'Scorpdan's'. This was my point. And as far as my referring to Tony as a "heckuva actor" . . . I did see him in "A Face in the Crowd," among his many works.
Some in Hollywood (i.e. producers, directors) hated Tony - but not for the "dazzling smile" part, rather his behind-the-scenes tendency to have what is commonly referred to as "a short fuse." Or to put it another way, "anger management" issues. Which contributed to his being fired from "TNOTG" in 1970-71. But I'll agree, he WAS a heckuva actor . . .
LOL....Tony may have it over Don in the looks department, but it took a helluva lot more talent to play Barney Fife than just another toothy lady's man.
One thing I don't miss is the fact that there were maybe a hundred actors who got the lion's share of roles for every single TV show. I got truly sick of seeing Tony Franciosa's face everywhere. Even UltraBright toothpaste commercials.
You are right on this one.I use to see Tony Franciosca's face on three different networks in one week.The reason for this is because he was a Universal Studio contract player and most of those shows during that time were produced by Universal. You would see him on The Name of the Game, then a guest star on Columbo or something like that. Then a mini series produced by Universal and besides he drew in the audience and a lot of the sponsors(money men make the decision)on who is cast.
For those interested in the fonts on the opening title sequence - Stymie Black for the rows of Robert Stack's name, Futura Demi Bold for Gene Barry (albeit with the "G" looking a bit different), Franklin Gothic for Tony Franciosa - and Helvetica Bold for the "Starring in" and the show title.
I also wonder if the repeating lines, arranged as they were, were an impetus for the Wausau Insurance ads as seen in the early 1970's on "60 Minutes."
An aside: I've always wondered why so many Universal drama/detective series at that time shared the same fonts for the episode credits. These are the same as the individial "Mystery Movie" series' credits, and are similar to those for "Rockford Files."
You mean Folio Medium Extended and Bold Extended? Actually, they used certain "same" fonts on other shows - i.e. using Eurostile Bold Condensed for both "Dragnet 1969/1970" and "Ironside" credits. The copyright notice was in Alternate Gothic No. 2. Always. Certainly could count as a Universal TV "style."
as a technical question aside (re: the fonts) i've always wanted to know how exactly the process was done,..via optical printers and single frame animation naturally, but how exactly did they print and film the titles? (back-lit mylar sheets? animation stands?) Doug Trumball came up with those brilliant FX sliding mylar sheets over each other creating interesting animation patterns for the ABC promos
If you want to see just HOW many famous TV themes Dave Grusin did (an unbelievable number), check out the Dave Grusin Archive. The link is in my video description at the right.
You can always tell the mark of a Universal Studios Production. Class personified!. Great writing, photographers, great production values that includes the graphics and the theme song by Dave Grusin. I just thought Gene Barry was so handsome and elegant. You can't find that type of man today.
That has got to be one of the best opening ever. Back then you didn't have to throw it in peoples faces. They were cool and knew it. Didn't need to broadcast it. The music was just fantastic. TV during my childhood was so damn good.
Me 2...loved this show...one of the best. Now days Hotel Babylon has become my number one show, but the name of game is still the best. Great opening song..love the song!
The theme was by Dave Grusin, who also composed the theme for Universal's "It Takes a Thief" series. Steven Spielberg directed a Gene Barry episode in the final season of the series.
This series was also unique in the fact that MCA could "repackage" any episode as a theatrical movie overseas (with some additonal footage to pad the running time). In fact, that's how they syndicated these episodes by the '80s- as "individual" features, minus the opening "NOTG" title...
This excerpt is indeed from the very first episode of the series (and Franciosa's first in the regular rotation), which aired on September 20, 1968. The original pilot, "Fame Is the Name Of the Game", starred Franciosa, and aired as a 'World Premiere' movie on "NBC SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES" in November 1966. MCA-TV later decided to "package" him, with Stack and Barry, as a weekly series...
ABC's "Movie of the Week" titles used a different, more decorative font (Peignot, the same font that was used later for the Mary Tyler Moore show) and the slit-scan effect originally developed by Douglas Trumbull for "2001: A Space Odyssey."
It was basically a show that ran for 90 minutes and it set the tone for "The NBC Mystery Movie" series later on. Great series from the late 1960's-early 1970's.
