- Just before his death, he visited with the panelists he'd gotten to know so well. In 1997, ex-panelist Brett Somers surprised him on Maury (1991), and Gene was elated to see her. He also sported one of his Match Game (1973) microphones, which was chrome-plated. It would be the last time they appeared together on TV.
- In the many appearances he made on talk shows and specials, fans could count on seeing his "pretty nipples" blooper, which was edited out of the original broadcast, and the "cuckoo friend and Ollie" answer. Even though he must have seen the nipples blooper many times, he still looked incredibly embarrassed after they showed it. He always spoke fondly of Brett Somers and Charles Nelson Reilly, but never spoke of Richard Dawson except for a "TV Guide" interview. He acknowledged that in the beginning, Richard was very funny, and they were friends, but when Family Feud (1976) became a hit, he said Richard became a "loner with a very large ego".
- He stated on an episode of Match Game (1973) that as a bombardier-navigator during World War II, he got airsick on every mission.
- Ranked #2 as GSN's Top 10 Game Show Host of All Time.
- When he returned to host the revamped version of Match Game (1973), in the 1970s, he insisted that Mark Goodson allow the show to be played for laughs, allowing him to get laughs in any possible way. Goodson gave in, and hired comedy writers to write the questions.
- Even after most game shows moved production to Los Angeles in the 1970s, he never relocated to California, staying on the East Coast and commuting to Hollywood every two weeks to tape two weeks' worth of episodes over a weekend (ten CBS daytime episodes, two nighttime syndication episodes).
- Just before his death, he accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
- When he hosted the original The Match Game (1962), in the 1960s, he mentioned several times that he felt this game was better when he could simply get some laughs to keep it interesting, and that in the beginning, it was very restricting for him. Producer Mark Goodson was reluctant about Rayburn's show being played for laughs, but Rayburn did try his best with these restrictions.
- Was reunited by ex-Match Game (1973) panelist, Charles Nelson Reilly, once more and worked together in "La Cage Aux Folles.".
- Just before his death, his last TV appearance was a 1998 interview with Access Hollywood (1996) intended to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the hit CBS game show Match Game (1973). Portions of the interview have been rebroadcast on the Game Show Network, which in 2001, showed portions of another previously unaired interview during the first airing of its Match Game Blankathon.
- After World War II began, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and became a pilot, bombardier and instructor.
- Upon his death, he was cremated and his ashes were scattered over his daughter Lynne Rayburn's garden.
- Ranked #4 on Life's 15 Best Game Show Hosts.
- Knitted socks as a gag for his show "Rayburn and Finch". However, he became proficient in needlepoint and turned it into a regular hobby that he enjoyed doing on his many flights between New York and Los Angeles. Producer Mark Goodson presented him with a knitting kit as a gift of thanks for making Match Game (1973) the #1 daytime program on television.
- When he was on The Tonight Show (1953), he appeared in many of the show's skits with the comedians Louis Nye and Buddy Hackett.
- Was of Croatian heritage and spoke Serbo-Croatian.
- Passed away at his daughter Lynne Rayburn's house.
- Was employed at Mark Goodson-[xxxxxxx] Productions (later Mark Goodson Productions) from 1953-84.
- Met future Match Game (1973) panelist Charles Nelson Reilly in the musical "Bye, Bye Birdie.".
- Future radio disc jockey Howard Stern was said to be a fan of Rayburn's, while he was in college. Years later, Stern would appear alongside him on 'Homeless Squares.'.
- Chose the stage name 'Rayburn' by sticking his finger in a phone book.
- Fellow game-show host Wink Martindale had a long-standing friendly feud with him, along with Chuck Woolery. Upon Rayburn's death in 1999, Martindale revealed that Rayburn and Woolery had conjured up his rather juvenile nickname of "Stink Fartindale," and would always fondly remember their times together.
- GSN had aired segments of an interview it did with him , before his death, and aired them during a Match Game (1973) Marathon.
- Had commuted from his home in Massachusetts to Los Angeles, every weekend for 11 years to host Match Game (1973), before Match Game/Hollywood Squares Hour (1983).
- Long before Regis Philbin would become a successful talk show and game show host, he used to be Rayburn's page for Steve Allen's The Tonight Show (1953).
- After his final game show The Movie Masters (1989) he retired from hosting game shows at age 71.
