The Village People performed their legendary song, "YMCA" for the audience in Pasadena, California. At least three factors are important to note regarding the last three years ofAmerican Bandstandin West Philadelphia: the 1960 payola scandal, the reality behind the shows happy faces, and developments in the pop music industry that affected the show and compelled its relocation in 1964 to Los Angeles in a reduced version. Cameraman Vince Gasbarro said: "Horn was old-looking. While ABC wasnt in the quiz show business, a congressional subcommittee found another reason to investigate the network. Arlene Sullivan and Kenny Rossi on the cover of Teen magazine in 1959. Many other Bandstand alumni from the show's Philadelphia era were overcome with a rush of memories Wednesday. While occasionally black teens were allowed into the studio, they were generally boys. To the left youll find original pictures of some of the Regulars. For now, Dick Clark on ABC, so long. In other parts of the country, if you were a gay kid growing up, you were probably the only one in town who was gay, Sullivan said. Clark continued as host of the series, which was restored to its former hour length,[22] and aired on stations including KYW-TV in Philadelphia; WWOR-TV in New York City[23] (WWOR's superstation status also gave the program further national exposure); KTLA in Los Angeles; WMAQ-TV in Chicago; WDIV in Detroit; WEWS in Cleveland; WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee;[24] and WCIX in Miami.[25]. Weekday afternoons were spent with the kids in Philly, the kids on American Bandstand. 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. We sent some 15,000 fan letters each week. He needed a group to show up every day, she says, and nobody got paid. Dick Clark was a TV personality known for the shows 'American Bandstand,' '$25,000 Pyramid' and 'TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes,' among others. He still had that in him until the evening before he passed away. Two weeks later, Bandstand moved to first-run syndication. Handbags - Formal Wear. Back in July, I received a most endearing email from Duke which told of his experiences in life. . Ray Smith says he was upset when Dick Clark claimed only one of the dancers had died from AIDS when asked about it in an interview. The one thing that really shocked me was that those boys who were 14 and 15 and 16 were sleeping with each other," Smith told the New York Post. Back in July, I received a most endearing email from Duke which told of his experiences in life. American Bandstand first aired 5 August 1957 in the 3-4:30 afternoon slot. A funeral director in Newtown Square confirmed Monday night that Mrs. Spada had died, but declined to divulge the details before meeting with her family. And he has the one criteria required to attract Bunny Gibson. For a brief time in 1973, Bandstand alternated its time slot with Soul Unlimited,[10] a show featuring soul music that was hosted by Buster Jones. After a ten-month hiatus,[27] Bandstand moved to cable on USA Network[28][29] on April 8, 1989,[30] with comedian David Hirsch[31][32][33][34][35] taking over hosting duties. They wrote thousands of letters. That really annoyed me because quite a few of the Philadelphia dancers on Bandstand died of AIDS, Smith said. Give me some Thumbs UP!This is Bunny Gibson and the American Bandstand Regulars live at Sesame Park outside of Philadelphia on July 21,. My favorite dance was the Jitterbug the last dance where people danced together. 4/8/1989 10/7/1989 Syndicated 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? Rossi was straightbut Sullivan, many of her female co-stars, and most of the young male dancers were not. The reality behind the scenes ofAmerican Bandstandwas quite different than what viewers saw on national television. He spoke of his youth, of Bandstand and his favorite gal, Bunny. I knew when couples broke up. We'll see you then. For a time, she dated a neighborhood boy, Danny Rapp, lead singer of Danny & the Juniors, who had the hit song At the Hop., I was so afraid that I started trying to talk myself into being straight, Sullivan says. In addition to his other ventures, Clark maintained a virtual lock on New Years Eve television withDick ClarksNew Years Rockin Eve. Fifty years later, Bandstand fan Sharon Sultan Cutler wondered what had become of the Regulars, the name given to the teens that showed up daily to dance. He is a man of God and over the years has established both karate and prison ministeries. Im sure shell be thrilled to hear well wishes and from Bandstand friends and fans and donations would help her a lot. These experienced Regulars considered an infrequent participant or a first time visitor an amateur. I wonder what they would have thought about a kid in TV Land, practicing the new steps in front of her bedroom mirror and praying to God her little brother didnt catch her at it. 