Class from the opening credits to the final credits and everything in between. Sadly this era is gone forever.
wufferduck 3 weeks ago
I don't doubt you - same in Popular music too - Corporate dominance now rules & decrees: 'keep it Dumbed down' for the masses - they don't want anything intelligent that would LIFT the standards in either TV or music, in The USA, UK, Europe or other countries either !
Funny enough shows like 'The Name of The Game' actually WARNED us of this all coming with many episodes deal with Messers Barry / Franciosa / Stack fighting corruption & greed in the corporate world of organised crime
Billo912 4 weeks ago
Tony Franciosa was also a fine Broadway actor. I loved Gene Barry in "Bat Masterson" and "Burkes Law". Robert Stack was nominated for an Oscar. These were three very polished actors together. Interesting story idea. But it didn't stay on very long.
LB9997 2 months ago
That's Glenn, with 2 ns, for Glenn Howard. :) And Robert Stack's character was Daniel W Farrell. Only he and God know what the W stood for...
newjackfan 2 months ago
Is this series available on DVD anywhere?
gerrythrash 6 months ago in playlist Bryan's Classic TV
This was the Mystery Movie on drugs
Efferpheasants 8 months ago
more episodes, please!
MsCecile1956 8 months ago
To juanunderground, your comment is spot on, i agree with you 101%. Now days they make programs just as people make home movies. The Art of good program/ / film making has gone by the wayside, its sad to say but producers and directors are no longer up to the task of CREATIVITY . Maybe its because they went to film making College and now have no idea how to use their own abilitys. Remember ! its all about simple entertainment ,no shocks or horror..We dont those to be entertained.
pearsedoran 8 months ago 2
@pearsedoran HOLD IT. I'm a film and television producer, and some of us DO want to bring this era back. Don't blame us. Instead blame the corporate owned studios with an agenda to keep American viewers mentally lazy, even "dumb". Nothing truly intelligent is ever greenlit. Trust me. They simply WILL. NOT. FUND. PROJECTS. THIS. INTELLIGENT. ANY. MORE.
It's not us producers and directors. We're the ones who want it back. Studios won't back it.
iwantoldschool 1 month ago
@iwantoldschool If you want this kind of programming back on the air, bring money to the table. Your money. Become the next moguls and fund our shows. If more people like you pooled your money together and formed new studios, and said, make these kinds of shows, we would. I risked everything to bring shows like this back and had no budget left over for advertising. The studios went, "See? There's not an audience for that stuff." And there you are.
IF YOU WANT THINGS CHANGED, CHANGE THEM.
iwantoldschool 1 month ago
@iwantoldschool Don't bother checking my YouTube channel to see any of the New Retro material. They're on another, very popular channel. This one, iwantoldschool, is the one I use when I want to just watch lazily and post things. Your post caught my attention.
Proof can be found here: Type the usual three letters that start a website address, add a dot, type "sellinofilms", add a dot, type the usual three-letter ending, and then hit enter. If what you see doesn't convince you I'm real...
iwantoldschool 1 month ago
@iwantoldschool Shot non-union, a show like Name Of The Game would cost about $150,000 and take about two weeks to produce. Advertising would need to be offline to start attracting real viewership. It would run about $250,000.
So find about $400,000 and contact me. We can develop a retro detective show as good as this that looks and feels just as old school, and I'll shoot it and have it on the air for you by June. Again:
IF YOU WANT THINGS CHANGED, CHANGE THEM. Good night.
iwantoldschool 1 month ago
Tony was damn good in a movie called Across 110st
bjroberts65 8 months ago
Excuse me, but did he throw a PILLOW at that man with a gun?! What? Oh. OK. It was a throw pillow, so that makes sense.
STEPcoach 8 months ago
Is that "The Razors Edge" John Payne who was cured of his head ache by Tyrone Power ?
Dakers11 9 months ago
Did you know that Tony Franciosa used to date Tom Wait's mother? What great classy opening music here.
sclogse1 11 months ago
i stoped watching TV shows in 2001 love the shows in the 60 70 80 and 90 after that well there just boring.....
miamimann1 1 year ago 2
This has been flagged as spam show
Seriously, having been in high school at the time this program was on, It depresses me to see this clip. It depresses me to see the way the world used to be back then. All the creativity and future outlook society had at the time.Even I had that hope and optimism. Also things were alot cheaper! Sad......
spudwas 1 year ago
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spudwas 1 year ago
Did Claudine Longet have one of the most wimpy speaking voice or what!
spudwas 1 year ago
susan st james was a doll
graciemaemarie11 1 year ago 2
What about some of these lesser known characters like Robert Webber? They didn't appear in enough performances for it to be a full time job, yet they seem so true to the characters they played. Were they really politicians who moonlighted as actors...or businessmen who moonlighted as actors? Scientists who moonlighted as actors?
