Jack Narz

Infobox actor television
name = Jack Narz


birthname = Jack Narz
birthdate = Birth date and age|1922|11|13
birthplace = Louisville, Kentucky, USA
occupation = Retired TV Presenter and Game Show Host
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gender = Male
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family =
spouse =
children =
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credits = "Now You See It"
"Concentration"
"Beat the Clock"
"Dotto"
"Seven Keys"
"Video Village"
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agent =

Jack Narz (born November 13, 1922, in Louisville, Kentucky) is an American television announcer and game show host. He is the elder brother of Tom Kennedy and the former brother-in-law of Bill Cullen. Narz eluded the infamous quiz show scandal to forge a respected hosting career.

Early career

Early in his career, Narz did some voice work. In the initial (1951) episode of "Adventures of Superman", he narrated at key points in the backstory of the title character. He also made appearances in local Los Angeles television and served as the announcer on one of TV's first nationally-broadcast children's shows, "Space Patrol".

Narz first achieved television fame in 1952, when he was the on-camera announcer and narrator of the sitcom "Life with Elizabeth" starring Betty White. In 1955, as he did on radio, Narz served as the announcer-sidekick of bandleader Bob Crosby on the former's daytime TV show. That same year, he also worked as announcer on "Place The Face" a game show hosted by Bill Cullen. By the end of 1957, his career would have Narz move his family from southern California to the suburbs of New York City.

In January 1958, he got his own game show, presiding over CBS's "Dotto". Within a very brief time, this show became as popular, with "Dotto" running five days a week on CBS and, beginning in the summer of 1958, weekly in prime time on NBC, with Narz hosting both versions.

"Dotto" turned out to be fixed, and was the first popular quiz show to be canceled as a result.

After "Dotto"

He was back on the air within a short period of time after "Dotto's" cancellation, hosting its replacement "Top Dollar" (succeeding its first host, Warren Hull, as part of an arrangement made with CBS and the ad agency representing the Colgate-Palmolive Company and General Mills, with whom Narz was under contract at the time). In 1960, he guest-hosted for a month on "The Price Is Right", while regular host Bill Cullen took a vacation. Later that year, he was the host of "Video Village," but asked producers to let him leave the show due to personal reasons. After relocating back to Los Angeles, he hosted "Seven Keys," which started as a local show, but then moved to ABC (1961-1964). It later returned as a local show in L.A. until sometime in 1965. This was followed by a 13-week run on a new NBC game show entitled "I'll Bet." In 1969, Narz began hosting the syndicated revival of "Beat the Clock", doing so until 1972 when the show's announcer, Gene Wood, replaced him.

In 1973, Narz started hosting "Concentration". It aired in syndication until 1978. That was his longest-lasting job as host. He also emceed "Now You See It" on CBS (1974-1975). In 1979-80, he worked for a season as announcer and associate producer for the CBS revival of "Beat the Clock." Narz also was used as a sub-announcer for Gene Wood on the NBC version of "Card Sharks".

Later, Narz, who was semi-retired, spent his time since as a celebrity golfer for various charitable causes.

'Brother' Act

While the Narz brothers (Tom Kennedy is the stage name of Jim Narz) have forged successful individual careers as broadcasters, they did make occasional joint appearances. Jack Narz would appear on Tom Kennedy's "You Don't Say" during its NBC run, and the syndicated "It's Your Bet"; Tom Kennedy guested on Jack Narz's "Beat the Clock," and Narz appeared on the "Password Plus" panel during the Kennedy era and switched with his brother to host for half an episode.

Like his brother, Narz appeared on "To Tell the Truth" as a celebrity panelist.

In 2005, Jack Narz and Tom Kennedy were co-recipients of the Bill Cullen Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Game Show Congress.

In April 2007, Narz was interviewed by Stu Shostak on [http://www.shokusradio.com Shokus Internet Radio.]

In May 2007, Jack Narz and Tom Kennedy were given the Diamond Circle Award by the Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters at a celebrity luncheon honoring Leonard Maltin.

Personal life

Narz' first wife was Mary Lou Roemheld, daughter of Oscar-winning composer Heinz Roemheld and the sister of Bill Cullen's wife, Anne (hence the brother-in-law relationship Narz had with Cullen in the 1950s). After their divorce, he married Dolores, a flight attendant for TWA and American Airlines.

ee also

*List of famous Louisvillians

External links

*imdb name|name=Jack Narz|id=0621573