Art James
Encyclopedia
Art James was an American
game show
host, best known for shows such as The Who, What, or Where Game
and Pay Cards!
. He was also the announcer on the game show
Concentration
.
He was born Artur Simeonvich Elimchik 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
.
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
; The Joker's Wild
; Blank Check
; The Magnificent Marble Machine
; Classic Concentration; Family Feud
; 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.
One episode of Say When! included a classic blooper by James which has made the rounds on blooper specials. While James was doing an in-show plug for Peter Pan peanut butter, the bottom of the jar fell off after he put a knife in it. James continued with the plug, although he was struggling to keep from laughing. As the show was recorded live, there was no room for retakes.
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
.
He was married to Samantha Peitron, who was born in Arvilla, North Dakota
. They divorced on December 9, 2003. James is survived by two daughters, Jennifer Christie and Joy DeStefano; a son, Jeff James; and 3 grandchildren.
Art James (October 15, 1929 – March 27, 2004) was an American
game show
host, best known for shows such as The Who, What, or Where Game
and Pay Cards!
. He was also the announcer on the game show
Concentration
.
He was born Artur Simeonvich Elimchik 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
.
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
; The Joker's Wild
; Blank Check
; The Magnificent Marble Machine
; Classic Concentration; Family Feud
; 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.
One episode of Say When! included a classic blooper by James which has made the rounds on blooper specials. While James was doing an in-show plug for Peter Pan peanut butter, the bottom of the jar fell off after he put a knife in it. James continued with the plug, although he was struggling to keep from laughing. As the show was recorded live, there was no room for retakes.
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
.
He was married to Samantha Peitron, who was born in Arvilla, North Dakota
. They divorced on December 9, 2003. James is survived by two daughters, Jennifer Christie and Joy DeStefano; a son, Jeff James; and 3 grandchildren.
Art James (October 15, 1929 – March 27, 2004) was an American
game show
host, best known for shows such as The Who, What, or Where Game
and Pay Cards!
. He was also the announcer on the game show
Concentration
.
He was born Artur Simeonvich Elimchik 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
.
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
; The Joker's Wild
; Blank Check
; The Magnificent Marble Machine
; Classic Concentration; Family Feud
; 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.
One episode of Say When! included a classic blooper by James which has made the rounds on blooper specials. While James was doing an in-show plug for Peter Pan peanut butter, the bottom of the jar fell off after he put a knife in it. James continued with the plug, although he was struggling to keep from laughing. As the show was recorded live, there was no room for retakes.
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
.
He was married to Samantha Peitron, who was born in Arvilla, North Dakota
. They divorced on December 9, 2003. James is survived by two daughters, Jennifer Christie and Joy DeStefano; a son, Jeff James; and 3 grandchildren.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
game show
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
host, best known for shows such as The Who, What, or Where Game
The Who, What, Or Where Game
The Who, What, or Where Game was an American television game show that was broadcast weekdays on NBC from December 29, 1969 to January 4, 1974...
and Pay Cards!
Pay Cards!
Pay Cards! was an American syndicated game show created and produced by Nick Nicholson and E. Roger Muir that first aired from 1968–1969 and a revival, titled Super Pay Cards!, ran from 1981–1982. Both versions were hosted by Art James and taped in both New York City and Cincinnati...
. He was also the announcer on the game show
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
Concentration
Concentration (game show)
Concentration was an American TV game show based on the children's memory game of the same name. Matching cards represented prizes that contestants could win...
.
He was born Artur Simeonvich Elimchik in Dearborn, Michigan
Dearborn, Michigan
-Economy:Ford Motor Company has its world headquarters in Dearborn. In addition its Dearborn campus contains many research, testing, finance and some production facilities. Ford Land controls the numerous properties owned by Ford including sales and leasing to unrelated businesses such as the...
to Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n immigrants (fluent in Russian, he taught English to Russian immigrants). He attended Wayne State University
Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center Historic District. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering more than 400 major subject areas to over 32,000 graduate and...
in nearby Detroit, where he studied engineering. He worked as an announcer for the Armed Forces Network while stationed in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
An old Army friend, who was an executive with NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
, asked James to audition for a new game show, Concentration, hosted by Hugh Downs
Hugh Downs
Hugh Malcolm Downs is a long time American broadcaster, television host, news anchor, TV producer, author, game show host, and music composer; and is perhaps best known for his role as co-host the NBC News program Today from 1962 to 1971, host of the Concentration game show from 1958 to 1969, and...
, 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
It's Academic
It's Academic is a televised academic quiz competition for high school students, currently airing on two NBC affiliates in Washington, D.C. and Central Virginia and one CBS affiliate Baltimore, Maryland . The show has been on the air since October 7, 1961, making it the longest...
; The Who, What, Or Where Game
The Who, What, Or Where Game
The Who, What, or Where Game was an American television game show that was broadcast weekdays on NBC from December 29, 1969 to January 4, 1974...
; Pay Cards!
Pay Cards!
Pay Cards! was an American syndicated game show created and produced by Nick Nicholson and E. Roger Muir that first aired from 1968–1969 and a revival, titled Super Pay Cards!, ran from 1981–1982. Both versions were hosted by Art James and taped in both New York City and Cincinnati...
; Temptation
Temptation (1967 US game show)
Temptation was a game show which aired on ABC from December 4, 1967 to March 1, 1968. It was produced by Merrill Heatter and Bob Quigley. Art James was the host, and Carl King was the announcer.-Gameplay:...
; The Joker's Wild
The Joker's Wild
The Joker's Wild is an American television game show that aired at different times during the 1970s through the 1990s. Contestants answered questions based on categories that were determined randomly by a mechanism resembling a slot machine....
; Blank Check
Blank Check (game show)
Blank Check is an American game show that aired on NBC from January 6 to July 4, 1975. It was promoted as "television's first ESP game". Art James was host, with Johnny Jacobs as announcer....
; The Magnificent Marble Machine
The Magnificent Marble Machine
The Magnificent Marble Machine is an American television game show hosted by Art James and based on pinball. The show ran on NBC from July 7, 1975 to March 12, 1976, but was interrupted for two weeks in January due to scheduling changes on the network and aired repeats from March 15 to June 11...
; Classic Concentration; Family Feud
Family Feud
Family Feud is an American television game show created by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman. Two families compete against each other in a contest to name the most popular responses to a survey question posed to 100 people...
; Catchphrase; and Tic-Tac-Dough
Tic-Tac-Dough
Tic-Tac-Dough is an American television game show based on the pen-and-paper game of tic-tac-toe. Contestants answer questions in various categories to put up their respective symbol, X or O, on the board. Three versions were produced: the initial 1956–59 run on NBC, a 1978–1986 run initially on...
, plus he appeared in the Kevin Smith
Kevin Smith
Kevin Patrick Smith is an American screenwriter, actor, film producer, and director, as well as a popular comic book writer, author, comedian/raconteur, and internet radio personality best recognized by viewers as Silent Bob...
movie Mallrats
Mallrats
Mallrats is a 1995 film written and directed by Kevin Smith. It is the second to be set in Smith's View Askewniverse series of interlocking films set mostly in New Jersey, although the movie was filmed in Eden Prairie Center and Osowski's Flea Market which are located in Minnesota...
. 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.
One episode of Say When! included a classic blooper by James which has made the rounds on blooper specials. While James was doing an in-show plug for Peter Pan peanut butter, the bottom of the jar fell off after he put a knife in it. James continued with the plug, although he was struggling to keep from laughing. As the show was recorded live, there was no room for retakes.
James was a frequent contributor to TV Guide, writing about the world of game shows.
He was living in Chaska, Minnesota
Chaska, Minnesota
As of 2005, there were 22,467 people and 8,194 households residing in the city. The population density was 1,640 people per square mile . There were 6,235 housing units at an average density of 454.1 per square mile...
at the end of his life, and died of unspecified natural causes
Death by natural causes
A death by natural causes, as recorded by coroners and on death certificates and associated documents, is one that is primarily attributed to natural agents: usually an illness or an internal malfunction of the body. For example, a person dying from complications from influenza or a heart attack ...
during a visit to his brother in Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs is a desert city in Riverside County, California, within the Coachella Valley. It is located approximately 37 miles east of San Bernardino, 111 miles east of Los Angeles and 136 miles northeast of San Diego...
.
He was married to Samantha Peitron, who was born in Arvilla, North Dakota
Arvilla, North Dakota
Arvilla is an unincorporated community in central Grand Forks County, North Dakota, United States. It lies along U.S. Route 2 west of the city of Grand Forks, the county seat of Grand Forks County. Its elevation is 1,004 feet...
. They divorced on December 9, 2003. James is survived by two daughters, Jennifer Christie and Joy DeStefano; a son, Jeff James; and 3 grandchildren.
Sources
External links
Art James (October 15, 1929 – March 27, 2004) was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
game show
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
host, best known for shows such as The Who, What, or Where Game
The Who, What, Or Where Game
The Who, What, or Where Game was an American television game show that was broadcast weekdays on NBC from December 29, 1969 to January 4, 1974...
and Pay Cards!
Pay Cards!
Pay Cards! was an American syndicated game show created and produced by Nick Nicholson and E. Roger Muir that first aired from 1968–1969 and a revival, titled Super Pay Cards!, ran from 1981–1982. Both versions were hosted by Art James and taped in both New York City and Cincinnati...
. He was also the announcer on the game show
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
Concentration
Concentration (game show)
Concentration was an American TV game show based on the children's memory game of the same name. Matching cards represented prizes that contestants could win...
.
He was born Artur Simeonvich Elimchik in Dearborn, Michigan
Dearborn, Michigan
-Economy:Ford Motor Company has its world headquarters in Dearborn. In addition its Dearborn campus contains many research, testing, finance and some production facilities. Ford Land controls the numerous properties owned by Ford including sales and leasing to unrelated businesses such as the...
to Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n immigrants (fluent in Russian, he taught English to Russian immigrants). He attended Wayne State University
Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center Historic District. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering more than 400 major subject areas to over 32,000 graduate and...
in nearby Detroit, where he studied engineering. He worked as an announcer for the Armed Forces Network while stationed in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
An old Army friend, who was an executive with NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
, asked James to audition for a new game show, Concentration, hosted by Hugh Downs
Hugh Downs
Hugh Malcolm Downs is a long time American broadcaster, television host, news anchor, TV producer, author, game show host, and music composer; and is perhaps best known for his role as co-host the NBC News program Today from 1962 to 1971, host of the Concentration game show from 1958 to 1969, and...
, 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
It's Academic
It's Academic is a televised academic quiz competition for high school students, currently airing on two NBC affiliates in Washington, D.C. and Central Virginia and one CBS affiliate Baltimore, Maryland . The show has been on the air since October 7, 1961, making it the longest...
; The Who, What, Or Where Game
The Who, What, Or Where Game
The Who, What, or Where Game was an American television game show that was broadcast weekdays on NBC from December 29, 1969 to January 4, 1974...
; Pay Cards!
Pay Cards!
Pay Cards! was an American syndicated game show created and produced by Nick Nicholson and E. Roger Muir that first aired from 1968–1969 and a revival, titled Super Pay Cards!, ran from 1981–1982. Both versions were hosted by Art James and taped in both New York City and Cincinnati...
; Temptation
Temptation (1967 US game show)
Temptation was a game show which aired on ABC from December 4, 1967 to March 1, 1968. It was produced by Merrill Heatter and Bob Quigley. Art James was the host, and Carl King was the announcer.-Gameplay:...
; The Joker's Wild
The Joker's Wild
The Joker's Wild is an American television game show that aired at different times during the 1970s through the 1990s. Contestants answered questions based on categories that were determined randomly by a mechanism resembling a slot machine....
; Blank Check
Blank Check (game show)
Blank Check is an American game show that aired on NBC from January 6 to July 4, 1975. It was promoted as "television's first ESP game". Art James was host, with Johnny Jacobs as announcer....
; The Magnificent Marble Machine
The Magnificent Marble Machine
The Magnificent Marble Machine is an American television game show hosted by Art James and based on pinball. The show ran on NBC from July 7, 1975 to March 12, 1976, but was interrupted for two weeks in January due to scheduling changes on the network and aired repeats from March 15 to June 11...
; Classic Concentration; Family Feud
Family Feud
Family Feud is an American television game show created by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman. Two families compete against each other in a contest to name the most popular responses to a survey question posed to 100 people...
; Catchphrase; and Tic-Tac-Dough
Tic-Tac-Dough
Tic-Tac-Dough is an American television game show based on the pen-and-paper game of tic-tac-toe. Contestants answer questions in various categories to put up their respective symbol, X or O, on the board. Three versions were produced: the initial 1956–59 run on NBC, a 1978–1986 run initially on...
, plus he appeared in the Kevin Smith
Kevin Smith
Kevin Patrick Smith is an American screenwriter, actor, film producer, and director, as well as a popular comic book writer, author, comedian/raconteur, and internet radio personality best recognized by viewers as Silent Bob...
movie Mallrats
Mallrats
Mallrats is a 1995 film written and directed by Kevin Smith. It is the second to be set in Smith's View Askewniverse series of interlocking films set mostly in New Jersey, although the movie was filmed in Eden Prairie Center and Osowski's Flea Market which are located in Minnesota...
. 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.
One episode of Say When! included a classic blooper by James which has made the rounds on blooper specials. While James was doing an in-show plug for Peter Pan peanut butter, the bottom of the jar fell off after he put a knife in it. James continued with the plug, although he was struggling to keep from laughing. As the show was recorded live, there was no room for retakes.
James was a frequent contributor to TV Guide, writing about the world of game shows.
He was living in Chaska, Minnesota
Chaska, Minnesota
As of 2005, there were 22,467 people and 8,194 households residing in the city. The population density was 1,640 people per square mile . There were 6,235 housing units at an average density of 454.1 per square mile...
at the end of his life, and died of unspecified natural causes
Death by natural causes
A death by natural causes, as recorded by coroners and on death certificates and associated documents, is one that is primarily attributed to natural agents: usually an illness or an internal malfunction of the body. For example, a person dying from complications from influenza or a heart attack ...
during a visit to his brother in Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs is a desert city in Riverside County, California, within the Coachella Valley. It is located approximately 37 miles east of San Bernardino, 111 miles east of Los Angeles and 136 miles northeast of San Diego...
.
He was married to Samantha Peitron, who was born in Arvilla, North Dakota
Arvilla, North Dakota
Arvilla is an unincorporated community in central Grand Forks County, North Dakota, United States. It lies along U.S. Route 2 west of the city of Grand Forks, the county seat of Grand Forks County. Its elevation is 1,004 feet...
. They divorced on December 9, 2003. James is survived by two daughters, Jennifer Christie and Joy DeStefano; a son, Jeff James; and 3 grandchildren.
Sources
External links
Art James (October 15, 1929 – March 27, 2004) was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
game show
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
host, best known for shows such as The Who, What, or Where Game
The Who, What, Or Where Game
The Who, What, or Where Game was an American television game show that was broadcast weekdays on NBC from December 29, 1969 to January 4, 1974...
and Pay Cards!
Pay Cards!
Pay Cards! was an American syndicated game show created and produced by Nick Nicholson and E. Roger Muir that first aired from 1968–1969 and a revival, titled Super Pay Cards!, ran from 1981–1982. Both versions were hosted by Art James and taped in both New York City and Cincinnati...
. He was also the announcer on the game show
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
Concentration
Concentration (game show)
Concentration was an American TV game show based on the children's memory game of the same name. Matching cards represented prizes that contestants could win...
.
He was born Artur Simeonvich Elimchik in Dearborn, Michigan
Dearborn, Michigan
-Economy:Ford Motor Company has its world headquarters in Dearborn. In addition its Dearborn campus contains many research, testing, finance and some production facilities. Ford Land controls the numerous properties owned by Ford including sales and leasing to unrelated businesses such as the...
to Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n immigrants (fluent in Russian, he taught English to Russian immigrants). He attended Wayne State University
Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center Historic District. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering more than 400 major subject areas to over 32,000 graduate and...
in nearby Detroit, where he studied engineering. He worked as an announcer for the Armed Forces Network while stationed in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
An old Army friend, who was an executive with NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
, asked James to audition for a new game show, Concentration, hosted by Hugh Downs
Hugh Downs
Hugh Malcolm Downs is a long time American broadcaster, television host, news anchor, TV producer, author, game show host, and music composer; and is perhaps best known for his role as co-host the NBC News program Today from 1962 to 1971, host of the Concentration game show from 1958 to 1969, and...
, 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
It's Academic
It's Academic is a televised academic quiz competition for high school students, currently airing on two NBC affiliates in Washington, D.C. and Central Virginia and one CBS affiliate Baltimore, Maryland . The show has been on the air since October 7, 1961, making it the longest...