JetMechMA 1 year ago
Ah yes! A TV theme in 7/4. Almost as good as the original Mod Squad theme. That was in 13.
DelanoEvent 1 year ago 2
@DelanoEvent - I counted it out, it seems like 4/4 to me. Mission Impossible was in 5/4.
jimspy1001 1 year ago
Claudine Longet? Break out the bullet-proof vests!
kbirdusa 1 year ago
Wow---as opening credits go, those were SuperDuper.
Looks like a quality show,
that Universal should package, market,
in pristine format DVD sets.
L K R in Palm Springs
orallarry 1 year ago 2
I would love to see this on DVD....Love the Hammond B3 in there
opwatchdog 1 year ago
@opwatchdog any Hammond B3 just makes a song great.
tine214 1 year ago
I liked The Garden with Brenda Scott.
kiwigirlcruiser 1 year ago
Isn't it great to see these shows again. They were made at a time when the audience were not perceived to be dunces. They had well-written scripts, style, panache and excellent accompanying music. Like many posters in this thread, I watched this show as a kid with my parents back in the 60s. This is the sort of quality which takes me back...We're unlikely to see the like of it again.
tripsadelica 1 year ago
Glenn Howard so f......cool!
tonkehar 1 year ago
Some things can take me back to how I remember what it felt like when I was 6 years old in 1969. This is one of them, watching "Name of the Game" with my dad. Squint and I'm watching it again on a round-tubed color "console" TV -- a Sears Silvertone, which my dad serviced -- on Philadephia's channel 3.
DesiluTrek 1 year ago
Some things take me back to how I remember what it felt like when I was 6 years old in 1969, watching TV with my dad. This is one of them. Squint and I'm watching it again on a round-tubed color "console" TV -- a Sears Silvertone -- on Philadephia's channel 3.
DesiluTrek 1 year ago
Co-starring Claudine "I can't be guilty because I'm so sweet and cute" Longet!
scotpens 1 year ago
great cast of actors...nothing like it today...they used to show re-runs very late at night here in los angeles, around midnight. Of course I got the see all these when they first aired. TV in the 60's was very different than it is today.
I'm glad I grew up in the 60's and got to see all these great shows.
whiskeyify 1 year ago
This NOTG episode was remade virtually line by line in 1973 as "Savage", this was the last TV project of Steven Spielberg before he went on to become a major film producer.
ngngngng1 1 year ago
50 years ago your standard degenerate was out clubbin every night, today every other fool thinks they're in show biz. The Name of the Game is a great title for now. Trangbangers
Trangbangers 1 year ago
50 years ago, the standard degenerates were out clubbin al the time. Today every leg spreading fool things there in show biz. trangbangers
Trangbangers 1 year ago
Barry, Strack and Franciosa, all gone, and all greatly missed.
Pusllab1 1 year ago
Anything with Gene Barry is an automatic + 100,000 in class.
Tails137 1 year ago
The United States had a lot more class 50 years ago, and these 1960s shows are proof of that
It took more than a rapper with a glock to win an audience back then
hpmc9 1 year ago 2
I aggree hpmc9. The creative minds have been reduced to computer generated special effects ad writers who never read a book a day in their lives
creolelady182 1 year ago 2
Back when shows were shows, interestings plots, great stars, I noted that show quest starred John Payne, Zsa Zsa Gober, Jeanie Craine, you would not see a single show for tv today with that many stars, we are cheated by tv today, thanks for posting I had not seen any part of this show since it aired in the 70's.
htrrz 1 year ago 2
htrrz- the reason why you saw those famous names in television during that time was because these were celebrities during the 40's and basically they were washed up movie stars
creolelady182 1 year ago
Unless you know for a fact that each and everyone of these people are a "washed up movie stars" you are stating facts without any real sources, that's a unfounded opinion. And like tv today there's nothing substanial.
htrrz 1 year ago
I will aggree with you. I must have hit a nerve
creolelady182 1 year ago
Quality scores for quality television.