- One of his panelists, Richard Dawson, allegedly feuded with Rayburn during production of Match Game (1973) prior to Dawson hosting Family Feud (1976).
- At the beginning of the last year of Match Game (1973), the producers invented '"The Star Wheel". This was because after Richard Dawson had left the show, a lot of Rayburn's winning contestants chose him in the bonus round, Head-To-Head Match.
- Before he was a successful game-show host, he worked as an usher for the NBC Symphony Orchestra in New York.
- Was very unhappy while hosting Match Game/Hollywood Squares Hour (1983), especially since the panel had none of the original regulars at all. Also, they had to finish an entire game in half an hour to give equal time for The Hollywood Squares (Daytime) (1965), and the crazy antics that happened on the original Match Game (1973) didn't happen as much. Worst of all, without a regular panel he had no chance to develop a rapport with the panelists, especially since the panelists' seating positions changed daily (Charles Nelson Reilly was usually in his spot, however, and Jon remained in the lower tier, far left) and the panelists weren't always three males and three females.
- When he was hired to host the revamped version of Break the Bank (1985), he became very unhappy with the format and looked very embarrassed by the stunts in the prize vault, which typically involved finding flowers in pop-up snake cans and tongue twisters. Also, in the early shows, he looked lost in that prize vault, trying to locate the stunts. He wasn't brief enough about the stunts either, because he was obviously reading the description of the stunt for the first time. Because of this, the producers decided to stop the clock so that he didn't have to rush through describing how to do each stunt.
- Was not Mark Goodson's first choice for the original The Match Game (1962). According to producer Robert Noah, he said people at NBC were always wondering why they couldn't get somebody better than Rayburn to do that show.
- While announcing at WGNY in Newburgh, NY, he met model Helen Ticknor, who he married in 1940.
- Landed his first job as a page for NBC in New York City during the late 1930s.
- Enlisted in the US Army-Air Corps during World War II.
- Was idolized by: Bob Eubanks, Bob Goen, Pat Finn, Chuck Woolery, Graham Elwood, Todd Newton, Howard Stern and Wink Martindale.
- Before he was a successful game-show host, he worked as an announcer at WGNY Radio in Newburgh, NY, where he got paid $25 a week.
- His classic microphone got a lot of abuse from his using it as a sword, or a javelin. For a publicity shot, he put the mike in his teeth as if it was a long-stemmed rose. Once during Match Game PM (1975), the cord completely came off of it, and they had to cut to commercial to give him a new mike. Once on Match Game (1973), instead of his usual mike, someone placed an old-style radio mike on the desk. Richard Dawson explained that his usual mike was not working, and he had to use that old one. Gene was very amused and tried to pick it up. It was obviously very heavy, as he was hunched over trying to carry it! Meanwhile, Richard reached under the desk and revealed his usual microphone, much to his relief.
- Met fellow game-show host Bill Cullen while the two were under contract with Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Productions (later Mark Goodson Productions) in 1953. The two became friends until Cullen's death in 1990.
- His show's Match Game/Hollywood Squares Hour (1983)'s musical cues, was later recycled over to The Price is Right (1972), usually for use with cars and showcases, which it still uses to this day. The show was formerly hosted by fellow game-show host Bob Barker, before Drew Carey, took over.
- His parents, Milan Rubessa and Mary Hikec Rubessa, were both Croatian immigrants.
- Met Julie London when she was a guest on The Steve Allen Plymouth Show (1956); years later, London would reunite with Rayburn on Match Game (1973).
- Moved to Gloucester, MA, in 1972 and lived there for nearly 28 years.
- Filled in for Bud Collyer for one episode of To Tell the Truth (1956).
- Along with former radio partner, Dee Finch, Rayburn also boosted the singing career of Teresa Brewer.
- During his time in the Army Air Corps, he was trained in meteorology and occasionally demonstrated his knowledge of the weather on Match Game (1973).
- His wife, Helen Ticknor, died late in 1996.
- Before he was a successful game show host, he used to host Today (1952) with Dave Garroway, who in turn was replaced by him, every once in a while.
- Made numerous guest appearances on The Love Boat (1977), including one with Fannie Flagg, who was one of his panelists on Match Game (1973).
- Every time he made his entrance to the set of Match Game (1973), he would fly, skip and romp.
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