12 facts about "The Geator with the Heater" Jerry Blavat, Philadelphia
By: WizBullFin
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Gerald Joseph Blavat born in South Philadelphia on 3rdJuly, 1940. His father was a Jewish and mother was Italian.
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Blavat debuted on the Bandstand (1953) on WFIL-TV. Was part of a national tour for Danny and the Juniors (1956).Worked as Don Rickles' valet in 1958–59.
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He started his radio career during Jan’1961 at WCAU in Camden, N. Jersey. By 1963, his show aired in Atlantic City, Trenton, Pottstown, Wilmington, Allentown.
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Produced and hosted Discophonic Scene(1965 to 1967), a weekly television dance show for "all my yon [sic] teens" show in Philadelphia in line with American Bandstand.
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He was known as "The Geator with the Heater" and "The Big Boss with the Hot Sauce". Blavat purchased a nightclub "Memories" in Margate, New Jersey In 1972.
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TV shows - The Tonight Show,The Mod Squad, The Joey Bishop Show, The Monkees. Movies -Desperately Seeking Susan, Baby It's You, and Cookie.
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During early 1990s, New Jersey State Commission made investigation and made public Blavat's association with the Bruno-Scarfo crime family.
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Got into the Philadelphia Music Alliance's Hall of Fame(1993). In, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (1998) and Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia's "Hall of Fame"(2002).
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Producing oldies concerts in Philadelphia since 2002. Regular wrote in Atlantic City Weekly for 20 years and wrote "Geator Gab," for the New Jersey Free Press.
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Since year 2010 a member of the New York Friars' Club and been the emcee of Time Life's annual Malt Shop Memories Cruise since year 2011
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Autobiography, You Only Rock Once: My Life In Music(2014). Voted "Best Philly Icon" in a 2018 readers' by Philadelphia magazine.
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At the age of 82 Blavat died on 20th Jan, 2023 in Hospital in Lower Moyamensing following complications from myasthenia gravis.