Bob Clayton | |
|---|---|
 Clayton as the host ofConcentration in 1971. | |
| Born | James Robert Box (1922-08-17)August 17, 1922 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Died | November 1, 1979(1979-11-01) (aged 57) New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Announcer,game show host |
Bob Clayton (bornJames Robert Box,[1] August 17, 1922 – November 1, 1979) was an American television game showannouncer andhost of several shows. He spent his early television career hosting shows inMiami, Florida before moving to New York in the 1960s.
A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Clayton became a vaudeville singer at age 15.[2] He served in the Army as a combat engineer during World War II[3] and was an announcer for theArmed Forces Radio Network after the war.[3] He graduated fromGeorgia Tech[4] and studied drama in New York City.[2]
In 1948, Clayton joined the staff ofWWDX-FM in Paterson, New Jersey, as an announcer.[5]
In Miami, he was a staff announcer onWCKT (channel 7) and hosted a kiddie show calledBobsville.[6]
After his first national hosting job on the gameMake a Face (ABC, 1961–1962),[7][8] Clayton assumed announcing duties on the long-runningNBC gameConcentration in 1963, and took over hosting duties on the show in January 1969 as successor to original emceeHugh Downs.[2] He was replaced in March 1969 byEd McMahon, but returned in September 1969[3] after viewer outrage and declining audience ratings.[9]
Clayton also had a brief flirtation with the movies when he played the bell captain inJerry Lewis' 1960 film,The Bellboy, which was shot on location inMiami.
After the cancellation ofConcentration, Clayton served as announcer on several shows created byBob Stewart, including thePyramid series of games, beginning withCBS'The $10,000 Pyramid in 1973.Pyramid began airing the Monday after the final episode ofConcentration aired, in the same time slot, though on another network. Other Stewart shows he did includedBlankety Blanks,Shoot for the Stars andPass the Buck.
He was married to Tahitian dancer Mireille of theMai-Kai Restaurant in Fort Lauderdale.[10]
On November 1, 1979, Clayton died ofcardiac arrest.[11]
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| National | |