OniLunchbox 2 years ago 2
I love all of the Universal Studios shows like this one from the late '60s and early 70s--the theme music, the same yellow fonts used for the opening credits, the often cheap-looking sets ( I think the same restaurant set was used for every "Columbo," "McCloud," etc.--simple things that we didn't notice then (I was just a kid at the time), but strike me as charming now.
By the way, is there any way to get full episodes of "The Name of the Game"?
ghb61 2 years ago 2
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sp2834aa 2 years ago
Brunette in pink sweater is Claudine Longet (Andy Williams ex wife); shot Spider Sabich (famous skier) in 1976 and got away with it.
milehighcherrypie 2 years ago
R.I.P Gene Barry!
jakerson181 2 years ago
one of the veerrry cooolest themes EVER
bryanbradford 2 years ago 2
You aren't kidding. This theme music was the bomb back in the day. You have awesome taste in music Bryan.
mdrury01 2 years ago 2
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tonkehar 2 years ago
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Billo912 2 years ago
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Billo912 2 years ago
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Billo912 2 years ago 3
Thanks Billo912. Great post, I appreciate how informed you are about this show. In your opinion, was the borderline ridiculous I Love You Billy Baker an attempt to re-create an episode like Hard Case of the Blues? Also, have you heard the urban legend of what happened when they offered Sister from Napoli to Bette Davis? She wrote, I aint playin no f**kin nun, on the script, and sent it back.
starringJayMcK 2 years ago
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Billo912 2 years ago 2
Billo912, do you remember the one with Sharon Farrell as Janis Joplin? A Hard Case of the Blues, still my favorite episode. Farrell blew everyone away with her performance, a spectacular tour de force. The ending is still shattering. Years later, when Bette Midler came out in The Rose, I heard famous power agent Sue Mengers say, I saw Sharon Farrell give the same performance and she was better.
starringJayMcK 2 years ago
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Billo912 2 years ago
McClure rotated with TF & Hugh O'Brian on another Universal anthology show called PROBE. That may be the sourse of the confusion.
pawt1963 2 years ago
First, while the pilot film was called "Probe," the series was generally known as "Search"; secondly, I seem to recall that show being produced by Warner Bros. Television. Yet, it's true that O'Brian, McClure and Franciosa starred in that show.
wmbrown6 2 years ago
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Billo912 2 years ago
Is that a Hammond B-3 under the 2nd set of credits???
MrPaladin123 2 years ago
Hammond B3 was the most used organ in the music realm in the sixties!! I bet it is...
sgsound12 2 years ago
I remember visiting Universal back when this show was being produced. The Howard Publications Building was actually Universals office building at the studio. There were also billboards featuring "The Name of the Game" on the sound stages. The tram would take you down the street of the Cleavers, Marcus Welby and the Munsters, now Wisteria Lane on Desparate Housewives. The McHale's Navy rear projection was still being demonstrated in one of the stages. Universal was truly a magical place!
kwik102 2 years ago
Ah who am I kidding, I'm the one with the love for butt!
ManlcCarter 2 years ago
There is a another "Opening Version" which starts out with several trumpets at the beginning, instead of keyboards. I am pretty sure of this.
Dakers11 2 years ago
great tune i remember it well. As for the show it was like the Mystery Movie on drugs if I recall correctly.
Witheredgoogie 2 years ago
ManicCarter(4 weeks ago)
"Fortunately. But now that I know the score, I won't be reading your comments or responding to them. "
Are you by chance reading this one? : D
WindowWellKiller 2 years ago
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Geministic is a 26 year old virgin from Salt lake City. Utah. He has 6 youtube accounts and likes to spam videos. He also likes to watch Mickey Mouse and play with little boys. At least that's what his cousin Barrett Morgan told me. Or was it Dan?
dd3ufah 2 years ago
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I had sex with ManicCarters mom!
Geministic 2 years ago
Dave Grusin is my god. Awesome tv theme!
TheCatgirl6 2 years ago 2
I agree with you. I bet if someone looked up a video with Don Knotts and said he was everywhere in the 1960's and that they were sick of seeing his face, Don Knotts fans would take that as an insult too.