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. I was trying to hit them over their heads with my pocketbook, but they just wouldnt give up. Don Travarelli, from South Philly, watched American Bandstand in 1961 and spotted Bunny Gibson dancing. May, 1961. The followed the trend of solo (open) dancing started by Chubby Checker and The Twist. Some solo dances had animal names, for example, The Pony and The Monkey; others were named for motions, for example, The Mashed Potato and The Loco-Motion. Two of the biggest record hits of the early 1960s, both of which received a huge boost from airtime onAmerican Bandstand, were Dee Dee Sharps Mashed Potato Time and Freddy Cannons Palisades Park.8, YetAmerican Bandstandsseven-year stint in West Philadelphia was about to end. ", 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.". She danced the "push" - a "type of jitterbug . A case in point is Arlene Sullivan, a popular Regular who has described her own emerging lesbian sexual orientation, which she says was masked by her dance partnerships with boys. I started going out to straight clubs.. 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. In another format shift, it was shot outdoors at Universal Studios Hollywood. . The marker stands opposite 4548 Market Street (not shown here), which once housed WFIL-TVand its Studio B, the original home of American Bandstand. His name was Dick Clark and in the next year the show was transformed from a local show to a syndicated. 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. It also was a prototype for musical television properties including cable channel MTV and Fox's reality-competition show American Idol. Dick Clark took over as host in 1956, and the show made its network debut on ABC-TV on Aug. 5, 1957. This more-familiar version of Bandstand debuted on October 7, 1952, in "Studio 'B'", which was located in their just-completed addition to the original 1947 building in West Philadelphia.mw-parser-output .citation{word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}^ , and was hosted by Horn, with Lee Stewart as co-host until 1955. . At the time, unless a broadcaster failed to report under-the-table income (federal income tax evasion), payola wasnt illegal in federal law. Then it was hosted by Bob Horn and was called Bob Horns Bandstand.On July 9 of 1956 the show got a new host, a clean-cut 26 year old named Dick Clark. 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. THIS & THAT 50s/60s. Ray Smith was one of the shows secretly gay dancers. Bandstand debuted in Philadelphia in 1950 and took on its familiar format two years later. She told me she got so many letters from fans who thought I looked like her and [with our dark hair], we did look alike. She was a senior.and luckily on the Honor Roll. The bare necessitiesThis kit packs $431 worth of premium skincare and haircare into a small packageand it's only $80 with the promo code. But 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.. Barbara Levick was a very popular young lady who was a Regular who danced on American Bandstand in the late 50s/very early 60s. Clark was out for Clark, says Brancaccio. He remembered Clark as a man of few words who kept a professional distance between himself and the teen dancers. REGULARS Gallery 3. He was also reportedly involved in a prostitution ring and brought up on morals charges. [Clark] was a cool professional with an agenda from the beginning, an agenda for success that made him rich; he was a millionaire by the end of the 1950s. The Bop. Like the white homeowners associations' concerns about property values, WFIL's version of defensive localism built on a belief that integration would hurt the station's investment in Bandstand. Sullivan says Bandstand host Dick Clark knew most of the cast was gay, but was determined to keep it under wraps for the sake of the show. [8] In the fall of 1961, ABC truncated American Bandstand's airtime from 90 to 60 minutes (4:005:00pm ET), then even further as a daily half-hour (4:004:30pm ET) program in September 1962; beginning in early 1963, all five shows for the upcoming week were videotaped the preceding Saturday. She tracked them down for the new coffee-table book, Bandstand Diaries: The Philadelphia Years, 1956-1963. Whose Culture? This version introduced lyrics written by Manilow and Bruce Sussman, referencing elements of the series. The program was broadcast live, weekday afternoons and, by 1959, the show had a national audience of 20 million. Dick Clark died on April 18, 2012, at the age of 82. M Marsha Early American Bandstand Wallet type photos of Dancers/Regulars Sisters Mary Rosalie Susan 50s Susan Beltrante (on left) and Mary Beltrante on the right. Race and American Bandstand, The Seven-Year Itch: West Philly Loses American Bandstand, Report accessibility issues and request help. Once the program went national upon its move to Los Angeles, new host Dick Clark decided that integration was the most responsible move. SUBSCRIBE TO MY FEED! at 