Concentration (October 15, 1958): Part 2a

Continuing the request by "40onTheBlue", we return from commercial to begin the day's first puzzle. We begin the game with returning-champ Robert ("Bob") versus Walter ("Walt"). Who will solve the puzzle and take home -- hopefully -- some not-gag prizes?

In the early days, some prizes were represented by simple pictures (Squares 22 and 26) or with a combination of pictures and words (Square 25).

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[dan1701a]

It's funny, if you listen in the background of Hugh and Bob toward the end of this clip, you can hear the sounds of the board being loaded up for the next game. Which brings an interesting question: Were the early runs of the daytime "Concentration" done live?

[WarioBarker88]

The show aired at 11:30 AM from its start, and moved to 11:00 AM on 9/9/62. The series was probably done live, or at least taped close to airing date, for at least the first 5-6 years.

According to Noreen Wald, who appeared on the show in November 1963, the episode immediately following JFK's assassination (presumably 11/25/63) had both herself (as returning champ) and Hugh Downs visibly shaken.

[saml760]

thank you,thank you,thank you so much for this graet piece of lost history. i can hardly wait for part 3!!!

[getrichorlietryin]

It was confirmed a couple of years ago that the original NBC Concentration had no pilot.

[altfactor]

If you see an image of the box of the first edition (late 1958) of the "Concentration" home game, you'll see a drawing of two "contestants", a small image of the "Rollamatic Puzzle Changer", and a larger image of the Concentration board in the studio.

The background of the drawing is a checkerboard pattern very similar to that in the studio during the earliest years of the show.

[novice188]

I have been logging onto YouTube for the past couple of years looking for old clips of my favorite game shows. Concentration was one and I'm glad to see that segments have been released. Thank you!!!

[MPL029]

Love that dramatic organ music at the end!!

[fromthesidelines]

That episode of "CONCENTRATION" featuring Noreen Wald, after Kennedy's assasination and funeral, was telecast on November 26, 1963; ALL commercial programming on all networks were pre-empted from 2pm(et) on November 22, through the end of the broadcast day on November 25th.

[bhayes06]

I think they were. BTW, that wasn't Bob Clayton announcing, it was Art James; Bob didn't join the until 1963.

[MikeTeaveeJr]

Hugh showed viewers a card of the first puzzle on the first show, "It Happened One Night"; later redone in color by Steve Ryan for the show's 30th anniversary show in August 1988.

[WarioBarker88]

My apologies -- I meant to say that with the guess that the champ in this episode carried over from the Pilot, that it does open up the possibility of this being the Premiere.

I say this, since the date is "Fall 1958" and the sample rebus ("It Happened One Night") has been referred to as the first one used on the Premiere. As it is used here, albeit *prior* to the game, this implies either a very early episode -- or, as "beentheredonetht" has brought for consideration, the Premiere.