Coffee4011 2 years ago 2
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He didn't trash Franciosa at all. He was just commenting on what was fact back then. It's no big deal to anyone but you. It's actually the other way around than what you say - it seems you have a hate for Knotts. No one has a hate for Franciosa. You're just way too damn defensive. And it's "their" own, not "there" own. Most of us learned this in the third grade.
wallyworldusa 2 years ago
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I always hate it when people start comparing people. Everyone's completely different and original. It's hard for some to imagine Don Knotts as a great actor but if you were an actor yourself, you'd know he was a genius. Just watch him go from a nervous wreck to a suave debonair ladies man in the blink of an eye. His facial expressions were always right on the money. He was probably the best actor in the Griffith show.
limeytrash 2 years ago
When you compare the 60's shows with Law and Order you realize that during the 60's there was a very avant-garde concept or progressive style that you cannot appreciate on the actual television shows. Music and dynamic acting performance were something that created a high pride on crime shows. Today, many things are empty.
juanunderground 2 years ago 10
Juanunderground you are so correct! Everything is so empty and cold....nihilistic (forgive sp?)
LUVJONZ99 2 years ago
The show was ahead of its time. Also enjoyed High Chapparal.
mqblues 2 years ago
Of course, when Claudine toured with Annie Get Your Gun, they had to change the big, showstopper song to You CAN Get A Man With A Gun. Ah-ha-ha. Ah-ha-ha.
Then theres that rare, alternative version of the Bon Jovi song:
Shot through the heart and, baby, youre to blame. Dont mess with Claudine Longet.
Ah-ha-ha. Ah-ha-ha.
starringJayMcK 2 years ago
After that tragic event, Claudine released a single entitled, "51 Ways to Leave Your Lover". Then went on tour in Annie Get Your Gun.
starringJayMcK 2 years ago
The lovely Claudine Longet once faced a murder charge in the death of her lover, but was bailed out by her ex Andy Williams.
50marioD 2 years ago
Duh!
limeytrash 2 years ago
What great theme music. Dave Grusin - who else?
Casio61 2 years ago 2
Wow! This is a travel back in time! Last time I watched it was 1975.
eurastus 2 years ago
there was a show when franciosa as dillon went back to his home town and found it override with drugs can not forget how powerful that show was
llllkkiiiuik 2 years ago
It was shot in B/W...too make feel more real! Great eps, but I love the Gene Barry eps...the wild crazy esp where Gene is the devil wit h Wm Shatter! Call Tarto Card..
tonkehar 2 years ago
Do you remember the one with Sharon Farrell as Janis Joplin? A Hard Case of the Blues with Robert Stack. She blew everyone away with her performance. It was a spectacular tour de force and it gave her career a huge lift. The ending is still shattering. Years later, when Bette Midler came out in The Rose, I heard famous power agent Sue Mengers say, I saw Sharon Farrell give the same performance and she was better.
starringJayMcK 2 years ago
A really classy series that was way ahead of its time and still looks good today. All the lead actors were excellent and Susan Saint James who appeared in most of the episodes was Drop Dead Gorgeous.
PhilCAFC 2 years ago 5
Groovy bass line...
jonahbegone 2 years ago
The opening credits are better than most shows on TV at the present time.
jmstudio 2 years ago 2
This was THE show we counted the minutes to see each week! I enoyed all of them but Gene Barry was my fav. The futuristic episode is the most memorable. Remember when the young girl told the other's that "a new pattern" was going to be on the TV? If this show ever comes out on DVD, I'll be one of the first in line! How did you get this? Have any more!?! Please! Thanks for posting!
Sherlockia 3 years ago 2
Do you remember the episode entitled "All the old familiar places" (or something like that)? The one with the choir that would pop up unexpectedly? Surreal! And yes, just the title sequence and theme to this one is better than many shows these days!
jonahbegone 2 years ago 2
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tonkehar 2 years ago 3
All the old familiar faces
tonkehar 2 years ago 2
This was one of those shows I used to sneak into my parents bedroom and watch while they thought I was asleep. I thought Tony Franciosa was so swave! But the funny thing...wasn't the publication called, "People" Magazine? This is way before People actually came out! Imagine That!