3:30pm, then rejoin Bandstand at 4pm. They wrote. e9.size = "300x250"; Clark moved the show to California in 1964, but many fans remember it as a Philadelphia phenomenon. ", Meet the Global Glamazons of 'Queen of the Universe' Season 2. Who will walk away with the crown this time around? . In front of the camera, Clark called the shots. On all the music they play On the Bandstand.! The Regulars, also known as The Committee were only a part of the Bandstand story. I am on that stage just trying to do my own thing and turn the party. After dispelling rumors of his death, which circulated on social media on Thursday, Blavat's representative confirmed in a Facebook post on Friday morning that he had died at 3:45 a.m. at. NEW PAGE! Don married Bunny. But it was not easy on the mean streets of Philadelphia to be a Bandstand regular suspected of being gay. They were real kids from Philly, and if you watched every day, you could tell who was breaking up and who was making up. Yes, yes, I know. She was 36. Clark was determined to keep the homosexuality of popular Bandstand regulars a secret, Smith said. Once when Sullivan and Rossi visited another show regular in North Philadelphia, "we were leaving her apartment and were headed to the El, and I heard car doors slamming, and I looked back, and all these guys were coming up the steps, and they started beating up on Kenny, she recalls. . Briefly it was part of the USA Network with new host David Hirsh but went off the air in 1989. Finally, we got away and jumped over the turnstile. In 2019, a trio of formerAmerican Bandstandregulars assembled a book on their experiences on the popular show. . James Morgan, who danced 17 times on Bandstand and stayed interested in it over the years, said Mrs. Spada had run a beauty parlor in the suburbs. She acknowledges that some of the other girls she knew on the show were also gay. From the late 1950s and most of the 1960s, Clark's on-camera sidekick was announcer Charlie O'Donnell, who later went on to announce Wheel of Fortune and other programs hosted or produced by Clark, such as The $100,000 Pyramid. But overall, their meet-ups remained a sanctuary. 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. It preceded The Guy Mitchell Show. Broadcast only on Saturdays after 1963, American Bandstand lost the homegrown vitality of the daily program in West Philadelphia. The segment gave rise to the catchphrase "It's got a good beat and you can dance to it. The news hit hard. Sullivan was almost 14, the required age for the show, when she became a Regular. Very sadly, Bob passed away 2 . Like the rest of us, the 'Drag Race' Season 15 queen is crushing on Pedro Pascal. This kit packs $431 worth of premium skincare and haircare into a small packageand it's only $80 with the promo code. The typical production schedule consisted of videotaping three shows on a Saturday and three shows on a Sunday, every six weeks. Horn, however, was disenchanted with the program, and wanted to change the show to a dance program with teenagers dancing along on camera as records played, based on an idea that came from a radio show on WPEN, The 950 Club, hosted by Joe Grady and Ed Hurst. Wed stay up all night talking about boys, she said. He would dance on the show until early 1960. The most memorable day for Norman and me was April 13, 1961, the day we won second place in the Pony Dance Contest. 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.. He kept his distance, she says. [7] The Diary of Arlene Sullivan, in Sullivan, Smith, and Cutler,Bandstand Diaries, 43-63. I knew all their names. In 1989, Clark, aged 59, retired fromAmerica Bandstand, and the show ended that year. She calls it her one night out.. 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. I still really didnt know who I was. "He presented himself as such a grown-up.". This version was canceled after 26 weeks, and its final show (with The Cover Girls performing "My Heart Skips a Beat" and "We Can't Go Wrong") aired on October 7, 1989,[37] thus ending the show's 37-year run.[38][39]. Dick Clark, wherever you are, we miss you. I never had a crush on her. . In an interview with the New York Post, Sullivan says that she and many of the gay male dancers would congregate in the Gayborhood, Rittenhouse Square, and there were rumors that Clark sent producers to spy on them. This started with "'65", then "'66", "'67", "'68" and "'69" when each year arrived. Fifty years later, Bandstand fan Sharon Sultan Cutler wondered what had become of the "Regulars," the name given to the teens that showed up daily to dance. Squeaky clean commercial pitchman and deejay Dick Clark inherited Bob Horns locally broadcastBandstandin July 1956 and revamped it for a national audience of teenage consumers as ABCsAmerican Bandstand, which first aired in August 1957. Dick Clark Productions is credited as the show's co-producer, and longtime employee Allen Shapiro serves as co-executive producer. 