It’s still fun and games
for Bob Eubanks

By Rita Charleston
For the Times

Looks like Bob Eubanks is still playing games.
Host of the popular show The Newlywed Game, which has had several incarnations over the years, and the show that coined the phrase "Making Whoopee," Eubanks is back at the podium once again in a game called The $250,000 Game Show. The show continues in the Superstar Theater at Resorts in Atlantic City through Aug. 7.
Sharing the hosting honors with Eubanks — who hosts on Wednesday and Thursday — is another legendary game show personality, Peter Marshall, probably best known as the first host of Hollywood Squares. Marshall hosts on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
Speaking by phone during a recent interview, Eubanks explained that this particular game show has been touring North America, and recently closed in Las Vegas before heading to Atlantic City.
"It’s an audience-participation mix of a variety of classic game show favorites, including Feel Good, The Gong Show, The Newlywed Game and others. Cash prizes range from $50 to $500, plus there could be one $250,000 winner every show," he said.
But it’s not always winning great sums of money that has brought audiences to game shows over the years — although it sure helps. Then what does account for their appeal?
"Well," said Eubanks, "it all depends on the decade. In the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s, it was the chance to become a voyeur and peek into other people’s bedrooms with a show like The Newlywed Game. However, more recently, it has become the money, with a chance to win lots of it on such shows as Million Dollar Family Feud and Deal Or No Deal.
But game shows have not always been a part of Eubanks’ life.
Born in Flint, Mich., in 1938, and raised primarily in Pasadena, Calif., he grew up listening to music while watching popular classic television. Both had a profound effect on him.
Right after high school graduation in 1956 he became a disc jockey when he was tapped by KACY Radio.
Then, throughout most of the 1960s, he produced a number of concerts, including the Beatles’ 1964 Hollywood Bowl performance and the Rolling Stones during the first two years of their American tour. And there were more, like Bob Dylan, Elton John and Merle Haggard, among others.
But it was in 1966, when Eubanks received a call from Chuck Barris and was asked to host a new game show, that his life was about to change.
"From the minute the show debuted, it was an instant hit," Eubanks recalled. "And you have to realize that, at the time, we were considered the ‘dirty dogs’ of the time. In most cases, you didn’t dare let your kids watch the show, although, compared to today’s shows, we were absolutely harmless."
In his own way, Eubanks was the ideal game-show host, knowing when, with just a side glance, to allow contestants to make their own comedic faux pas.
"I think it takes a certain personality to become a good game-show host," he said. "For instance, comedians and/or actors are not right for the job. Comedians are always too busy thinking of the next funny line, and actors are used to saying other people’s words.
"Take men like Johnny Carson, Regis Philbin and Bob Barker," he added. "Now those guys knew just how to do it, and do it right."
Obviously, Eubanks does too, since he’s still at it. But if he weren’t? That’s easy. As a gold-card member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, he admits, "I’d be a cowboy, which I really am at heart anyway." ••
Contestants for "The $250,000 Game Show" are picked directly from the audience. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the front desk in the Resorts hotel lobby.