Bob Clayton
{{short description|American television host/announcer (1922–1979)}}
{{for|the Australian rules footballer|Bob Clayton (footballer)}}
{{Infobox person
| image =Bob Clayton 1971.JPG
| name = Bob Clayton
| caption = Clayton as the host of Concentration in 1971.
| birth_name = James Robert Box
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1922|08|17}}
| birth_place = Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1979|11|01|1922|08|17}}
| death_place = New York City, U.S.
| occupation = Announcer, game show host
| years_active =
| credits =
}}
Bob Clayton (born James Robert Box,{{cite news |title=Obituaries |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/398853888/?terms=bob%2Bclayton |accessdate=22 May 2020 |work=Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=November 5, 1979 |location=Atlanta, Georgia |page=4C|via = Newspapers.com}} August 17, 1922 – November 1, 1979) was an American television game show announcer and host of several shows. He spent his early television career hosting shows in Miami, Florida before moving to New York in the 1960s.
Career
A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Clayton became a vaudeville singer at age 15. He served in the Army as a combat engineer during World War II and was an announcer for the Armed Forces Radio Network after the war. He graduated from Georgia Tech{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Paul |title=Happy Birthday, Concentration |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31926392/bob_clayton/ |accessdate=26 May 2019 |work=The Atlanta Constitution |date=August 25, 1971 |location=Georgia, Atlanta |page=14–A|via = Newspapers.com}} and studied drama in New York City.{{cite news |title=Bob Clayton Replaces Hugh Downs On Daytime 'Concentration' Show |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31925294/bob_clayton/ |accessdate=26 May 2019 |work=Longview News-Journal |date=January 5, 1969 |location=Texas, Longview |page=52|via = Newspapers.com}}
In 1948, Clayton joined the staff of WWDX-FM in Paterson, New Jersey, as an announcer.{{cite news |title=Production |url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1948/1948-06-07-BC.pdf |accessdate=16 April 2019 |work=Broadcasting |date=June 7, 1948 |page=74}}
In Miami, he was a staff announcer on WCKT (channel 7) and hosted a kiddie show called Bobsville.[https://www.k12academics.com/educational-television/childrens-television-series-united-states/florida Children's Television Series in Florida] Retrieved 27 September 2021
After his first national hosting job on the game Make a Face (ABC, 1961–1962),{{Cite news |last=Dunn |first=Kristine |date=August 16, 1961 |title=Bob Gets Network Show |page=3B |newspaper=The Miami News |location=Miami, Florida |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97612279/bob-gets-network-show/ |access-date=March 14, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |last=Anderson |first=Jack E. |date=September 1, 1961 |title=They've Worked Out A Plan for Clayton |page=10D |newspaper=The Miami Herald |location=Miami, Florida |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97617013/theyve-worked-out-a-plan-for-clayton/ |access-date=March 14, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}} Clayton assumed announcing duties on the long-running NBC game Concentration in 1963, and took over hosting duties on the show in January 1969 as successor to original emcee Hugh Downs. He was replaced in March 1969 by Ed McMahon, but returned in September 1969{{cite news |title=Bob Clayton Will Emcee Concentration |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31925783/bob_clayton/ |accessdate=26 May 2019 |work=The Jackson Sun |date=September 12, 1969 |location=Tennessee, Jackson |page=36|via = Newspapers.com}} after viewer outrage and declining audience ratings.{{cite news |last1=Lowry |first1=Cynthia |title=Bob Clayton Concentrates On Promoting 'His Show' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31926061/bob_clayton/ |accessdate=26 May 2019 |work=Wisconsin State Journal |agency=Associated Press |date=February 6, 1972 |location=Wisconsin, Madison |page=Section 6, p 7|via = Newspapers.com}}
Clayton also had a brief flirtation with the movies when he played the bell captain in Jerry Lewis' 1960 film, The Bellboy, which was shot on location in Miami.
Later work
After the cancellation of Concentration, Clayton served as announcer on several shows created by Bob Stewart, including the Pyramid series of games, beginning with CBS' The $10,000 Pyramid in 1973. Pyramid began airing the Monday after the final episode of Concentration aired, in the same time slot, though on another network. Other Stewart shows he did included Blankety Blanks, Shoot for the Stars and Pass the Buck.
Personal life
He was married to Tahitian dancer Mireille of the Mai-Kai Restaurant in Fort Lauderdale.January 1965 Happy Talk magazine
Death
On November 1, 1979, Clayton died of cardiac arrest.{{cite news |last1=Kassewitz |first1=Jack |title=Trying to buy stamps on a Sunday cancels the day |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31926881/the_miami_news/ |accessdate=26 May 2019 |work=The Miami News |date=November 14, 1979 |location=Florida, Miami |page=13|via = Newspapers.com}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Commons category|Bob Clayton}}
- The Encyclopedia Of TV Game Shows, Third Edition by David Schwartz, Steve Ryan, and Fred Wostbrock (1999) Published by Checkmark Books, an imprint of Facts on File.
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Category:American television talk show hosts
Category:American game show hosts