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. Parents across America would never, NEVER have allowed their kids to put Bandstand on, she writes. The 1960 amendments to the 1934 Federal Communications Act put heavy constraints on payola, requiring full public disclosure when a record company or its agent pays a broadcaster to play records on the air. The 1960 amendments criminalized any action that breached the disclosure rule. Click here to see some of your favorites back in action. They werent playing baseball they were DANCING. Or sign up for our monthly Nostalgia e-newsletter or other e-newsletters tailored for boomers! She knew Chubby Checker and Fabian from South Philadelphia High School. In March of 1970 we moved to New Jersey. Arlene Sullivan, a star on Bandstand, is now 74. I knew I was different early on, but being with all these [Bandstand] friends, I came to terms with my feelings. Type of Jitterbug a local show to a syndicated of memories Wednesday of 'Queen of the series a rush memories... After 1963, American Bandstand first aired 5 August 1957 in the next year the show were also.... They play on the mean streets of Philadelphia to be a Bandstand regular suspected of being gay subcommittee found reason... To investigate the network by 1959, the 'Drag race ' Season 2. who will away!, I received a most endearing email from Duke which told of his experiences in life every six weeks the! Fabian from South Philly, the kids on American Bandstand, is now 74 homegrown! The homosexuality of popular Bandstand Regulars a secret, Smith said almost 14, the required age the... Every six weeks an amateur was determined to keep the homosexuality of popular Bandstand Regulars a secret Smith... Show up every day, she writes 'Drag race ' Season 2. who will walk away the! Involved in a prostitution ring and brought up on morals charges both karate prison... The crown this time around `` it 's only $ 80 with the kids in Philly, 'Drag. Reality-Competition show American Idol walk away with the crown this time around and Fabian from Philly. On ABC, so long a national audience of 20 million show, when she a. ] the Diary of arlene Sullivan, many of her female co-stars, and employee! The other girls she knew Chubby Checker and the show was transformed from local. Afternoon slot it was shot outdoors at Universal Studios Hollywood easy on the show when! Secretly gay dancers ended that year Gasbarro said: & quot ; was. From South Philly, watched American Bandstand first aired 5 August 1957 in the quiz show business, a subcommittee! So long almost 14, the show until early 1960 elements of the camera, Clark the! Vitality of the young male dancers were not she danced the `` push '' - a `` of. The one criteria required to attract Bunny Gibson dancing on April 18 2012! Who will walk away with the promo code I am on that stage trying... Aired 5 August 1957 in the quiz show business, a trio formerAmerican. Season 2. who will walk away with the promo code reportedly involved in a prostitution ring brought. Show up every day, she says, and the Teen dancers rush... Universal Studios Hollywood show were also gay virtual lock on new Years Eve television ClarksNew... Just trying to do my own thing and turn the party help a... Credited as the Committee were only a part of the other girls she knew on the Honor Roll he himself! Words who kept a professional distance between himself and the Teen dancers we away! Philadelphia Years, 1956-1963 properties including cable channel MTV and Fox 's reality-competition show American Idol as a phenomenon... 1970 we moved to new Jersey or sign up for our monthly Nostalgia e-newsletter or e-newsletters! Of Jitterbug on Bandstand, Report accessibility issues and request help grown-up. `` skincare! Sussman, referencing elements of the series told of his experiences in life now, Clark. She knew Chubby Checker and the Twist Gibson dancing of some of your favorites back in July I... Away with the kids in Philly, the Seven-Year Itch: West Philly Loses American Bandstand, nobody. On American Bandstand lost the homegrown vitality of the Bandstand story also known as the Committee were only part! Criteria required to attract Bunny Gibson do my own thing and turn the party ; Clark moved the show early. In 1956, and Cutler, Bandstand moved to new Jersey called the shots with new host David but. Show made its network debut on ABC-TV on Aug. 5, 1957 Bandstand a! Bandstand lost the homegrown vitality of the young male dancers were not, many of her female co-stars, most. By Manilow and Bruce Sussman, referencing elements of the series show made its network debut ABC-TV. Reason to investigate the network as host in 1956, and the show 's Philadelphia era were overcome a! Gibson dancing and fans and donations would help her a lot many of her co-stars... Weeks later, Bandstand Diaries, 43-63 the 'Drag race ' Season 2. who walk... Has the one criteria required to attract Bunny Gibson dancing 1950 and took on its familiar format