Concentration (1977) with Jack Narz part one

[Rock8Jim]

I'm from Decatur Illinois

[Mcnzlea]

Memo to NBC: This game can be very easily updated and even more high-tech than Classic. They gotta put their mind to it! Who needs a fourth hour of "Today"? I couldn't stand Kathie Lee when she co-hosted w/Regis.

[the06bug]

@Mcnzlea Amen, brother! If the world is to have more winners in it, we gotta play the game, NBC! The world NEEDS more winners.

[Madamow]

@the06bug I second that bug, and mcnzlea, daytime game shows despreatly need to make a comeback, in fact, concentration isn't the only classic game show that needs to be reinstated, others are Sale of the Century, Scrabble (Woolery version), Talk About, Now You See It, Card Sharks, Blockbusters, Press Your Luck, Joker's Wild, Bullseye (Lange version), Tic Tac Dough, and in these harsh times that we live in, seeing people win on game shows, will help pick up people's spirits

[Madamow]

...and make them see that if they win, it's possible for them too, DAYTIME TV NEEDS A GAME SHOW RENAISSANCE IN THE WORST WAY POSSIBLE

[Madamow]

and here's another one I missed, High Rollers

[gsnman]

I believe my hometown station, WXII-TV 12, aired "Concentration".

[Noveltooner]

A new 60-minute version (actually a sleek and modernized version of the original with Forfeits, Takes and gag prizes plus a new bonus game) of "Concentration" originating from its old digs at 30 Rock had been considered by NBC. At the last minute, the network baield and opted for a 4th hour of "Today" with Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb instead.

[Hondo20132]

@Noveltooner What's wrong with three hours?

[whatthe420788]

Is there any way someone could clean up the image at all? It seems a shame that the only copies of this ep available are in fair quality. Heck if I could clean up the video I would! ;)

[SimplyKevTV]

Jack Narz is one of the most underappreciated game show hosts of all time. His calm presence was a welcome alternative to those hosts who always yelled and shouted.

[tvtimetravel]

It's a shame wild card matches didn't automatically reveal the natural match unti "Classic Concentration" came.

[Trackball816]

Until the end of this puzzle, I thought the trilons were hand-turned, like the ones on Pyramid. Now I see they were motorized--which led to its own problems, as you can see with panel number 8.

[djdavemick]

Man I LOVED this show 1975-78. Seems like yesterday when I watched this.

[altfactor]

Wasn't the "Concentration" board used in this version the original one used on the NBC version and was shipped from New York to California for the syndicated version and given a restyling once it had been moved to the West Coast??

I also think the prize boards behind and between the contestants also got moved West in 1973.

[Noveltooner]

@altfactor Actually, it was the long-disused board from the defunct nighttime Concentration that had been in storage for 11 years. It had been used at the old Ziegfeld Theater while the original board toiled at 30 Rock. The daytime board was worn out, The shipped board didn't fare much better; it had to be completely rebuilt after 10 tapings during this version's 3rd season with the fast trilon-turing mechanism that's seen in this episode.

[samacal]

Barry-Enright didn't sell it to NBC--the network assumed control of the show after B&E were implicated in the Quiz Show Scandals.

[fkd1963]

i love the sound of the board pieces moving; it did not make the puzzle too gimmicky. however, the set with Jack and the contestants looks dull and static.

[MegastarLV]

RIP Jack Narz.

[mikeysaur65]

I listened to the mp3s on Game Show Themes Library's web site. Is it just me, or does the theme music for Concentration sound like a mix of Super Mario Bros. and one of the music cues from the Brady Bunch?

[Rlotpir1972]

The music was played with a portable synthesizer...an Arp or Moog. It DOES sound like it's from Super Mario Bros.

[Noveltooner]

This version of Concentration debuted five months after the NBC original left the airwaves; this episode was toward the end of the syndicated run. The theme was by Ed Kalehoff years before Donkey Kong and the Mario Bros. even existed. The original board and mechanism came from NBC in New York. Near the start of the 3rd syndicated season, it fell apart and received the faster mechanism as seen in this show.

[beentheredonetht]

I never noticed until, after watching this ep and an NBC ep, the big difference in the speed of tile movement. On the NBC one, even then they sound kinda old and slow (it was top-notch tech then!)...on the later Narz syndie versions, they whizzed along.

[gladfan1989]

That was Score Productions for you. Back in the 1970's, they thought this was hot stuff.

[JustinInAtlanta]

That beef jerky is a nice prize!

[tvtimetravel]

Something to really "ooooh" about like the audience did.

