Beat Club

1 9 6 5 – 1 9 7 2 (West Germany)
83 x 30/60 episodes

Debuting on 25 September 1965, Beat Club was initially hosted by Gerhard Augustin (the first professional disc jockey in Germany, who co-created the show) and German actress Uschi Nerke. Augustin stepped down after eight episodes and was replaced by British DJ Dave Lee Travis, who brought humour to the show.

Originally a half-hour broadcast (eventually expanded to 60 minutes), the show aired once a month on Saturdays and became the biggest TV pop show on the Continent.

The broadcasts were in black and white until 31 January 1970, when it switched to colour.

The show originally featured musical acts performing live in front of a plain brick wall until a 1967 revamp.

At that time, a troupe of young women billed as the “Go-Go-Girls,” were also introduced to dance to songs when the performers couldn’t appear on the show.

Dave Lee Travis was replaced in 1969 by Dave Dee, of Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich. He departed in 1970, leaving Nerke as the sole host.

Musical acts who appeared on the show during its seven-year run included The Liverbirds, The Animals, The Hollies, Lulu, The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Kinks, Small Faces, The Bee Gees, The Beach Boys, The Easybeats, The Move, Harmony Grass, The Doors, David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix, Alice Cooper, Cream, T. Rex, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Atomic Rooster, Canned Heat, The Grateful Dead and The Osmonds.

The show quickly achieved cult status and was exported to over 70 million viewers in over 30 countries, including Finland, Hungary, Thailand and Tanzania.

Beat Club ended its run in December 1972. Nerke went on to host the show’s successor, Musikladen, until 1978.