Art James

Art James (October 15, 1929 - March 27, 2004) was best known as the announcer on the classic game show Concentration.

Related Topics:
October 15 - 1929 - March 27 - 2004 - Game show - Concentration

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He was born Artur Simeonvich Elimchik in Dearborn, Michigan to Russian immigrants (fluent in Russian, he taught English to Russian immigrants). He attended Wayne State University, where he studied engineering. He worked as an announcer for the Armed Forces Network while stationed in Germany after World War II.

Related Topics:
Dearborn, Michigan - Russia - Wayne State University - Germany - World War II

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A friend from his Army days, an executive with NBC, asked James to audition for a new game show, Concentration, with Hugh Downs, who needed an announcer. Concentration, ran from 1958 to 1973 and was NBC's longest-running game show. He went on to either announce or host over a dozen game shows, including Say When!, Fractured Phrases, Who, What, or Where, Temptation, The Joker's Wild, The Magnificent Marble Machine, Classic Concentration, Family Feud, Catchphrase and appeared in the Kevin Smith movie Mallrats. He started Art James Productions in the 1990s, which teaches public speaking and stages game shows that are designed to teach job skills.

Related Topics:
NBC - Hugh Downs - Say When! - Fractured Phrases - Who, What, or Where - The Magnificent Marble Machine - Classic Concentration - Family Feud - Catchphrase - Kevin Smith - Mallrats

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He was living in Chaska, Minnesota, but died during a visit to Palm Springs, California. James is survived by a brother, a son, two daughters, and three grandchildren.

Related Topics:
Chaska, Minnesota - Palm Springs, California

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Source

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• TwinCities.com