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{{Short description|American TV game show host (1929–2004)}}
{{for|the baseball outfielder|Art James (baseball)}}
{{for|the baseball outfielder|Art James (baseball)}}

{{Inline}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| image = ArtJames.jpg
| image = ArtJames.jpg
| name = Art James
| name = Art James
| birth_name = Artur Simon Efimchik
| birth_name = Arthur Simeonovich Efimchick
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1929|10|15|df=y}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1929|10|15}}
| birth_place = [[Dearborn, Michigan]], [[USA]]
| birth_place = [[Dearborn, Michigan]], U.S.
| death_date = {{Dda|2004|03|27|1929|10|29|df=y}}
| death_date = {{Dda|2004|03|28|1929|10|15}}
| death_place = [[Palm Springs, California]], [[USA]]
| death_place = [[Palm Springs, California]], U.S.
| resting_place =
| other_names =
| occupation = Game show presenter, host, announcer
| occupation = Game show presenter, host, announcer
| spouse = {{ubl|{{marriage|Jane Hamilton|1957|1981|end=divorced}}|{{marriage|Sandy Pietron|1991}}}}
| children = 2
}}
}}


'''Art James''' (October 15, 1929 – March 27, 2004) was an [[United States|American]] [[game show]] host, best known for shows such as ''[[The Who, What, or Where Game]]''; ''[[It's Academic]]''; and ''[[Pay Cards!]]''. He was also the announcer on the [[game show]] ''[[Concentration (game show)|Concentration]].''
'''Art James''' (born '''Arthur Simeonovich Efimchick'''; October 15, 1929 – March 28, 2004) was an American [[game show|game-show]] host, best known for shows such as ''[[The Who, What, or Where Game]]''; ''[[It's Academic]]''; and ''[[Pay Cards!]]'' He was also the announcer and substitute host on the game show ''[[Concentration (game show)|Concentration]].''

==Biography==
⚫
James was born in [[Dearborn, Michigan]], to Russian immigrants (fluent in Russian, he taught English to Russian immigrants). He attended [[Wayne State University]] in nearby [[Detroit]], where he studied engineering. He worked as an announcer for the [[Armed Forces Network]] while stationed in Germany after World War II.<ref name="nytobit"/>

⚫
An old Army friend, who was an executive with [[NBC]], asked James to audition for a new game show, ''Concentration,'' hosted by [[Hugh Downs]], which needed an announcer. ''Concentration'' ran from 1958&ndash;73, and was NBC's longest-running game show. He went on to either announce or host over a dozen game shows, including ''[[Say When!!]]''; ''It's Academic''; ''The Who, What, or Where Game''; ''Pay Cards!''; ''[[Temptation (1967 U.S. game show)|Temptation]]''; ''[[The Joker's Wild]]''; ''[[Blank Check (game show)|Blank Check]]''; ''[[The Magnificent Marble Machine]]''; ''Concentration''; ''[[Catch Phrase (U.S. game show)|Catchphrase]]''; and ''[[Tic-Tac-Dough]]''. He also made an appearance in [[Kevin Smith]]'s movie ''[[Mallrats]]''.


He started Art James Productions in 1975 with his business partner and producer, Dan Cross. Their joint company staged game shows that were specially created to communicate marketing and corporate strategies to key stakeholders of Fortune 500 companies.<ref name="nytobit"/>
⚫
He was born '''Artur Simon Efimchik''' in [[Dearborn, Michigan]] to [[Russia]]n immigrants (fluent in Russian, he taught English to Russian immigrants). He attended [[Wayne State University]] in nearby [[Detroit]], where he studied engineering. He worked as an announcer for the [[Armed Forces Network]] while stationed in [[Germany]] after [[World War II]].


⚫
One episode of ''Say When!'' included a classic blooper by James while doing a live in-show commercial for [[Peter Pan peanut butter]]; during the sales pitch, he dropped a knife into the near-empty glass jar, breaking out the bottom and causing the knife to fall through. Though he struggled to keep from laughing, and because a retake was impossible, James still finished the commercial. The gaffe has been shown on many blooper specials.<ref>{{YouTube|id=Mommg6nQiug|title="Peter Pan Peanut Butter Commercial Blooper"}}</ref>
⚫
An old Army friend, who was an executive with [[NBC]], asked James to audition for a new game show, ''Concentration,'' hosted by [[Hugh Downs]], which needed an announcer. ''Concentration'' ran from 1958 to 1973 and was NBC's longest-running game show. He went on to either announce or host over a dozen game shows, including ''[[Say When!!]]''; ''[[Fractured Phrases]]''; ''[[It's Academic]]''; ''[[The Who, What, or Where Game]]''; ''[[Pay Cards!]]''; ''[[Temptation (1967 U.S. game show)|Temptation]]''; ''[[The Joker's Wild]]''; ''[[Blank Check (game show)|Blank Check]]''; ''[[The Magnificent Marble Machine]]''; ''[[Classic Concentration]]''; ''[[Family Feud]]''; ''[[Catch Phrase (U.S. game show)|Catchphrase]]''; and ''[[Tic-Tac-Dough]]'', plus he appeared in the [[Kevin Smith]] movie ''[[Mallrats]]''. He started Art James Productions in the 1990s with his business partner and producer, Dan Cross. Their joint company staged game shows that were specially created to communicate marketing and corporate strategies to key stake holders of Fortune 500 companies.


