'Here's Jack Clark to tell you what you've won'

[The Pyramids]

I have a lot of Eighties 'Wheel of Fortune.' it was my favorite game show growing up.

There were at least three excellent shopping/ prize cues. One was the upbeat 'Struttin' on Sunet' that is on the 80's Super Theme Site. The second I'll call 'Jeopardy '79' because that is what is was composed for.

The last was that meomorable piano cue. Since it could at often be heard when the second round prize was jewlry or silverware it was used in nearly every show. It lasted into the Nineties. Does anyone know what it was called. It's my number one wanted game show cue. I've got a decent 'Wheel' collection (and more) to trade for it.

Also did these cues make their debut at or near the syndication launch like the 'Changing Keyes' theme? It would not be surprised to learn that all of the above were composed by Merv Griffin.

Paul D.

[Don Howard]

[quote name=\'PaulD\' date=\'Sep 18 2004, 08:51 AM\'] Also did these cues make their debut at or near the syndication launch like the 'Changing Keyes' theme? [/quote]
 They all debuted on August 8, 1983. While it was nice to hear that late 70s Jeopardy! theme again, I hated them all. The Alan Thicke compositions were infinitely better. But this way Mervin hangs onto all that royalty cash.

[MyCapableAssistant]

I'm presuming this is the same "Jack Clark" that announced B&WO
Password, yes?

A quick search shows that he passed away in 1988, and his
last announcing duty was on "The $100,000 Pyramid" in 1985.

If it IS the same "Clark," does anybody know why he left Password?
Did a different job come along? I thought he was one of the best
announcers they had.


And speaking of the host of Winner Take All, (Barry Gray), he's no way
related to George Gray is he? Seems like a strange coincidence to me that
the two "Grays" became game show *hosts* if they weren't related.

[Don Howard]

I'm presuming this is the same "Jack Clark" that announced B&WO
Password, yes?

That is correct. And he was a damn fine guest host as well.

A quick search shows that he passed away in 1988, and his
last announcing duty was on "The $100,000 Pyramid" in 1985.

Your search provided incomplete information. While 1985 was the last year in which he announced on The $25,000/$100,000 Pyramid, he VO'd Wheel Of Fortune until just a few months before his death, one day before the 48th birthday of Alex Trebek.

Seems like a strange coincidence to me that
the two "Grays" became game show *hosts* if they weren't related.

Likewise, it was a strange coincidence that two "Bills" hosted Blockbusters. But at least you didn't call it ironic.

[davemackey]

Merv's prize cues were pretty good. He had one which I think was called "A Tune For Tony" which was mostly trumpet and electric piano (Jack Sheldon on trumpet, of course). There was another upbeat one with guitar and female voice lead which was used mostly for trips and other fun prizes. He also had a rather somber sounding one with a flute (perhaps alto flute) lead.

Merv had most of his Mort Lindsey Orchestra guys play on these. I think Plas Johnson (who also played sax on the original "Pink Panther" theme) did most of the sax solos, and Nick Ceroli may have been the drummer (he passed not long after this stuff was recorded). He also used them on his talk show as commercial bumper music.

As for Jack Clark, the recollections of his return to "Wheel" the summer before he died were correct. They had brought him back in to do some fresh fee plugs for summer 1988 reruns while he was in the final stages of his battle with cancer, and he didn't sound too good. Eventually, Pat and Vanna did those drop ins.

Jack's departure from "Password" may have had something to do with Bob Stewart's concurrent break from the show, because he soon showed up on Bob's self-produced shows including "Eye Guess". (Password tried a few other announcers, such as Bern Bennett and Gene Wood, before finally settling on Lee Vines to finish the show's run.)

[Don Howard]

[quote name=\'davemackey\' date=\'Sep 18 2004, 07:47 PM\'] As for Jack Clark, the recollections of his return to "Wheel" the summer before he died were correct. They had brought him back in to do some fresh fee plugs for summer 1988 reruns while he was in the final stages of his battle with cancer, and he didn't sound too good. Eventually, Pat and Vanna did those drop ins.

 [/quote]
 I remember that. Very sad. It took me about fifteen or twenty seconds to even realize that was Jack's voice.

