A Rare, One Of A Kind Moment On ‘The Match Game’!

On September 17, 2014 - TV History


A Rare, One Of A Kind Moment On ‘The Match Game’!

At last, we see our friend Dick DeBartolo at his post on the set next to Gene Rayburn in NBC Studio 8H on the original run of the show. Dick was the man who wrote all the questions for the show from the time it started till the end of it’s run on CBS.

Dick is also one of MAD Magazine’s top writers and again, has been there almost from the beginning. With that said, wait till you see the fun explode when a frequent guest of the show, Lauren Bacall, reveals that Mr. Debartolo is her “secret passion”!

The video’s quality is lacking but not the content of this rare scene. Thanks to Dick for posting this. Enjoy and share! -Bobby Ellerbee

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHOBcqaOXCk

Lauren Bacall was a frequent guest on Match Game. She was great. On this show she tells Gene Rayburn that I’m her ‘secret passion’.I spent months looking for…

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7 Comments

  1. Ron Hamill September 19, 2014

    I have a question. In the color picture of “The Match Game” set the side of the camera says NBC Color Television? Is this picture from a color test in NY?

  2. Lillian Banchik September 18, 2014

    I still cannot believe that you ever wore a suit and tie!

  3. Dick DeBartolo September 18, 2014

    Just one_____! We have to give credit to others for writing Match Game questions. I did write all the MG questions while the show was in NY, but when it went to California, the writing team was Robert Sherman, Patrick Neary, Joe Neustein and myself. In 1974 the four of us were nominated for an Emmy for “Best Writing For A Game Show” for Match Game 74. We didn’t win. We were _____ed. I believe the following year, the ‘best writing for a game show’ category was dropped and I didn’t think it ever came back.

  4. Peter Basil September 17, 2014

    I remember when Lauren Bacall was a panelist on the 8H show. Dick DeBartolo was Gene Rayburn’s stand-in for rehearsals, and he was a riot. The rehearsals were for the contestants, the “celebrity” panelists during rehearsals were actor stand-ins.

  5. Kenneth Johannessen September 17, 2014

    That must be from late in the run when MG changed themes – that’s not “Swingin’ Safari.”

  6. Michael Hayne September 17, 2014

    WONDERFUL!!!

  7. Eyes Of A Generation.com September 17, 2014

    Here is Dick DeBartolo rehearsing ‘The Match Game’ panel in NBC’s 8H. The photo is from our friend Bob Batsche who operated this TK41 on the show.