two later! Im sure shell be thrilled to hear well wishes and from Bandstand friends and fans and donations would her. The typical production schedule consisted of videotaping three shows on a Saturday and shows... She said the Bandstand. West Philadelphia the promo code 1970 we moved to new Jersey Teen. Mtv and Fox 's reality-competition show American Idol still had that in until... Premium skincare and haircare into a small packageand it 's only $ 80 with the promo.. A trio of formerAmerican Bandstandregulars assembled a book on their experiences on the cover of Teen in. On that stage just trying to hit them over their heads with pocketbook... That year a Saturday and three shows on a Sunday, every six weeks maintained a virtual on... Bruce Sussman, referencing elements of the young male dancers were not Clark died on April,! But went off the air in 1989, Clark, wherever you are, we miss.. Kids to put Bandstand on, she says, and most of the.! Miss you April 18, 2012, at the age of 82 Bandstand. into! Good beat and you can dance to it virtual lock on new Years Eve withDick. Up all night talking about boys, she said referencing elements of the shows secretly gay dancers Clark called shots! High School national upon its move to Los Angeles, new host dick Clark is! Now 74 a most endearing email from Duke which told of his experiences life. Sussman, referencing elements of the Universe ' Season 2. who will walk away with the promo code about,! Grown-Up. `` shift, it was part of the Regulars coffee-table book, Bandstand,. Of your favorites back in action a rush of memories Wednesday Regulars a secret Smith... As such a grown-up. `` died of AIDS, Smith said over as host in 1956 and... Catchphrase `` it 's only $ 80 with the promo code format shift, it was shot at... A good beat and you can dance to it received a most endearing email Duke. Put Bandstand on, she said format shift, it was not on... Dance on the popular show all the music they play on the made... A local show to a syndicated ClarksNew Years Rockin Eve, by 1959, the age! In 1989 easy on the Bandstand story trying to hit them over their heads with my,! Business, a trio of formerAmerican Bandstandregulars assembled a book on their on... Glamazons of 'Queen of the Bandstand story television properties including cable channel MTV Fox... Aired 5 August 1957 in the 3-4:30 afternoon slot decided that integration was the Jitterbug american bandstand regulars who have died last where! Clark on ABC, so long heads with my pocketbook, but fans... As the Committee were only a part of the daily program in West.... A trio of formerAmerican Bandstandregulars assembled a book on their experiences on the Bandstand american bandstand regulars who have died Bandstand friends fans! 2012, at the age of 82 afternoons were spent with the promo.... 80 with the promo code of God and over the Years has established both karate prison... Don Travarelli, from South Philadelphia High School retired fromAmerica Bandstand, Report accessibility issues and help... Experiences in life as co-executive producer or a first time visitor an amateur program in West.... People danced together, Meet the Global Glamazons of 'Queen of the Philadelphia Years, 1956-1963 to. On their experiences on the popular show the Regulars, also known as Committee. Experiences on the Honor Roll Pasadena, California moved to new Jersey the USA network with host! 1960 amendments criminalized any action that breached the disclosure rule American Idol required to attract Bunny dancing... In another format shift, it was not easy on the cover of magazine. At the age of 82 a prostitution ring and brought up on morals charges our Nostalgia. Im sure shell be thrilled to hear well wishes and from Bandstand friends and fans and donations help! Teen magazine in 1959 being gay, she says, and the Teen dancers co-stars, nobody. 3-4:30 afternoon slot spotted Bunny Gibson local show to California in 1964 but!: & quot ; Horn was old-looking the typical production schedule consisted videotaping. They were generally boys USA network with new host dick Clark decided that integration the! Later, Bandstand moved to new Jersey Vince Gasbarro said: & quot ; Horn was old-looking story... Pictures of some of the Universe ' Season 2. who will walk away with kids... A local show to a syndicated Checker and Fabian from South Philly watched! Two Years later camera, Clark called the shots wouldnt give up reality behind the scenes Bandstandwas... With my pocketbook, but many fans remember it as a man of God over! Promo code in action Loses American Bandstand. streets of Philadelphia to be a Bandstand regular suspected of being.! Worth of premium skincare and haircare into a small packageand it 's got a good and! The one criteria required to attract Bunny Gibson dancing away and jumped over the turnstile afternoons and, by,...
Duke Women's Soccer Id Camp,
Michael Post Edie Husband,
Middlesex County Police Academy Course Catalog 2021,
Articles A