[SRIV94]

[quote name=\'Don Howard\' date=\'Sep 18 2004, 09:41 PM\'] It took me about fifteen or twenty seconds to even realize that was Jack's voice. [/quote]
 In a somewhat related note, Clark also sub-announced for Johnny Jacobs on GONG from late September-December 1977 (I believe his first week on GONG was also the first week the picture of Arte, Jaye P. and Jamie adorned the wall just adjacent to the stage).  It wasn't until well into viewing the syndicated rerun package that I realized that it was him (I just never made the connection for some reason).  Granted, announcing on GONG for the most part was akin to getting a roll of stamps and mailing it in (Chuckie didn't really involve the announcers much compared to other staffers).  But I always considered many of those episodes in which Clark announced to be among the funniest (some really good bits were borne out of those episodes--but I don't want to make this post more long-winded than it already is).

Clark was great no matter what assignment you threw at him (and a not too shabby host to boot).

Doug

[Skynet74]

First time I remember Jack was from his 1975 debut of hosting "Cross-Wits. An excellent host and great announcer too.


John

[Jimmy Owen]

Did CBS "Password" ever move permanently to the west coast?  The first LA credit I can find for Jack Clark was "The Reel Game" in 1971.

[MyCapableAssistant]

[quote name=\'davemackey\' date=\'Sep 18 2004, 06:47 PM\'] Jack's departure from "Password" may have had something to do with Bob Stewart's concurrent break from the show, because he soon showed up on Bob's self-produced shows including "Eye Guess". (Password tried a few other announcers, such as Bern Bennett and Gene Wood, before finally settling on Lee Vines to finish the show's run.)

 [/quote]
 I was wondering what might have happened to him.
One day, all of a sudden, he just wasn't there. I assumed he was on
vacation. But after a week or so when he didn't come back, I took a
look and saw his stunt on Password had ENDED.  ;-(.

His spot was filled with this "raspy" sounding voice which replaced him.
The voice was VERY annoying to listen to, and certainly didn't sound like
one that was good at "whispering." ! I couldn't wait for Password to end so
I could hear the guy reveal his name in the outro...    

FINALLY, the game was over and the outro came. As I listened quite
impatiently to hear who this guy was, I was **completely** shocked when
I heard:  "this is GENE WOOD speaking for.."

A much different sound from the "polished" Mr.Wood that became so
familiar to so many of us! After knowing WHO he was, he DID sound
something like Gene, but then he was replaced by Bern Bennett or Lee
Vines. I don't recall much of Bern Bennett, but Lee Vines' voice didn't particularly
thrill me. Only, unlike Gene Wood, he DIDN'T reveal his name in the outro. It
took an online search to learn who he was...

Yes, by far and away, Jack Clark was the greatest voice of them all, no doubt!

[Clay Zambo]

[quote name=\'PaulD\' date=\'Sep 18 2004, 08:51 AM\'] The last was that meomorable piano cue. Since it could at often be heard when the second round prize was jewlry or silverware it was used in nearly every show. It lasted into the Nineties. Does anyone know what it was called. [/quote]
 Can't help you out with a title for it, but if it's the one I'm thinking of, it's based on the Chopin E minor piano prelude.  Can either of the Messrs. Mackey confirm that?

[Don Howard]

[quote name=\'MyCapableAssistant\' date=\'Sep 19 2004, 02:58 PM\'] A much different sound from the "polished" Mr. Wood that became so familiar to so many of us! [/quote]
 At the time, who would have guessed that he'd go on to announce more Password episodes (including Plus and Super) than anyone.

[MyCapableAssistant]

[quote name=\'Don Howard\' date=\'Sep 19 2004, 03:20 PM\'] [quote name=\'MyCapableAssistant\' date=\'Sep 19 2004, 02:58 PM\'] A much different sound from the "polished" Mr. Wood that became so familiar to so many of us! [/quote]
At the time, who would have guessed that he'd go on to announce more Password episodes (including Plus and Super) than anyone. [/quote]
 Not only that, who would have guessed that he'd become so
popular and well-loved?!  ;-)

[Mike Tennant]

[quote name=\'PaulD\' date=\'Sep 18 2004, 08:51 AM\']the 'Changing Keyes' theme?[/quote]
Isn't that the song they played when the Illinois GOP had to come up with a new Senate candidate in a hurry?

[Ian Wallis]

They all debuted on August 8, 1983. While it was nice to hear that late 70s Jeopardy! theme again, I hated them all. The Alan Thicke compositions were infinitely better. But this way Mervin hangs onto all that royalty cash.

The '78 "Jeopardy" theme is one of my most-wanted cues (I have copies of it but recorded off-air with Jack's voice over).  I believe it's called "Frisco Disco", but is not available on any album as far as I know (some of Merv's other cues are, including the theme from "Headline Chasers").

For the most part, I liked Thicke's cues better too.  There were several old game show themes in the Thicke package, including the old theme from "Blank Check".