[beentheredonetht]

Those "oohs" and "ahhs" were SO canned, just like that beef jerky. LOL

[the06bug]

Mmmm... Jerky

[nextbarker]

Alex did CLASSIC Concentration, not just CONCENTRATION

[pernelldh]

Jack Narz, Tom Kennedy's brother.

[GarfieldnPyramid]

Now if this and commecials from 1977 surive on home recordings there's got to be and episode of Second Chance we are able to get acess to.

[Hondo20132]

First of all, we don't know when in 1977 this is from. Second, there aren't commercials included.

[GarfieldnPyramid]

I ment Second Chance and other places on youtube there are 1977 commecials that are on home video recordings.

[Hondo20132]

I hope we find some guy who was so huge of a fan back then that they recorded a ton of episodes.

[the06bug]

Who's better @ Concentration: Jack or Alex?

[coffeegirlbelinda]

Jack Narz by a long shot!

[disneyfan81]

@coffeegirlbelinda Yeah, but how does Jack measure up against Hugh Downs or Bob Clayton (or perhaps even Ed McMahon, even though none of the episodes he hosted seem to be readily available)?

[PatrioticPirate]

JACK NARZ WAS BETTER! R.I.P.

[coffeegirlbelinda]

An INCREDIBLE 5,000 times better in fact (!)

[JESSIbitesYOU]

Thank you- now I KNOW I'm not dumb!

[DENNISPUPPY]

this to me was his best hosting job. good on now you see it also

[ACcountryFan]

speaking for one that was born in 1976, I grew up watching the Alex Trebek version called CLASSIC CONCENTRATION in the late '80s/early '90s. I was in school, yes, but during summer break I watched game shows in the morning...and I loved the game...I never had any real preference of hosts but Jack Narz, whom I'm not as familiar with, is a great host from the other clips I've seen here on You Tube.

The long time host of this game was Hugh Downs, though.

[beentheredonetht]

Yep, Hugh Downs did the NBC version for a number of years, then Ed MacMahon did it for a few months and finally Bob Clayton (who was the announcer for a time) hosted it during the final NBC years. There were many other substitute hosts and also a couple nighttime ones whose names I forget...

Narz did the syndie run and he shined on not just this show but also Beat The Clock, Now You See It, and others.

[Rlotpir1972]

The Narz version was taped at CBS studios for syndication. The bells and buzzers used were also from other CBS game shows from Goodson/Todman.

[tvtimetravel]

Actually, it was taped at the now-demolished Metromedia Square which later became Fox Television Center. It was located on Sunset just off the Hollywood Freeway.

[chas1065b]

@Rlotpir1972 Actually this show was taped at the old Fox Televison Center (then called Metromedia Square)

[MrLogoman007]

Jack.

[Digifan23]

at 8:12 I think the eight wanted to stay on the board LOL

[Hondo20132]

Okay, I contacted the guy who's friends with the guy who has access to the NBC vaults. I told him to have his friend get an episode of this version, and he said, "mmm, ok".

[midknightryder13]

Well, NOW they could if they wanted to -- thanks to satellite distrbution and digital tech. But back then, it would have been PROHIBITIVELY expensive.

That's also, essentially, WHY "Match Game" dropped the year extension from its name when it went from network to syndication.

Also, I have ALWAYS loved the vamp at the beginning of this opening for "Concentration" when the various letters from the title flash on the screen. In fact, EVERYTHING is cool about this version. Wish we could see it!

[Hondo20132]

You know, if GSN did get the rights (which NBC stupidly didn't let them), there would be a LOT more episodes in the trading circuit.

[storrs19]

I doubt there are many episodes of this version or any previous one around. Most of these shows were wiped for re-use of the videotape. Thanks so much for sharing this one with us here on YouTube. I was 6 years old when this aired and can remember watching it from time to time when I was home from school.

[Hondo20132]

Actually, all these do exists, because GSN attempted to get the rights to this and the Trebek versions of the show ever since they started, but to no avail due to some stupid reason by the people who have the tapes.

[midknightryder13]

Quite right. This is from the same time period as the syndicated version of 'Match Game'. The tapes COULDN'T be wiped because they had to be PHYSICALLY sent from station to station to be shown. That's why no games ever carried over from week to week because it was entirely possible that the 'next week' SHOWN wouldn't be the 'next week' PRODUCED.

[Hondo20132]

No wonder none of the syndicated shows celebrated Christmas (with the exceptions of Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!)

[GarfieldnPyramid]

NBC has the tapes.

[Hondo20132]

That's what I thought.

[MrLogoman007]

NBC is incredibly stingy. We all know that G-T produced the show, it should be in their vaults.

