| The Clay Cole Show | |
|---|---|
 Cole (left) withThe 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 (1959-09) – December 16, 1967 (1967-12-16) |
The Clay Cole Show (1959–1967) was an American rock music television show based inNew York City, hosted byClay Cole.
First broadcast on WNTA-TV (nowWNET) in September 1959 asRate the Records, within two months the format was changed, and an hour-long Saturday-night show was added. In the summer months, the show was expanded to an hour, six nights a week, live from New Jersey'sPalisades Amusement Park, whereChubby Checker first performed and danced "The Twist".[1][3] In 1963, the show moved toWPIX-TV, where for five years it was successful, thanks to first-time guest appearances ofthe Rolling Stones (on a program with one other guest act –the Beatles),Neil Diamond,Dionne Warwick,Simon & Garfunkel,Richie Havens,Tony Orlando,Blood, Sweat & Tears andthe Rascals.[1][2] On the WPIX version's first few months, it was titledClay Cole at the Moon Bowl and was taped at the Bronx-based amusement parkFreedomland U.S.A.. For the first WPIX edition, his guests wereLionel Hampton,Bobby Darin, andJoey Dee and the Starlighters.[4]
In 1965 the show was renamedClay 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 theBrooklyn Paramount Theater holds the all-time box-office record for that theater.[5][6]
Cole was the first to introduce stand-up comics such asRichard Pryor,George Carlin andFannie Flagg to a teen audience.[1][3] He was the first to produce a full hour of all-black performers, his historicSalute toMotown.[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 stationWKYC in Cleveland. He was reportedly unhappy with the shift in pop music topsychedelicacid rock andheavy 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 guestsPaul Anka andBobby Vee and a film performance from the Beatles. In the second half hour, he introduced the host that replaced him on WPIX: Canadian singerPeter Martin.[8]
His memoir of the early years ofrock and roll and live television,Sh-Boom! The Explosion ofRock 'n' Roll (1953-1968) has been published by Morgan James.[9][10] Cole died on December 18, 2010.[1][2][3][11]