The most 60s/70s/80s etc. game show themes

[Loogaroo]

I think you summed up what bugged me about the set. When I was younger I thought it was too Art Deco.

I have two reactions to this:

1) I'm kind of amazed that a '90s kid would know what "Art Deco" was.

2) I can't imagine the allergic reaction you had to the Match Game '98 aesthetics.

[BrandonFG]

The Art Deco observation came a few years later, as I got into architecture. It is one of my favorite styles though to this day.

I didn’t mind the first MG98 set, but that second one made my eyes hurt.

[SamJ93]

Buzzr recently returning Split Second to their schedule reminded me of how its rockin', Van Halen-esque theme perfectly encapsulated the '80s.

[BrandonFG]

Buzzr recently returning Split Second to their schedule reminded me of how perfectly its rockin', Van Halen-esque theme perfectly encapsulated the '80s.

Facts. It would’ve made a great training montage for a mid-80s sports movie, all the way down to the ending “Dun. Dun…….Dun-Dun-DUN!” notes.

[Neumms]

Let me add three for the 70s, all from Score Productions: Big Showdown, Second Chance and Money Maze.

One might say they’re disco influenced, but that may come off as negative and I like them.

The theme for Garry Moore’s TTTT is nothing if not 60s, although other shows didn’t follow its lead.

[Neumms]

Dat flashing grout tho!

This made me laugh. I didn’t mind the 90s set other than the missing cube. With the (faux) wood and accents, it reminds me of the scene on the box to the deluxe Scrabble game. There’s less flashing light, but I think shows were shying away from that.

The theme, on the other hand, bleech.

[Bobby B.]

I'd have to throw Blackout in the mix for the 80's.  Plenty of synth keyboards for sure...also wonder if the horns and/or drums were synth as well.

Also I'm of the opinion that Blackout is one of the most "game show-y" game show themes there is, regardless of time period.  One of my absolute favorites.

[WhammyPower]

Body Language had a Michael Jackson "Wanna Be Startin Somethin" vibe

No, it's a definitely a Working Girl March vibe.

[BrandonFG]

Why not both?

[tyshaun1]

Why not both?

On that note, I've always thought that the Classic Concentration theme sounded similar to "Second Time Around" by Shalimar. Interestingly enough, BL and CC shared the same composer, Paul Epstein.

[Kevin Prather]

Why not both?

On that note, I've always thought that the Classic Concentration theme sounded similar to "Second Time Around" by Shalimar. Interestingly enough, BL and CC shared the same composer, Paul Epstein.

The Davidson Squares theme gives me "Dilemma" vibes.

[SamJ93]

I'd have to throw Blackout in the mix for the 80's.  Plenty of synth keyboards for sure...also wonder if the horns and/or drums were synth as well.

Also I'm of the opinion that Blackout is one of the most "game show-y" game show themes there is, regardless of time period.  One of my absolute favorites.

While we're on the subject, it's worth pointing out that the Blackout theme "borrows" quite liberally from the instrumental portions of "Far From Over" by (...you guessed it...) Frank Stallone, which itself was used as the theme for at least one unsold Wolpert pilot:

[Loogaroo]

"We Have Far From Over At Home" also served as the theme to Wolpert's "Fast Friends" pilot, if memory serves.

[BrandonFG]

Why not both?

On that note, I've always thought that the Classic Concentration theme sounded similar to "Second Time Around" by Shalimar. Interestingly enough, BL and CC shared the same composer, Paul Epstein.

The Davidson Squares theme gives me "Dilemma" vibes.

This one caused a bit of a debate on ATGS back in the day. I remember checking the liner notes (get off my lawn) to see if they sampled Stormy Sachs, but didn’t see anything.

[Joe Mello]

Hot Potato may be a special case in that its main themes covered multiple 80's genres: electronica and late-era disco