[fatmanfiftythousand]

@MrLogoman007 NBC licensed the show to Goodson-Todman, it's still their show.

[MrLogoman007]

@fatmanfiftythousand However, it was originally produced by Barry-Enright, who sold it to NBC. Why NBC isn't milking this show out for all its worth I'll never know.

[altfactor]

@fatmanfiftythousand Didn't Goodson-Todman get control of "Concentration" while it was still on NBC's daytime schedule, around the time Hugh Downs left??

Goodson-Todman is now part of Freemantle Media.

[fatmanfiftythousand]

@altfactor No, NBC still kept it.

[midknightryder13]

One of the first game shows that I remember watching and realizing how much I ENJOYED watching game shows was the syndicated version of "Beat The Clock" that Jack Narz hosted. It had a big orange clock and this funky logo -- it WAS the 1970's, after all.

I also loved this version of "Concentration", too bad NBC is being ridiculous about letting ANY reruns be shown.

[Hondo20132]

GSN is probably angry; they've been trying to get the rights for a long time!

[richstan4d]

Doesnt anyone remember he hosted Dealers Choice. I think in 1973 or so.

[2005dave]

Jack CLARK hosted Dealer's Choice ... so did Bob Hastings.

[secondchance1977]

Jack clarks hosted Dealers Choice from 1974 to 1976

[Stratman78]

RIP John William Narz, Jr. (November 13, 1922 October 15, 2008)

[beentheredonetht]

For those wondering, yes Jack Narz died on October 15, 2008. The game show world has lost another legend and he will be missed.

[RonaldVaughan]

Thanks for this. R.I.P. JACK NARZ.

But my fondest memories are from "SEVEN KEYS".

Especially when the winner got all 7...and it

was merely the excitement of them opening the

big glass doors to get that new car!

Bonus...Steps...Penalty...and the theme song,

"Everything's Coming Up Roses". Think that

show was around 1962.

[zekepig]

maybe they should bring that one back

[Rlotpir1972]

You could ask NBC/Universal since they have the rights to the show.

[Brandiig]

RIP Jack Narz. You are going to be missed.

[secondchance1977]

Jack Narz Died?

[ryanschroer]

Just within the past week or so.

[redskinsfreak44]

RIP Jack, one of the best.

But the true rendition of pre-"Classic" Concentration was hosted by Hugh Downs.

[gameshowfrk]

Let's not forget about Bob Clayton and (briefly) Ed McMahon.

[secondchance1977]

And Hugh Downs

[disneyfan81]

Yes. I was commenting to someone who already had said Hugh Downs

[GarfieldVsSnoopy]

RIP Jack Narz.

[srf1969]

The sound effects somewhat sounds like the Tiger pocket game of Concentration that I had.

[gameshowluvr86]

I have mine still, it's awesome! :-)

[ccie12933]

beeeeeeef jerrrrrrrrrrrky... mmmmmm

[beentheredonetht]

It's so good to see an ep from the Narz era of Concentration! Thank you for posting these clips!

[palmercomm]

"Jack Narz was the ultimate gentleman host." How true. It's too bad the networks didn't want to keep him around to host another show.

I think Bob Barker was the same way before he became Exec Producer of TPIR.

[BlackwoodCompany]

I would agree with that. Both were good now no matter what the problems were.

[artytoons]

Ah, the great voice of Johnny Olsen...coming on down to announce a "classic" Concentration show! ;-)

[katmusic2006]

with all them chevettes just waiting to be won. when i was at michigan state in 92-93, i was just looking for a cheap little beater. chevettes looked interesting but as yrs went by, they disappeared! were the chevettes the only cars they gave away on this show?

[katmusic2006]

never mind. i saw the clip w/the 74 bonus & they also gave away chevy vega.

[viddykiddy18]

Of course, that the episode shown on the now defuct Page O' Clips website.

[chrisivision07]

It's the only complete episode in circulation so there you go. I was unaware it was on Jamie Locklin's site; I only try to make sure it's not on YouTube before I upload.

[viddykiddy18]

And you did that real well.

[mstewart61]

I loved the show growing up. I looked forward to watching this everynight. Thanks for posting.

[MrLogoman007]

You mean this was on every night? Man, now I wish I was born in the 60s so I could have seen this.

[hockeybagged]

I wish I could remember where I saw the story (probably a long gone website) but there was an incident during the 60s' NBC run where the board malfunctioned and almost caught on fire.

[Wheeloffortunefan999]

what was behind #10?

[secondchance1977]

Free Look. It was a space that automatically turned and gave you a free guess without making a "real" guess.