It was Monday, December 31, 1962. As the clock struck 4PM ET / 3PM CT, the familiar sound of the NBC Peacock gave way to the opening notes of Bert Kaempfert's bouncy tune, "A Swingin' Safari". And for the first of many times, as the four civilian players marched to their seats at the long desk, Johnny Olson's dulcet tones announced, "From New York City it's time to play ... The Match Game!" Johnny then brought out our host, the incomparable Gene Rayburn.
Skitch Henderson (Johnny Carson's bandleader at the time) and Arlene Francis were the guest stars for this first week of shows.
Our friend, the Giz Wiz -- Dick DeBartolo -- was there. He wrote every one of the thousands of questions used on that show, which lasted nearly seven years ... as well as its more famous (and revitalized) descendant, which aired on CBS beginning in 1973.
Happy 50th to one of the greatest shows of the genre, The Match Game.