Mandi7882 3 years ago
when tv was must see
llllkkiiiuik 3 years ago 2
I'm delighted to see this has got over 32,000hits and I'm counting the days till it's released on DVD, like so many others obviously. When I was 13 it was my favorite show, I even had a Gene Barry poster on my bedroom wall! It was on Friday night's on Channel 0 Brisbane, Australia, after Love American Style. I'd watch it cleaning my footy boots. It was a really cool show and I wanted to be just like Glenn Howard when I grew up!!!
thesainter 3 years ago
My favorite episode was the one in which Gene Barry gets funneled through a "time warp" for some bizarre fun and games!
buffetmonster 3 years ago 2
"L.A. 2017" directed by Steven Spielberg.
pawt1963 3 years ago
Besides Spielberg, Steven Bochco was a story editor on Game. He went on to bigger fame with LA LAW, NYPD: Blue and now, Raising The Bar.
RandyBell2007 3 years ago
yeah i think that was called, time tunnel mate.
sexualigglepiggle 3 years ago
sorry mate, it wasn`t gene barry,gave u wrong info.
sexualigglepiggle 3 years ago
Comment removed
tonkehar 3 years ago
wasnt there an episode of this where ricardo mantelbahn plays a priest that dumps a gigantic bottle of roaches on a slum lords desk
spacepatrolman 3 years ago
..so fast forward-rob stack goes on to host unsolved mysteries, but what ever happened to gene barry and tony francisiosa-remains to be seen..
jannew1515 3 years ago
What a tease
MKisJ 3 years ago
This theme took me instantly back!!!!! I KNEW this was the show that had the cool noises at the begininng!!!
WomackPhotoKCMO 3 years ago
How à propos with the real Claudine Longet gunshot story's....
Simulacre2 3 years ago
She was also married to Andy Williams.
frankd1965 3 years ago
I use to watch this show in 1968&1969 and I was so in love with Peggy Maxwell.The theme was one of the best in any category!
johnLA1961 3 years ago 2
This takes me so far on the way back machine I got whiplash. LOL.
manhattangirl135 3 years ago 2
i was born in 1964 and i have been humming a tune from a t.v series since i was a kid. no-one knew what the tune was. i had given up hope of ever finding out what the tune was from.
until today, this is the tune that i have been humming for decades.
my 40 year search is over !
1tyresius 3 years ago 3
This has happened to me also. Born in 1965 I grew up hearing all the 60s and 70 crime jazz and humm it all the time.
ValiRossi 3 years ago 2
I share the same year too. Do remember those shows I watched during school holiday and vacation periods.
frankd1965 3 years ago
yes
this was a very cool theme!!!
loveisok 3 years ago
This was the best T.V. series in the history of television!!! Too bad the entire series isn't available on DVD... I contacted Universal Studios severals times but I believe the reason why it will never be released is due in part to many contractual disputes with Tony Franciosa and also that most of the actors and guest stars are now deceased.
The series followed the High Chapparal at 8:30p.m. Friday evenings on NBC in the L.A. metropolitan area.
redesandinas 3 years ago
When in the hell is this series coming out on DVD?
coling68 3 years ago
I looked forward to seeing this every Friday evening. This was a high class, high quality 1 1/2 hour movie every week; VERY innovative for TV back in the 60's. I miss Robert Stack and Tony Franciosa. Gene Barry is still alive; he had a tiny cameo role in the remake of "War of the World."
jsbach15 3 years ago
And the first half of the first season of Mr. Barry's 1963-65 "Burke's Law" series is now out on DVD. Not only one of Aaron Spelling's early hits, but also paving the way for the "all-star guest star" format of shows like "Murder, She Wrote."
wmbrown6 3 years ago
I agree completely!!! Each episode of The Name of The Game cost $400,000 because of the quality actors that appeared: Sammy Davis Jr., Burl Ives, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Robert Gulet, Barry Sullivan, Lee J. Cobb, Edward Bagley, Juliette Prowse, Claudine Longet. Of all the movies Tony Francisosa made, the pilot, Fame Is The Name of The Game with Jill St. John and this series is by far his best talent and work.
redesandinas 3 years ago 2
Interestingly, "TNOTG" was the second series where Gene Barry played a role that was played by another actor in a pilot. The other? "Burke's Law," whose de facto pilot, "Who Killed Julie Greer?" from 1961, starred the late Dick Powell as Amos Burke. (The role of Glenn Howard was played in the 1966 "FITNOTG" pilot by George Macready.)
wmbrown6 3 years ago
don't remember much about this show, except for gene barry. didn't susan st. james play a secretary in this show before she was on "mcmillan and wife"?