; The Who, What, Or Where Game
The Who, What, Or Where Game
The Who, What, or Where Game was an American television game show that was broadcast weekdays on NBC from December 29, 1969 to January 4, 1974...
; Pay Cards!
Pay Cards!
Pay Cards! was an American syndicated game show created and produced by Nick Nicholson and E. Roger Muir that first aired from 1968–1969 and a revival, titled Super Pay Cards!, ran from 1981–1982. Both versions were hosted by Art James and taped in both New York City and Cincinnati...
; Temptation
Temptation (1967 US game show)
Temptation was a game show which aired on ABC from December 4, 1967 to March 1, 1968. It was produced by Merrill Heatter and Bob Quigley. Art James was the host, and Carl King was the announcer.-Gameplay:...
; The Joker's Wild
The Joker's Wild
The Joker's Wild is an American television game show that aired at different times during the 1970s through the 1990s. Contestants answered questions based on categories that were determined randomly by a mechanism resembling a slot machine....
; Blank Check
Blank Check (game show)
Blank Check is an American game show that aired on NBC from January 6 to July 4, 1975. It was promoted as "television's first ESP game". Art James was host, with Johnny Jacobs as announcer....
; The Magnificent Marble Machine
The Magnificent Marble Machine
The Magnificent Marble Machine is an American television game show hosted by Art James and based on pinball. The show ran on NBC from July 7, 1975 to March 12, 1976, but was interrupted for two weeks in January due to scheduling changes on the network and aired repeats from March 15 to June 11...
; Classic Concentration; Family Feud
Family Feud
Family Feud is an American television game show created by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman. Two families compete against each other in a contest to name the most popular responses to a survey question posed to 100 people...
; Catchphrase; and Tic-Tac-Dough
Tic-Tac-Dough
Tic-Tac-Dough is an American television game show based on the pen-and-paper game of tic-tac-toe. Contestants answer questions in various categories to put up their respective symbol, X or O, on the board. Three versions were produced: the initial 1956–59 run on NBC, a 1978–1986 run initially on...
, plus he appeared in the Kevin Smith
Kevin Smith
Kevin Patrick Smith is an American screenwriter, actor, film producer, and director, as well as a popular comic book writer, author, comedian/raconteur, and internet radio personality best recognized by viewers as Silent Bob...
movie Mallrats
Mallrats
Mallrats is a 1995 film written and directed by Kevin Smith. It is the second to be set in Smith's View Askewniverse series of interlocking films set mostly in New Jersey, although the movie was filmed in Eden Prairie Center and Osowski's Flea Market which are located in Minnesota...
. 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.
One episode of Say When! included a classic blooper by James which has made the rounds on blooper specials. While James was doing an in-show plug for Peter Pan peanut butter, the bottom of the jar fell off after he put a knife in it. James continued with the plug, although he was struggling to keep from laughing. As the show was recorded live, there was no room for retakes.
James was a frequent contributor to TV Guide, writing about the world of game shows.
He was living in Chaska, Minnesota
Chaska, Minnesota
As of 2005, there were 22,467 people and 8,194 households residing in the city. The population density was 1,640 people per square mile . There were 6,235 housing units at an average density of 454.1 per square mile...
at the end of his life, and died of unspecified natural causes
Death by natural causes
A death by natural causes, as recorded by coroners and on death certificates and associated documents, is one that is primarily attributed to natural agents: usually an illness or an internal malfunction of the body. For example, a person dying from complications from influenza or a heart attack ...
during a visit to his brother in Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs is a desert city in Riverside County, California, within the Coachella Valley. It is located approximately 37 miles east of San Bernardino, 111 miles east of Los Angeles and 136 miles northeast of San Diego...
.
He was married to Samantha Peitron, who was born in Arvilla, North Dakota
Arvilla, North Dakota
Arvilla is an unincorporated community in central Grand Forks County, North Dakota, United States. It lies along U.S. Route 2 west of the city of Grand Forks, the county seat of Grand Forks County. Its elevation is 1,004 feet...
. They divorced on December 9, 2003. James is survived by two daughters, Jennifer Christie and Joy DeStefano; a son, Jeff James; and 3 grandchildren.