Art James: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|American TV game show host (1929–2004)}} |
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'''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!]]'' |
'''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]].'' |
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==Biography== |
==Biography== |
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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"/> |
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"/> |
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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 |
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 (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]]''. |
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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 |
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"/> |
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One episode of ''Say When!'' included a classic blooper by James while doing |
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> |
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==Later years and death== |
==Later years and death== |
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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 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> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{commonscat|Art James}} |
{{commonscat|Art James}} |
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*{{IMDb name|id=0416282}} |
*{{IMDb name|id=0416282}} |
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*{{Find a Grave|8579663}} |
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{{S-end}} |
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{{Authority control}} |
{{Authority control}}{{US-bio-stub}}{{DEFAULTSORT:James, Art}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:James, Art}} |
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[[Category:1929 births]] |
[[Category:1929 births]] |
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[[Category:2004 deaths]] |
[[Category:2004 deaths]] |
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[[Category:American people of Russian descent]] |
[[Category:American people of Russian descent]] |
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[[Category:Fordson High School alumni]] |
[[Category:Fordson High School alumni]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Television personalities from New Rochelle, New York]] |
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[[Category:Television personalities from Detroit]] |
[[Category:Television personalities from Detroit]] |
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Latest revision as of 01:47, 14 October 2024
Art James | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Arthur Simeonovich Efimchick October 15, 1929 Dearborn, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | March 28, 2004 (aged 74) Palm Springs, California, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Game show presenter, host, announcer |
| Spouses |
|
| Children | 2 |
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]- ^ a b c Saxon, Wolfgang (March 31, 2004). "Art James, 74, Game Show Host and Announcer". The New York Times.
- ^ "Peter Pan Peanut Butter Commercial Blooper" on YouTube
External links
[edit]
 | This United States biographical article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |