A show where well-dressed teens gently bop around to the big hits while maintaining an appropriate distance apart hardly seems like it would be a hot bed of sexual experimentation, but American Bandstand apparently featured a crew of Philadelphia kids who had more than dancing in common. Clark was known for integrating his audiences as well as his performers unusual in the late 50s. It was horrible.. One young performer was dangled down an elevator shaft. They even invented a few the Stroll, the Circle and the Chalypso. Click here to see some of your favorites back in action. Hey, our thanks to Laura Branigan for joining us here on American Bandstand today. Set pieces from Soul Unlimited were utilized by Bandstand for its 19741978 set design. "Two or three times during the show, Clark would introduce singers or groups who would lip-sync their latest hits." 2. Browse celebrity nostalgia on our website. Don and Bunny had two daughters: Angel and Maria and four grandchildren: Lea & Christopher Di Vello, Alexis Karanzalis & Nicole Weiss. I imitated all the dance steps, sometimes with the refrigerator door as a partner. In addition to appearances by big pop stars of the day, Sullivan's on-screen romance with Kenny Rossi was a huge draw for the show. ", In a Time.com obituary for Dick Clark, who died April 18, 2012, a reporter wrote: "Lou DeSera, Carmen Jimenez, Carole Scaldeferri, Rosemarie 'Little Roe' DiCristo: they may sound like characters on The Sopranos, but they were just ordinary kids, with extraordinary luck of being in Philadelphia at the moment the old town lit the fuse for the rock explosion.". A storybook ending to a tale that began with American Bandstand, albeit 40 years ago. Clark moved the show to California in 1964, but many fans remember it as a Philadelphia phenomenon. . . American Bandstand Fundraiser Pictures, To my knowledge, no VHS tape of American Bandstand is commercially available. Carol Highsmith, photographer, Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Online Catalog. The guy who had been in charge of the show before he took over was the subject of a scandal a DUI, I think so Clark wanted to be the clean-cut guy, and he was. ", "Forty years after 'Bandstand' debut, Clark and dancers celebrate", "ORIGINAL DANCERS WILL GRANDSTAND AT 'BANDSTAND' REUNION", "American Bandstand, Season 30, Episode 38: Laura Brannigan (Final ABC show)", "Dick Clark's On a Roll: He Tunes In to TV Trends", "Dick Clark celebrates American Bandstand's 35th", "RETRO: Fairbanks, Alaska (October 24, 1987)", "Retro: Northern Wisconsin, Sat. It was no secret. The program was permanently shot in color starting on September 9, 1967. She was now working at Neiman Marcus, and couldn't take off to join the Regulars and their fans at the Philadelphia American Bandstand studio. And in her early 20s, she actually tied the knot with a young man. From 1969 to 1974, "Bandstand Theme", a synthesized rock instrumental written by Mike Curb, opened each show. In another format shift, it was shot outdoors at Universal Studios Hollywood. I am on that stage just trying to do my own thing and turn the party. The TV exposure, plus the profiles some of the dancers were given in Teen magazine in the late 1950s, made them instant celebrities. After school in the late 1950s, millions of American teenagers raced home to watch the gyrations of fellow teens on their parents tiny black-and-white televisions in the living room. I tried my best to fill your shoes and I hope I have lived up to what you were expecting of me. From 1977 to September 6, 1986, the show opened and closed with Barry Manilow's rendition of "Bandstand Boogie",[7] which he originally recorded for his 1975 album Tryin' to Get the Feeling. In 1962, ABC trimmed the shows airtime from 90 to 60 minutes. Hes a heckuva good dancer who does a mean jitterbug! He promoted the couples on the show to mask the fact that so many guys were gay.5. It became a staple in homes and heavily influenced American society culturally, musically, and socially. Known for her perky personality, Pat Moliterri is credited with inventing the dance, the Hop, by combining elements of the Slop and the Bop.Sadly, Pat died in in the mid-seventies of a heart attack. I am not sure I can post that part of the video as I have no rights to the music they play and is heard in the background of the parade. We sent some 15,000 fan letters each week. And while Smith knew he was gay, he was shocked to learn that most of the guys on Bandstand, so many of them, were gay, he told The Post. Sullivans last appearance onAmerican Bandstandwas in 1960.7, In the early 1960s, a new collection of teen regulars succeeded Arlene Sullivans generation onAmerican Bandstandsdance floor. Jax Spills the Tea on That "Shocking" Lip-Sync LaLaPaRuza, "In those lip-syncs, I fend for myself. We also surmise that her mother was an Italian immigrant (she refers to her Italian mom), and her father of Irish descent. We may earn a commission from links on this page. When WFIL-TV moved to a new facility on City Line Avenue (one that did not have a studio that could accommodate the show), ABC moved production of Bandstand to the ABC Television Center (stage 5) in Los Angeles (now known as The Prospect Studios) on February 8, 1964, which coincidentally was the day before the Beatles first appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show. They were introduced as a result of an email sent to the Fifties Web. Remember, these Regulars werent paid actors or dancers. But it was obvious to the teen dancers that he was set on a trajectory that would take him far from Studio B in West Philly. "[5] In one humorous segment broadcast for years on retrospective shows, comedians Cheech and Chong appeared as the record raters. In March of 1970 we moved to New Jersey. "He wasn't no Bob Horn," Fiorentino said. The rest is American Bandstand history. This development created a sometimes heated rivalry between Dick Clark and Buddy Deane, when performers who appeared first on Deane's program were refused booking on American Bandstand. The use of videotape allowed Clark to produce and host a series of concert tours around the success of American Bandstand and to pursue other broadcast interests. Teen idol Bobby Rydell, whose music career is still going strong 60 years after American Bandstand, wrote the books introduction; but former Regular Arlene Sullivan, who shares her memories and personal images, is a standout as well as a co-author of the book. ABC gave Clark a choice: divest his music-related interests or step down as host of the show. Clark chose to continue withBandstand.3. Two of the regulars, Arlene Sullivan and Ray Smith, published the volume asBandstand Diaries: The Philadelphia Years, 1956-1963,with Sharon Sultan Cutler as a non-Bandstand-member co-author. [8] On September 7, 1963, the program was moved from its weekday slot and began airing weekly every Saturday afternoon, restored to an hour, until 1989. The American Bandstand Regulars tell us what Studio B means to them today and yesterday, with special guest appearance by the American Bandstand Fan Club pre. we were like a little family together, and we all had something in common, and we all stuck together, and that made it easier for us.. In 1989, Clark, aged 59, retired fromAmerica Bandstand, and the show ended that year. I still really didnt know who I was. Thanks for contacting us. The program that preceded Dick Clarks American Bandstand at WFIL-TV was deejay Bob Horns locally popular Bandstand. From that dance on we became steady dance partners until I had to leave the show on my 18th birthday, which was in August of 1961., The Pony Contest American Bandstand, abbreviated AB, is an American music-performance and dance television program that aired in various versions that aired regularly from 1952 to 1989, [1] and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as the program's producer. Soul Unlimited was not well-received among its target audience of African-Americans, ostensibly due to its being created by a white man (Clark), and because of its alleged usage of deliberately racial overtones despite this fact. . American Bandstand first aired 5 August 1957 in the 3-4:30 afternoon slot. That really annoyed me, said Smith, Because quite a few of the Philadelphia dancers on Bandstand died of AIDS., According to Brancaccio, Clark didnt want racial integration on his show either. Goes from a daily to a weekly Saturday show in Philadelphia: 9/7/1963, Broadcast from Los Angeles: Begins 2/8/1964, Produced by Anthony Tony Mammarella and Dick Clark, Dick Clark Host But back in the Bandstand days, Smith was one of the shows secretly gay dancers. In 1964 Dick Clark took Dick Clark Productions and American Bandstand to Hollywood, Los Angeles in search of new markets for his myriad projects. All rock'n roll and most owned by Dick Clark himself. Of Clarks behind-the-scenes behavior at Studio B, Ray Smith writes unsparingly: The irony about Clark is that he was not the goody-two-shoes he projected: he smoked, cursed, and for a while teetered on the edge of alcoholism. In 2019, a trio of formerAmerican Bandstandregulars assembled a book on their experiences on the popular show. you could do in half time - the hop, the bop, and the stomp," she wrote. Bob Horn Host (Bob Horns Bandstand), Bandstand Boogie Nicholas Fiorentino, 67, a South Philly native now living in Cherry Hill, said it was clear even to Bandstand teenagers that Clark was going places. ". Id see these kids dancing and instinctively I knew I could fit in with them. We've received your submission. A Philadelphia, PA 19133, BONUS PAGE during those wonderful days. Does Alan Cumming Really Live in a Scottish Castle? Interracial couples were not allowed on camera, so they sat on the sidelines. Despite that sense of community, the show's starsgay and straight alikewere targeted in Philadelphia, and even physically attacked in some cases, just for being dancers. REGULARS Gallery 1. The Monday-night version aired its last program in December 1957, but ABC gave Clark a Saturday-night time slot for The Dick Clark Saturday Night Beech-Nut Show, which originated from the Little Theatre in Manhattan, beginning on February 15, 1958. Prior to the move, Bandstand had sourced many of its up-and-coming acts from Philadelphia's Cameo-Parkway Records. It got me out of my shell, but I learned I was a regular teenager who happened to dance on a show that unexpectedly became very popular. With his death, she said, it is "important that Dick is honored for what he did for rock-and-roll and for the impact he had on all the lives of his dancers from Philly to L.A.", Clark, Gibson said, led "the first teenage revolution, and we were part of it. The 50 record albums are packed away for safekeeping., Normans passing Normally, I do not forward mail to the Regulars. JUSTINE AND BOB. Bob retired after being in the shoe business and the chemical business, where he often worked 18 hour days. TV Ratings - US & UK, Quiz Shows It was a local show Philadelphia, Jersey, the Lehigh Valley [Pennsylvania]. . The new legislation effectively ended payola in the music business.2, American Bandstandtoo weathered the payola storm. https://collaborativehistory.gse.upenn.edu/sites/default/files/Rock%20%27n%27%20Rock%20West%20Coast%20.jpg, https://collaborativehistory.gse.upenn.edu/sites/default/files/Bandstand%20historical%20marker%20%281%20of%201%29.jpg, https://collaborativehistory.gse.upenn.edu/sites/default/files/National%20Register%20of%20Historic%20Places.JPG, https://collaborativehistory.gse.upenn.edu/sites/default/files/Bandstand%20Regulars%20Marker.jpg, https://collaborativehistory.gse.upenn.edu/sites/default/files/Rock%20and%20Roll%20Hall%20of%20Fame.jpg, University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, American Bandstand: West Philadelphia's Seven-Year Wonder 1957-1964, American Bandstand, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Starting Local: WFIL-TV, Bob Horn, and Philadelphia's Bandstand, Going National: Dick Clark and ABC's American Bandstand, Whose Music, Whose Dances? Carole Ann Scaldeferri Spada, 70, of Newtown Square, a regular dancer on American Bandstand from 1957 to 1961, has died. With American Bandstand being originally located in Philadelphia, segregation easily affected the concentrated area. On all the music they play On the Bandstand.! Hosted by Bob Horn as a television adjunct to his radio show of the same name on WFIL radio, Bandstand featured short musical films produced by Snader Telescriptions and Official Films, with occasional studio guests. AB WALLET PHOTOS. Last edited on 22 February 2023, at 03:03, The Dick Clark Saturday Night Beech-Nut Show, Top of newscast salutes to Clark deserved, "Did the Beatles kill America's radio stars? The news hit hard. "My heart hurts," said Gibson, a regular from 1959 to 1961. They knew what was going on, but they never asked the question., Sullivan says there were at least four other popular girl dancers on Bandstand who she quickly learned were lesbians and we all started hanging out together. Clark joined Bandstand in 1956 and moved with the show to Hollywood in 1964. . She tracked them down for the new coffee-table book, Bandstand Diaries: The Philadelphia Years, 1956-1963. Give me some Thumbs UP!This is Bunny Gibson and the American Bandstand Regulars live at Sesame Park outside of Philadelphia on July 21, 1997 as recorded by OnlineTV.com and Rick Siegel.The Regulars were there to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of American Bandstand and the parties were relentless as were the memories. In August 1963, ABC reassigned American Bandstand to Saturday afternoon. This story has been shared 115,637 times. You want to know about the guy! Elgart's version was released as a single in March 1954 (Columbia 40180) as well as Curb's theme (by "Mike Curb & The Waterfall") in October 1969 (Forward 124). Dancing was a major feature of Bandstand. . From 1974 to September 6, 1986, Bandstand featured another instrumental at its mid-show break: Billy Preston's synth hit "Space Race". They werent playing baseball they were DANCING. However, advertisers do to enable personalized ads. We'll see you then. Words by Barry Manilow and Bruse Sussman, Were goin hoppin (Hop!) If it wasnt assaults from outside haters, some of the Bandstand kids suffered in their own homes. In fact, it was dangerous. Norman was born on January 18, 1944. They were the squeaky-clean Kardashians of their era, and Bandstand could easily claim the title as the first reality show. Making matters worse, on September 13, 1986, ABC reduced Bandstand from a full hour to 30 minutes;[13] at Clark's request, the 2,751st and final ABC installment[14] (with Laura Branigan[15] performing "Shattered Glass"[16][17]) aired on September 5, 1987. Wed stay up all night talking about boys, she said. . But overall, their meet-ups remained a sanctuary. The show stayed on the air until 1989. The parents of one kid on the show found out that he was gay . Jerry Oppenheimer is a best-selling author. As the books highlight, Ray Smith and Arlene Sullivan provided two thoughtful and unadornedBandstandmemoirs. While ABC wasnt in the quiz show business, a congressional subcommittee found another reason to investigate the network. Michael Jackson, a frequent Bandstand guest, performed He molded the image of the American teenager so America would accept rock-and-roll.". (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images), Spice on Her Favorite 'Drag Race' Season 15 Moment and Her Sweet Reunion With Sugar, "I did win the hearts of these girls somehow and the love was just so felt. But if you subscribe and leave a comment you want to see the parade, I will do it.Remember to SUBSCRIBE TO MY FEED AS I UPLOAD MORE FROM MY ARCHIVES! During the segment, two audience members each ranked two records on a scale of 35 to 98, after which their two opinions were averaged by Clark, who then asked the chosen members to justify their scores. Clark claimed that the affiliates got greedy and took the time back to put their own material on where they got 100 percent of the revenue. Unsure and fearful about her true sexual identity, Sullivan tried passing as straight. No way I will get in his way! Where Are the American Bandstand Regulars Now? While the American series has aired sixteen seasons, its format was also replicated worldwide, from Norway (Dansefeber) to Australia (So You Think You Can Dance Australia). Home Yesteryear Nostalgia Where Are the American Bandstand Regulars Now? These teenagers became the nation's first reality-TV stars--they received thousands of fan letters and were mobbed everywhere they went. Local radio disc jockey Buddy Deane was chosen as the host of The Buddy Deane Show on Channel 13, and began a daily two hour broadcast on September 9, 1957. Delmont, Matthew F. (September 30, 2014). He retained his youthful looks through the 1980s, burnishing his reputation as Americas Oldest Living Teenager. Dick Clark died at age 82 in Santa Monica. Known then as Carole Scaldeferri, Mrs. Spada was among the teens who jitterbugged and slow-danced their way to fame in a TV studio in Philadelphia, while host Dick Clark spun what are now oldies. Many factors were involved in this, particularly the launch and rise of MTV and other music programs on television, and along with that, the number of ABC affiliates opting to pre-empt or delay the program. I have a Champion Samoyed show dog. When he became a regular in 1959, Clark was only 30. Clark pulled him within two feet of the camera and told America, "Steve is our newest regular, and he's going to lead us off with a spotlight dance. We call him Namron and yes, if you spell his name backwards it spells, Norman. Don Travarelli, from South Philly, watched American Bandstand in 1961 and spotted Bunny Gibson dancing. 2023 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. From 1974 to 1977, there was a newer, orchestral disco version of "Bandstand Boogie", arranged and performed by Joe Porter, played during the opening and closing credits. From September 13, 1986, to September 5, 1987, Manilow's version was replaced at the close of the show by a new closing theme arranged by David Russo, who also performed an updated instrumental arrangement of "Bandstand Boogie" when Bandstand went into syndication. They werent playing basketball. July 9th, 1988", "Retro Request: Sat 10/31 & 11/7 and Sun 11/1, 1987", "AB now in syndication: Jody Watley, Dan Hill, David Spade", "Clark ends long-playing spin on bandstand", "On 'Bandstand,' Dick Clark Says Goodbye", "AGELESS CLARK STILL STANDS FOR THE 'AMERICAN' BAND", "Hits Prove Hard to Find at Dick Clark Productions: Entertainment: Performance has been mediocre since the company went public in 1987. [6] Jackson,American Bandstand, 71; Jacksons description of Arlene Sullivan. Like Smith, she believes that if her true sexual preference and that of others on the show had become public in the days before Stonewall and todays LGBT power, Bandstand would have been taken off the air. She was 13 but lied about her age. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) Another time, a dancer was thrown onto the subway tracks. Wagon Train Website,