User:Daniel Benfield/Concentration Video Archive

Concentration is easily one of my favorite shows, a trait I may have gotten from my mother. Despite Classic airing for my first five years, I actually like its predecessors a bit more (although not the 1985 pilots, which would just be dumb :P).

LEGAL STUFF SO I DON'T GET SUED: I'm only linking to these videos, none of which were uploaded by me, for the purposes of research and as a public record. Footage ©1958-78/1988-90 Barry & Enright Productions/NBC/Goodson-Todman Productions/FremantleMedia/TVS and associated entities.

AND ANOTHER THING: Classic Concentration isn't here because there's a whole lot more of that out there compared to the ones below. If you'd like to see some Classic episodes, check out User:Kingofgameshows800/Classic Concentration Video Archive.

NBC Daytime (1958-73)
NBC Daytime: August 25, 1958 - March 23, 1973 (3,770 episodes)

The original version, with its distinctive "clank-clunk" trilon movements. Producer Norm Blumenthal wrote all of the puzzles used on the show, with no repeats; he also got to host for an anniversary episode with Hugh Downs and Bob Clayton playing.

Hugh Downs (August 25, 1958-January 1969)
 * October 15, 1958 (#38: Robert {Champ} vs. Walter {Part 6, Part 7}, with Pat playing later; has commercials and a timecode)
 * February 9, 1959 (Art James fills in: Milli vs. Ingrid, continued from last Friday with Betty playing later; has commercials, begins during contestant interviews)

Somewhat redone set, "puzzle" logo introduced and sometimes used on podiums (debuted by September 12, 1963)
 * September 12, 1963 (Challenge of Champions I, Finals: Ralph Branca vs. Arthur Levine, in a best-four-out-of-seven game; has commercials)
 * September 13, 1963 (Challenge of Champions I, Finals: Ralph Branca vs. Arthur Levine, with a debatable ruling in Game 1; has commercials)

Panels added behind host (one with the "puzzle" logo), regular and "puzzle" logos permanently replace sponsor logos on contestant and host podiums (debuted by October 2, 1967)
 * October 2-3, 1967 (Challenge of Champions V, Finals: Dorothy Walforth? vs. Clara Cavanaugh?, continued at 2-2; has commercials)
 * [Challenge of Champions games still have scores displayed by pull cards behind the players.]

Final opening sequence (debuted by December 24, 1968)
 * December 24, 1968 (Christmas Special, with two famous faces dressed as Santa; set still does not have the "puzzle" logo behind each player)

Bob Clayton (January-March 28, 1969/September 29, 1969-March 23, 1973)

Panels behind host repainted with "arrows", "puzzle" logo added behind each player; matching two Wild Cards, aka "Double Wild Card", now awards a car (debuted by October 1969)
 * October 1969 (Challenge of Champions VII, Finals: Diane Sather {10-time champ} vs. Pat Hyack {18-time champ}, continued at 2-2)
 * [UCLA's copy is dated January 30, 1970. By this point, COC games have scores displayed by flip cards next to the players. COC games award $500 for a Double Wild Card, as it had been before the award became a car.]
 * December 24, 1969 (Christmas Special, with two famous faces dressed as Santa)


 * March 23, 1973 (#3,770/Finale: Lewellen? {Game 5} vs. Joan, with Gail? playing later; end of Game 1 missing)
 * [16th Edition board game given to all players. "Double Wild Card" awards a 1973 Chevy Nova.]

Syndicated (1973-78)
Syndicated daily: September 10, 1973 - September 8, 1978

The show moved across the country from New York to Metromedia Square in Hollywood, California, gaining an audiovisual makeover in the process and a bonus round (Double Play, for a car). As time went on, special spaces were added to speed things up: Bonus Number (which gave the contestant a third pick on the first subsequent turn that two did not match) and Free Look! (which revealed that square).

Sometime between Seasons 2 and 5, Double Play added a small minigame where the contestant called numbers to match one of four prizes (one being the car). Also at some point in that timeframe, Bonus Number was replaced by simply letting both players always pick three numbers.


 * Late 1974 (#0344: Sheryl vs. Jane {taped 6/27/74, with slate!})

Credits become yellow, copyright date added
 * Late 1974 (Barbara vs. David; begins late in Game 2, average video)
 * 1976 (Walt vs. Toni; complete final segment)

"9-square" Double Play, three picks per turn, Double Wild Card award dropped from $500 to $250
 * Early 1978 (Linda vs. Randy {alternate copy})

British Version (1988-90)
''ITV Weekly: September 4 - November 27, 1988 (13 episodes)/December 29, 1989 - Spring? 1990 (at least 8 episodes)''

Based on Classic (it even uses the same board graphics!), but with far less episodes made/around. Series 2 changed the contestant nameplate letters to white, replaced the TAKE! with SWAP!, and dropped the bonus round timer from 50 to 45 seconds.

Series 1 (1988), with Nick Jackson
 * September 4, 1988 (Premiere: David vs. June)
 * September 11, 1988 (#2: Kenneth vs. Debbie)
 * September 18, 1988 (#3: Paul vs. Pamella)
 * September 25, 1988 (#4: Joseph vs. Marilyn)


 * October 2, 1988 (#5: Paul vs. Wendy)
 * October 9, 1988 (#6: Ivor vs. Adrienne)
 * October 16, 1988 (#7: Jim vs. Helen)
 * October 23, 1988 (#8: Greg vs. Sue)
 * October 30, 1988 (#9: Bahawlouin? vs. Anne)


 * November 6, 1988 (#10: Gus vs. Katherine)
 * November 13, 1988 (#11: Andrew vs. Cheryl)
 * November 20, 1988 (#12: David vs. Laura)
 * November 27, 1988 (#13/Season Finale: Lionel vs. Rachel)

Series 2 (1989-90), with Bob Carolgees
 * December 29, 1989 (#14/Season Premiere: Darren vs. Denise)
 * January 5, 1990 (#15: Jim vs. Pearl; this is the episode Ryan Rinkerman has in his collection)
 * January 12, 1990 (#16: Eddie vs. Wendy, with a terrible bonus round)
 * January 19, 1990 (#17: Carl vs. Cheryl)


 * January 26, 1990 (#18: Greg {same guy as Series 1?!} vs. Kathryn, with an amazing bonus round)
 * February 2, 1990 (#19: Dave vs. Janice)
 * February 9, 1990 (#20: Gus vs. Laura)
 * February 16, 1990 (#21: Paul vs. Pam)