Post by stevearino on May 11, 2021 18:47:45 GMT -5
Hello Everyone,
Before Alex Trebek (who as we all know died last November at age 80), there was Art Fleming, the original host of "Jeopardy!" for 11 years on NBC from March 30, 1964 - January 3, 1975 for 2753 Shows (along with an additional 1974-1975 nighttime syndie "Jeopardy!" airing once weekly AND a short-run 1978-1979 revival for an additional 5 months on NBC).
The son of Austrian Jewish immigrants Bill and Mary Fazzin, Arthur Fleming "Art" Fazzin was born in New York City, New York on May 1, 1924; after graduating from High School in 1941 at age 17, young Art voluntarily enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II, after which he began a career as an Actor, appearing in such short-lived shows as "International Detective" for British Television as well as the short-lived American Western "The Californians," where he appeared as lawyer Jeremy Pitt.
In 1963, talk-show host Merv Griffin hosted a Pilot for his Game Show creation called "What's the Question?," eventually renamed "Jeopardy!" upon its NBC pickup; after Merv saw him in a TV Commercial, he hired Art on the spot for "Jeopardy!," a role he would continue for the next 11 years airing weekday mornings on NBC until its early 1975 cancellation.
After his run on "Jeopardy!" came to an end, Art retired from Broadcasting in 1992; 3 years later, in early 1995, Art, at age 70, was diagnosed with aggressive Pancreatic Cancer in Crystal River, Florida, where Art spent his final years.
Art Fleming died 2 weeks later on April 25, 1995, 6 days shy of his 71st Birthday, survived by his widow, Becky Lynn, and a grown daughter, Jan Hanna Fleming, from his marriage to Peggy Ellis, which ended in Divorce in 1972.
After his death, Art Fleming was Cremated, with his Ashes scattered at sea I believe near his native New York City.
Unfortunately, only 20 episodes of Art Fleming's "Jeopardy!" still exist, the other 2733 NBC shows Wiped from Existence (as was unfortunately common at the time). One such episode I'm lucky enough to have is the 2,000th original "Jeopardy!" show, both the original NBC Studio Master copy AND the Game Show Network rerun of the said episode featuring Mel Brooks.