The Clay Cole Show
| The Clay Cole Show | |
|---|---|
 Cole (left) with The Isley Brothers in 1962 | |
| Also known as | Rate the Records Talent Teens Teen Quiz The Record Wagon[1] Clay Cole's Discotek[2] |
| Original release | |
| Network | WNTA-TV WPIX-TV |
| Release | September 1959 – December 16, 1967 |
The Clay Cole Show (1959–1967) was an American rock music television show based in New York City, hosted by Clay Cole.
History
First broadcast on WNTA-TV (now
In 1965 the show was renamed Clay Cole's Discotek.[2] Clay produced a full hour with just one guest, Tony Bennett. Clay's all-star, ten-day Christmas Show in 1960 at the Brooklyn Paramount Theater holds the all-time box-office record for that theater.[5][6]
Cole was the first to introduce stand-up comics such as Richard Pryor, George Carlin and Fannie Flagg to a teen audience.[1][3] He was the first to produce a full hour of all-black performers, his historic Salute to Motown.[1][3] Unlike other teen music show hosts, Cole danced to the music he played on his shows; he was also unafraid to book lesser-known performers.[1][3][7]
In December 1967, at the height of his show's popularity, Cole left the show and moved to then-NBC-owned-and-operated station WKYC in Cleveland. He was reportedly unhappy with the shift in pop music to psychedelic acid rock and heavy metal.[1][3] The final edition of his program in New York aired on December 16, 1967. He hosted the first half hour, featuring live guests Paul Anka and Bobby Vee and a film performance from the Beatles. In the second half hour, he introduced the host that replaced him on WPIX: Canadian singer Peter Martin.[8]
His memoir of the early years of
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Grimes, William (December 24, 2010). "Clay Cole, Host of Teenage Dance Shows, dies at 72". New York Times. Retrieved December 24, 2010.
- ^ a b c d Grimes, William (December 26, 2010). "Clay Cole; hosted teen show that drew rising musical stars". Boston.com. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved December 27, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f Hinckley, David (December 21, 2010). "Clay Cole, legendary 1960s rock 'n' roll teen guru who introduced Rolling Stones, dies at almost 73". New York City, New York, United States: Daily News. Retrieved December 27, 2010.
- ^ Messina, Matt (July 18, 1963). "News Around the Dials: Taylor Show Dumped". Daily News. New York City, New York, United States. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
- ^ "Clay Cole and the Paramount Theater". Brooklyn Music. August 3, 2009. Retrieved December 27, 2010.
- ^ "Brooklyn Paramount". New York Theater Organ Society. Archived from the original on January 26, 2011. Retrieved December 27, 2010.
- ^ Weintraub, Bernard (February 16, 2003). "Pioneer of a Beat Is Still Riffing for His Due". New York Times. Retrieved December 27, 2010.
- ^ Messina, Matt (December 11, 1967). "News Around the Dials: Canadian to Host TV Show". Daily News. New York City, New York, United States. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
- ^ Hinckley, David (December 3, 2009). "City traffic reports are cutting through the gridlock". New York Daily News. Retrieved December 27, 2010.
- ISBN 978-1-60037-639-9. Retrieved December 27, 2010.
- ^ Thedeadrockstarsclub.com - accessed December 2010