myfriendcaffeine 3 years ago
To reiterate, behind-the-scenes people's problems with Franciosa differed wildly from 'Scorpdan's'. This was my point. And as far as my referring to Tony as a "heckuva actor" . . . I did see him in "A Face in the Crowd," among his many works.
wmbrown6 3 years ago
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AirandSun80 3 years ago
You here?
limeytrash 3 years ago
Gene barry was such an elegant man.
creolelady182 3 years ago
Claudine Longet! Wow, I'd almost forgotten her. She was lovely. Never heard much after she shot Spider Sabich. What a great show to run across.
benzboi1 3 years ago
She was once Mrs. Andy Williams.
frankd1965 3 years ago
Comment removed
AirandSun80 3 years ago
Some in Hollywood (i.e. producers, directors) hated Tony - but not for the "dazzling smile" part, rather his behind-the-scenes tendency to have what is commonly referred to as "a short fuse." Or to put it another way, "anger management" issues. Which contributed to his being fired from "TNOTG" in 1970-71. But I'll agree, he WAS a heckuva actor . . .
wmbrown6 3 years ago
LOL....Tony may have it over Don in the looks department, but it took a helluva lot more talent to play Barney Fife than just another toothy lady's man.
scorpdan 3 years ago
Comment removed
AirandSun80 3 years ago
One thing I don't miss is the fact that there were maybe a hundred actors who got the lion's share of roles for every single TV show. I got truly sick of seeing Tony Franciosa's face everywhere. Even UltraBright toothpaste commercials.
scorpdan 3 years ago
You are right on this one.I use to see Tony Franciosca's face on three different networks in one week.The reason for this is because he was a Universal Studio contract player and most of those shows during that time were produced by Universal. You would see him on The Name of the Game, then a guest star on Columbo or something like that. Then a mini series produced by Universal and besides he drew in the audience and a lot of the sponsors(money men make the decision)on who is cast.
creolelady182 3 years ago
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AirandSun80 3 years ago
One of the greatest TV opening title sequences ever.
ghb61 3 years ago 3
Dave Grusin and Lalo Schifrin had some cool theme songs in the late 60's and 70's!Does anybody know where I can find the Dan August theme song?
ole714 3 years ago
Just Google: Dan August Theme Song.
I found a dozen websites with downloadable versions of this theme song and hundreds of other themes in a few minutes.
TeaWrecksGodzilla 3 years ago
For those interested in the fonts on the opening title sequence - Stymie Black for the rows of Robert Stack's name, Futura Demi Bold for Gene Barry (albeit with the "G" looking a bit different), Franklin Gothic for Tony Franciosa - and Helvetica Bold for the "Starring in" and the show title.
wmbrown6 3 years ago 2
Stymie Black? Shit! I had Fifty bucks on Garamond.
jakerson181 3 years ago
Way too funny! I love both comments. Nice to hear from people who enjoy humor without crassness!
jsbach15 3 years ago
I also wonder if the repeating lines, arranged as they were, were an impetus for the Wausau Insurance ads as seen in the early 1970's on "60 Minutes."
wmbrown6 3 years ago
I have actually looked for those ads on YouTube, I remember seeing them as a small child back then. (haven't found one of them yet.)
micmac99 3 years ago
My dad liked this show -- the vivid opening credits/theme is among the first I can remember seeing first-run as a little boy. Thanks for posting.
DesiluTrek 4 years ago
An aside: I've always wondered why so many Universal drama/detective series at that time shared the same fonts for the episode credits. These are the same as the individial "Mystery Movie" series' credits, and are similar to those for "Rockford Files."
DesiluTrek 4 years ago
They're also the same as Columbo and Snoop Sisters and others.
spockvideo 3 years ago
You mean Folio Medium Extended and Bold Extended? Actually, they used certain "same" fonts on other shows - i.e. using Eurostile Bold Condensed for both "Dragnet 1969/1970" and "Ironside" credits. The copyright notice was in Alternate Gothic No. 2. Always. Certainly could count as a Universal TV "style."
wmbrown6 3 years ago
..and I seem to remember the other Jack Webb productions of the time "Adam-12" and "Emeregency" used the same typeface as Dragnet.
joebradio 3 years ago
For that matter, so did "It Takes a Thief."
