It's Time Once Again for ... 'Concentration!'

It's Time Once Again for ... 'Concentration!'

GLENDALE, Calif., July 19 /PRNewswire/ -- NBC's longest-running daytime game show is being saluted at this year's Game Show Congress in Glendale, California. On Saturday, August 20, 2005, members of the original production team will reunite after 32 years to share their memories of working on the classic memory game show, "Concentration." Seen on the network from 1958 through 1973, the program remained a ratings favorite among viewers for nearly all of those years. Two contestants played the game. The object was to be the first to match as many prize pairs as possible on a 30-space board and then solve the rebus puzzle hidden underneath the spaces. Best known for hosting the show was Hugh Downs, who went on to become an anchor for the news magazine, "20/20." Other hosts of "Concentration" included Art James, Ed McMahon, and Bob Clayton.

Among the participants will be Norman Blumenthal, the program's head producer, who was responsible for the day-to-day operation of the show and wrote most of the puzzles; Buddy Piper, who created the concept of the game; Ron Greenberg, who worked in the early stages of the show's development; and David Schwartz, co-author of "The Encyclopedia of TV Game Shows." Also featured on the panel will be Mrs. Ruth Horowitz, who in 1966 became the all-time champion contestant of the series with an impressive 20-game winning streak (the maximum allowed at that time). She retired as undefeated. The panel will be moderated by television historian Stuart Shostak, who is the owner of Shokus Video, one of the country's largest archives of classic television programming.

The annual Game Show Congress is a conference covering television, radio, and internet broadcast game shows, game operas (i.e. "reality" competition), and other quiz events. The event welcomes past and potential contestants, writers, producers, hosts, and fans of this segment of the entertainment industry. This year the GSC will recognize Monty Hall, Tom Kennedy, and Jack Narz with career awards, along with a variety of awards for the past television season. A goal of the organization is to establish a hall of fame, museum, and media library dedicated to intellectual competition. The 4th Game Show Congress will be held August 19-21 2005 at the Hilton Los Angeles North/Glendale & Executive Meeting Center, 100 West Glenoaks Blvd., Glendale, CA 91202. For more information, please visit http://www.gameshowcongress.com/ or contact Paul Bailey at (303) 520-0200.

Source: Game Show Congress

CONTACT: Paul Bailey for Game Show Congress, +1-303-520-0200

Web site: http://www.gameshowcongress.com/

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