(left to right) Cozy Morley and Broadcast Pioneers member Bob Pantano
His parents named him Thomas, but we all knew him as Cozy. A shy kid, Cozy Morley grew up in South Philly on Two Street. He went to Southeast Catholic High. He played the clarinet and saxophone, told jokes and basically was an all round entertainer.
During the fifties, Cozy purchased "The Club Avalon," in North Wildwood that Morley ran until the late eighties when the building was torn down. He could really pack them in to the 1,200 establishment. He booked nationally known celebrities into the club including Joey Bishop. Johnny Ray, Broadcast Pioneers member Al Alberts, Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Famer Al Martino, Julius LaRosa and the Glen Miller Orchestra.
Cozy and Al Alberts held tram car "races" on the Atlantic City boardwalk to raise funds for charities. Passengers would pay to be a part of the fun.
Cozy Morley on a TV Show entitled "Cozy and Company"
Broadcast Pioneers member Ron Joseph (RJ) was host and producer of the program
Morley owned three homes. One in Haddon Township, one in North Wildwood and other in Florida. Cozy and his wife, Bobbie were married some three decades ago. She was a cocktail waitress at the Club Avalon. There's a bronze statue of Cozy on the site of his nightclub. After closing his night spot, he played to huge crowds at the shore casinos. He was 87 years old when he passed away in 2013.
Cozy Morley will be inducted posthumously into the Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame on Friday evening, November 20, 2015 at the Hilton City Avenue in Philadelphia.
From the official archives of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia
Top photo originally donated by Broadcast Pioneers member Bob Pantano
Bottom photo originally donated by Broadcast Pioneers member Ron Joseph
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