wmbrown6 3 years ago
as a technical question aside (re: the fonts) i've always wanted to know how exactly the process was done,..via optical printers and single frame animation naturally, but how exactly did they print and film the titles? (back-lit mylar sheets? animation stands?) Doug Trumball came up with those brilliant FX sliding mylar sheets over each other creating interesting animation patterns for the ABC promos
pookie67 3 years ago
If you want to see just HOW many famous TV themes Dave Grusin did (an unbelievable number), check out the Dave Grusin Archive. The link is in my video description at the right.
spockvideo 3 years ago
Thanks so much for this. Brings back lots of memories.
joymdallas 4 years ago
Trivia Question: What were the real names of Robert Stack, Gene Barry and Tony Franciosa?
roberthickerson 4 years ago
always love this especially the music, thanks for putting this on.
luvs2cover 4 years ago
I remember seeing this when my parents let me stay up late on a Friday night
BigSingh 4 years ago
OMG! I soooo looked forward to watching this EVERY Friday night! I was totally in love with Robert Stack; Tony Franciosa was a close second!
HOW DO I GET THESE VIDEOS?
jsbach15 4 years ago
I Used To Watch This Series
GOOSEYGOOSE9 4 years ago
You can always tell the mark of a Universal Studios Production. Class personified!. Great writing, photographers, great production values that includes the graphics and the theme song by Dave Grusin. I just thought Gene Barry was so handsome and elegant. You can't find that type of man today.
Creolelady281 4 years ago 2
This show's theme song was probably my first exposure to Dave Grusin (at least that I connected to Dave Grusin).
DrGlitterhouse 4 years ago 2
That has got to be one of the best opening ever. Back then you didn't have to throw it in peoples faces. They were cool and knew it. Didn't need to broadcast it. The music was just fantastic. TV during my childhood was so damn good.
richcta 4 years ago 2
Me 2...loved this show...one of the best. Now days Hotel Babylon has become my number one show, but the name of game is still the best. Great opening song..love the song!
tonkehar 4 years ago 2
Ol Gene Barry and Tony Franciosa
Theme music was tight
Stack was cool
GB and TF were nickel and dime actors!LOL!
Ol Barry was always clean though!
illiniev1 4 years ago
One of the many cool TV show openings.
ebf1957 4 years ago
The theme was by Dave Grusin, who also composed the theme for Universal's "It Takes a Thief" series. Steven Spielberg directed a Gene Barry episode in the final season of the series.
BillKoenig 4 years ago 2
This series was also unique in the fact that MCA could "repackage" any episode as a theatrical movie overseas (with some additonal footage to pad the running time). In fact, that's how they syndicated these episodes by the '80s- as "individual" features, minus the opening "NOTG" title...
fromthesidelines 4 years ago 2
This excerpt is indeed from the very first episode of the series (and Franciosa's first in the regular rotation), which aired on September 20, 1968. The original pilot, "Fame Is the Name Of the Game", starred Franciosa, and aired as a 'World Premiere' movie on "NBC SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES" in November 1966. MCA-TV later decided to "package" him, with Stack and Barry, as a weekly series...
fromthesidelines 4 years ago 4
didn't "abc's movie of the week" borrow the graphics from "the name of the game"???
bryanbradford 4 years ago
ABC's "Movie of the Week" titles used a different, more decorative font (Peignot, the same font that was used later for the Mary Tyler Moore show) and the slit-scan effect originally developed by Douglas Trumbull for "2001: A Space Odyssey."
scotpens 3 years ago
thanks 4 that response. Yeah, the font is fancier. I was just thinking about the opening sequence concept, but ty
bryanbradford 3 years ago
I used to watch this all the time when I was a kid. God, I haven't heard that theme in 30 years! Hope they release it on DVD, great late 60's show.
jakerson181 4 years ago
I wonder who Claudine Longet will accidently shoot in this episode.
kolst8406 4 years ago
The series aired on NBC-TV from 1968-1971.
It was basically a show that ran for 90 minutes and it set the tone for "The NBC Mystery Movie" series later on. Great series from the late 1960's-early 1970's.
rayssonation 4 years ago
that's what i got outta this series too...at "the name of the game"'s demise they already set up a follow up series
bryanbradford 4 years ago
Great theme song. The show never quite worked though, for me. Great premise though. I think the name of the magazine they all worked for was People.
thishereguitar 4 years ago
The one Robt Stack worked on was "Crime" I think. Tony Fran.'s might have been "People" though.
Wow. This is what grown-up was supposed to be like.
BarkingSands 4 years ago