==Later years and death==
⚫
One episode of ''Say When!'' included a classic blooper by James while doing an live in-show commercial for [[Peter Pan peanut butter]]: during the sales pitch he dropped a knife into the near-empty glass jar breaking out the bottom and causing the knife to fall through. Though he struggled to keep from laughing, and because a retake was impossible, James still finished the commercial. The gaffe has been shown on many blooper specials.{{cn|date=December 2015}}
⚫
James was a frequent contributor to ''[[TV Guide (magazine)|TV Guide]]'', writing about the world of game shows. He was living in [[Chaska, Minnesota]], at the end of his life, and died of unspecified [[death by natural causes|natural causes]] during a visit to his brother in [[Palm Springs, California]].<ref name="nytobit">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/31/us/art-james-74-game-show-host-and-announcer.html?_r=0 |title=Art James, 74, Game Show Host and Announcer |first=Wolfgang |last=Saxon |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=March 31, 2004}}</ref>


==References==
⚫
James was a frequent contributor to ''[[TV Guide (magazine)|TV Guide]]'', writing about the world of game shows. He was living in [[Chaska, Minnesota]] at the end of his life, and died of unspecified [[death by natural causes|natural causes]] during a visit to his brother in [[Palm Springs, California]]. James is survived by a daughter Jennifer Christie of Colorado Springs and a son, Jeff James; and 3 grandchildren.{{cn|date=December 2015}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{commonscat|Art James}}
{{commonscat|Art James}}
*{{IMDb name|id=0416282}}
*{{IMDb name|id=0416282}}
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=8579663 Art James at Find-A-Grave]


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{{DEFAULTSORT:James, Art}}
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[[Category:1929 births]]
[[Category:1929 births]]
[[Category:2004 deaths]]
[[Category:2004 deaths]]
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[[Category:American people of Russian descent]]
[[Category:American people of Russian descent]]
[[Category:Fordson High School alumni]]
[[Category:Fordson High School alumni]]
[[Category:People from New Rochelle, New York]]
[[Category:Television personalities from New Rochelle, New York]]
[[Category:People from Detroit, Michigan]]
[[Category:Television personalities from Detroit]]

Latest revision as of 01:47, 14 October 2024

For the baseball outfielder, see Art James (baseball).
Art James
Born
Arthur Simeonovich Efimchick

(1929-10-15)October 15, 1929
Dearborn, Michigan, U.S.
DiedMarch 28, 2004(2004-03-28) (aged 74)
Palm Springs, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Game show presenter, host, announcer
Spouses
  • Jane Hamilton
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1957; div. 1981)​
  • Sandy Pietron
    ​
    (m. 1991)​
Children2

Art James (born Arthur Simeonovich Efimchick; October 15, 1929 – March 28, 2004) was an American game-show host, best known for shows such as The Who, What, or Where Game; It's Academic; and Pay Cards! He was also the announcer and substitute host on the game show Concentration.

Biography

[edit]

James was born in Dearborn, Michigan, to Russian immigrants (fluent in Russian, he taught English to Russian immigrants). He attended Wayne State University in nearby Detroit, where he studied engineering. He worked as an announcer for the Armed Forces Network while stationed in Germany after World War II.[1]

An old Army friend, who was an executive with NBC, asked James to audition for a new game show, Concentration, hosted by Hugh Downs, which needed an announcer. Concentration ran from 1958–73, and was NBC's longest-running game show. He went on to either announce or host over a dozen game shows, including Say When!!; It's Academic; The Who, What, or Where Game; Pay Cards!; Temptation; The Joker's Wild; Blank Check; The Magnificent Marble Machine; Concentration; Catchphrase; and Tic-Tac-Dough. He also made an appearance in Kevin Smith's movie Mallrats.

He started Art James Productions in 1975 with his business partner and producer, Dan Cross. Their joint company staged game shows that were specially created to communicate marketing and corporate strategies to key stakeholders of Fortune 500 companies.[1]

One episode of Say When! included a classic blooper by James while doing a live in-show commercial for Peter Pan peanut butter; during the sales pitch, he dropped a knife into the near-empty glass jar, breaking out the bottom and causing the knife to fall through. Though he struggled to keep from laughing, and because a retake was impossible, James still finished the commercial. The gaffe has been shown on many blooper specials.[2]

Later years and death

[edit]

James was a frequent contributor to TV Guide, writing about the world of game shows. He was living in Chaska, Minnesota, at the end of his life, and died of unspecified natural causes during a visit to his brother in Palm Springs, California.[1]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Saxon, Wolfgang (March 31, 2004). "Art James, 74, Game Show Host and Announcer". The New York Times.
  2. ^ "Peter Pan Peanut Butter Commercial Blooper" on YouTube
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Art James.
Media offices
Preceded by Voice, Concentration
1958–61 		Succeeded by
Jim Lucas (1961–65)
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