The NBC Television Network presents...
Broadcast History
Airdates: August 25, 1958-March 23, 1973, NBC Daytime
October 30, 1958-November 20, 1958, NBC Primetime
April 24, 1961-September 18, 1961, NBC Primetime
Hosts:
Hugh Downs (1958-January 1969, 1961 Primetime)
Jack Barry (1958 Primetime)
Bob Clayton (January-March 1969, September 1969-March 23, 1973)
Ed McMahon (January-September 1969)
Substitute Hosts: Art James, Jim Lucas, Bill Mazer
Announcers: Art James, Bill McCord, Jim Lucas, Bob Clayton, Wayne Howell
Model: Paola Diva
Origination: NBC Studios 3A and 8G, New York (NBC Daytime), Studio A, NBC 67th Street Studios, New York (1958 NBC Primetime), Ziegfeld Theater, New York (1961, NBC Primetime)
Packager: Jack Barry and Dan Enright Productions (1958), NBC Productions (1958-1973)
Gameplay
A
simple game. Two contestants competed to try and make matches of prizes on a 30
square board. They chose two squares at a time and when two prizes matched, the
player got a chance to solve a "rebus" (word puzzle) which parts are
revealed after 
each
match. The rebus is either a famous phrase or something well known, such as a
place or a person. There were different prizes on the board, some were good,
like trips and furniture, some were "gag" prizes, like a wet sponge,
or a "A Big Deal". There were also special pieces on the board. 
A
"Wild" card was an automatic match to whatever was chosen with it. At
various times, there were bonus prizes for getting two wild cards on a 
match
(once they even gave away a CAR). 
There
were also "Forfeit One Gift" pieces, which if you matched you had to
give up a prize (good if you had a gag prize), and there was a 
"Take
One Gift" piece, where if you matched you took a prize from your opponents
(worthless if they had nothing). A player could try and solve the puzzle after a
match. If they were right, they won all the prizes on their side of the board.
If they were wrong, 
the
game continues as before. The winner of the game stays on and faces another
opponent, and could stay up to 20 games.
Facts
-Originally was a Jack Barry and Dan Enright Production, until the company was found out to be apart of the quiz show scandals. NBC bought out the rights and produced the show on their own. NBC still owns the rights to the show.
-Hugh Downs is more famous as a newsman. He was the host of "Today" on NBC (which was right before Concentration) for many years, and moved to ABC and hosted 20/20.
-Having a mechanical board sometimes caused problems...Hugh Downs said the board nearly caught FIRE once, and the mechanics were going wrong with them during one episode.
-Concentration was done live when it first came on, it's unknown when they went to taped shows.
-Bob Clayton later announced on many Bob Stewart game shows, including the $10,000 Pyramid
-Concentration had an annual "Challenge of Champions" starting in 1963, and it's trophy "Connie", resembled the Thinker.
-Concentration also had an annual Christmas show, in which two celebrities, dressed as Santa, matched dollar amounts for the C.A.R.E organization.
-Gene Rayburn tried out to host Concentration
-NBC wanted Hal March, from The $64,000 Question to host the 1961 primetime edition, but the sponsors wanted Hugh Downs