The American TV Game Show Hall of Fame’s first induction ceremony was held on October 13, 2007 at the Las Vegas Hilton for inductees (left to right) Wink Martindale, Peter Marshall, Hugh Downs, and Monty Hall (not shown). Here’s the news release on the Hall of Fame:
TV GAME SHOW HALL OF FAME TO BE UNVEILED IN LAS VEGAS; MERV GRIFFIN TO BE HONORED
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Hugh Downs, Monty Hall, Peter Marshall, Wink Martindale To Be Feted;
(Las Vegas, NV, Oct. 3, 2007)---Something truly exciting is about to happen in Las Vegas, the unveiling of AMERICAN TV GAME SHOW HALL OF FAME™ at the Las Vegas Hilton, on Sat., Oct. 13, when four game show icons, Monty Hall (“Let’s Make A Deal”), Peter Marshall (“Hollywood Squares”), Wink Martindale (“Tic Tac Dough”) and Hugh Downs (“Concentration”) will be the “freshman” inductees into the newly formed shrine for game show aficionados.
“The tribute to one of television’s most popular and enduring genres is long overdue,” says game show vet Bob Eubanks.
Rich Fields, announcer for CBS TV’s “The Price is Right,” emcees.
A special tribute to the late entertainment impresario, Merv Griffin, is planned.
The Emmy® Award-winning Griffin, who passed away in August, was a longtime game show host and creator and architect of two of the most successful TV game shows ever, “Jeopardy” and “Wheel of Fortune.”
With special guest appearances by Bob Eubanks, Chuck Woolery and Jamie Farr (who themselves are hosting a new Las Vegas show, “The $250,000 Game Show Spectacular”), Las Vegas and Las Vegas Hilton officials are expected to attend the afternoon ceremony and will be joined by executives from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, celebrities from other superstar Las Vegas venues and many additional dignitaries.
A group of historians is assisting in the development of the AMERICAN TV GAME SHOW HALL OF FAME™ and a stellar collection of rare and historic game show memorabilia, including props and ephemera, will be on display at the hotel for this event to which more items and exhibits will be added as the project moves forward.
Canadian born Monty Hall has been a game show mainstay as the host and producer of “Let’s Make A Deal” since 1963. Peter Marshall, an accomplished singer and actor, hosted “Hollywood Squares” for 16 ratings-filled years. Wink Martindale has hosted a number of game shows, including the highly-popular “Tic Tac Dough.” Respected newsman and “Today” show co-host Hugh Downs was for 11 years the host of an early game show classic, “Concentration.”
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