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.

NBC (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, 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); by the final season, the former was replaced by simply letting both players always pick three numbers.

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).


 * 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 (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 and dropped the bonus round timer dropped 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)