Teenagers dance on an episode of Dick Clark's television program, 'American Bandstand,' 1950s. With American Bandstand being originally located in Philadelphia, segregation easily affected the concentrated area. The reality behind the scenes ofAmerican Bandstandwas quite different than what viewers saw on national television. I never had a crush on her. By then, he was a big-time television producer. 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. I went to coffee shops, but I also hung out in Rittenhouse Square and so did many of the dancers. Rossi was straightbut Sullivan, many of her female co-stars, and most of the young male dancers were not. In addition to his other ventures, Clark maintained a virtual lock on New Years Eve television withDick ClarksNew Years Rockin Eve. On July 9, 1956, Horn was fired after a drunk-driving arrest, as WFIL and dual owner Walter Annenberg's The Philadelphia Inquirer were then The combined impact of Bandstand's move to California and the Beatles' arrival devastated Cameo-Parkway and inflicted permanent damage to the artists signed to the label.[9]. 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. 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]. We only had three channels in those days. As previously mentioned, during the 1978 season of Bandstand, Donna Summer became the only music artist in Bandstand's history to co-host the program. Where things are poppin'(Pop!) Arlene Sullivan, one of the most popularAmerican Bandstandregulars, presents another perspective on the shows closeted world. The Regulars, also known as The Committee were only a part of the Bandstand story. The previous theme was retained as bumper music. Clark decided to pitch the show to ABC president Thomas W. Moore, and after some negotiations the show was picked up nationally, becoming American Bandstand on August 5, 1957. My friends went to church dances every Friday and Saturday night. Weekday afternoons were spent with the kids in Philly, the kids on American Bandstand. from CBS in November 1957, they renamed the program as Who Do You Trust? 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. 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! "[5] In one humorous segment broadcast for years on retrospective shows, comedians Cheech and Chong appeared as the record raters. Thats why Elvis Presley and Ricky Nelson would never appear on the show, but movie stars Jeff Chandler, Tab Hunter, Sal Mineo came., Dancing came naturally to Sullivan, the way it did to all Regulars, she says. Black music and black dances originating in Philadelphia neighborhoods contributed substantially to the success ofAmerican Bandstand; yetAmerican Bandstandsdancefloor and bleachers were racially segregated, and some of the shows most popular dances were adapted without attribution from black neighborhoods. Give me some Thumbs UP!This is Bunny Gibson and the American Bandstand Regulars live at Sesame Park outside of Philadelphia on July 21,. So Bandstand really did change her life in many ways. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) Another time, a dancer was thrown onto the subway tracks. At the time, unless a broadcaster failed to report under-the-table income (federal income tax evasion), payola wasnt illegal in federal law. 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. They married during her Thanksgiving vacation from Northeast High School. [42] American Bandstand was a daily ritual for many teenagers throughout the nation. . 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. Bob Horn Host (Bob Horns Bandstand), Bandstand Boogie ABC gave Bandstand color cameras and launched it on its network of 67 stations in August of 1957. 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 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. We may earn a commission from links on this page. [42], Bandstand "regulars" from the Philadelphia years, Move from ABC to syndication and the USA Network, AMERICAN BANDSTAND (1987 Closing Credits - ABC Finale), Laura Branigan - Shattered Glass & Interview - AB (1987). "When he saw me, he said, 'I knew I'd see you again,' with a smile on his face," Gibson recalled. What they didnt know was that Arlene and several of the other female dancers, and most of the handsome teen boys, were gay. Some of the stories I heard are heartbreaking, Sullivan recalls. He is a man of God and over the years has established both karate and prison ministeries. However, advertisers do to enable personalized ads. In 1988, the National Park Service listed 4548 Market Street on the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Don and Bunny had two daughters: Angel and Maria and four grandchildren: Lea & Christopher Di Vello, Alexis Karanzalis & Nicole Weiss. They joined Arlenes and Kennys fan clubs. These Regulars . Mickey Mouse Club "I put a lot of my mom's makeup on and stuffed my bra," said Gibson. In another format shift, it was shot outdoors at Universal Studios Hollywood. He was 21 and she was 16. Sullivan and the other dancers often congregated in Rittenhouse Square, the historic epicenter of what is known as the City of Brotherly Loves Gayborhood. There even was chatter and fear that Clark, who died at 82 in 2012, sent members of his production staff to spy on them and report back the names of the suspected gay regulars. But . ", "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. His latest book, The Kardashians: An American Drama, will be published in September. Norman passed away on December 6, 1990. American Bandstand Regulars -- Justine Carrelli, Joe Fusco, Myrna Horowitz - The 3rd Degree - 1989 Bandstands Best 3.54K subscribers Subscribe 343 127K views 10 years ago THE USE OF ANY. He fell in love with her. One older brother survives Norman. In 2019, a trio of formerAmerican Bandstandregulars assembled a book on their experiences on the popular show. Arlene Sullivan and Kenny Rossi on the cover of Teen magazine in 1959. In August 1963, ABC reassignedAmerican Bandstandto Saturday afternoon. As she puts it, being a Regular entailed holding a WFIL-TV Bandstand Club membership card and dancing every day on the show. ", Meet the Global Glamazons of 'Queen of the Universe' Season 2. Who will walk away with the crown this time around? Instead of shortening or moving Bandstand, ABC opted to just begin Bandstand at 3pm, cut away to Who Do You Trust? 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. In 1989, Clark, aged 59, retired fromAmerica Bandstand, and the show ended that year. Ray Smith was one of the shows secretly gay dancers. American Bandstandsrelegation to a weekly schedule stripped it of much of its power as a potential hit song exposer, writes the music historian John Jackson. But . Clark's sunny smile and cuteness masked a strong will and iron determination. We sent some 15,000 fan letters each week. 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. Thats all we did dance and every part of the city had its own style. . ", Jennifer Coolidge Screams, Is a Queen in Netflix's 'We Have a Ghost'. They werent playing baseball they were DANCING. Wagon Train Website,