1 Who were the most popular dancers on American Bandstand? His latest book, The Kardashians: An American Drama, will be published in September. Who wrote the theme song to American Bandstand? Pop Singers. At just 13 and 16, respectively, the twosome became regulars on the Dick Clark-hosted show, dancing as a couple for almost three years before they parted ways. Particularly during the show's prime Philadelphia years (1952-63), Philadelphia youth culture became American culture through American Bandstand. Jim, on his ride back to his hotel room, decided he wanted to see her again, so he phoned her, and they arranged to have lunch the next day. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. I was smitten by her. I started going out to straight clubs.. But . In September 1964, Bandstand began using a new logo based on the ABC circle logo, reading "ab" in the same typeface followed by a number representing the year the show aired. When Dick Clark died it came to mind what happened to Justine, again, Jim said. Featured artists typically performed their current hits by lip-syncing to the released version of the song. If this is what 50 is like, who cares?, Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. The Beach Boys were already the kings of surf pop by their first appearance on American Bandstand in 1964. But Molittieri eventually returned to her Philadelphia roots, where she married and had two daughters before dying at age 32 of either a heart attack or a stroke. That really annoyed me because quite a few of the Philadelphia dancers on Bandstand died of AIDS, Smith said. The segment gave rise to the catchphrase "It's got a good beat and you can dance to it. Although the Regulars didnt perform in the South, Sullivans memory of a personal visit to Fort Worth, Texas, stuck with her: My friend Barbara [a fellow Regular] and I were visiting Barbaras friend there. The rule was you had to be 14 to get on the show. He liked the "kids" and enjoyed giving someone their start in the music business. Jim explained he had been a fan and wanted to have lunch with her on his way to California. Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero (born December 12, 1937), [2] known professionally as Connie Francis, is an American pop singer, actress, and top-charting female vocalist of the late 1950s and early 1960s. The afternoon soon turned into the cocktail-hour, so they went out for drinks. I kissed a girl, and I liked it! Sullivan, now 74 and long out of the closet, reveals in a fascinating self-published book, Bandstand Diaries billed as The Book Youve Waited Over 50 Years to Read!. Years later, when Clark was asked whether any of the dancers had died of AIDS, he stated that one had, Smith recalled. 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. 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. She blurted out count me in., So, I guess that was the part when I knew that it wasnt going to be a one-time meeting., She visited Jim in Venice that Thanksgiving. Sullivan & Rossi forever!!! Labeled by Justine: "Dick and Kari at my home in Las Vegas". 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. Who was the first black dancer on American Bandstand? They went back to her office to look at old photos on the computer. Kenny & Arlene were: The Couple of American Bandstand!!!! 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. A lot of good time, super songs and singers. 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. Two weeks later, Bandstand moved to first-run syndication. 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. 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. They were the squeaky-clean Kardashians of their era, and Bandstand could easily claim the title as the first reality show. We went downtown, and I ran to the back of the bus the way I always did in Philly but Barbara and her friend kept telling me to come to the front. Who were the most popular dancers on American Bandstand? To see more, visit WGCU. Rauw Alejandro Tattoo (Video Oficial) Suscrbete al canal: https://goo.gl/Cqxmma Sigue a Rauw: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rauwalejandro Facebook: https . Then Dick Clark died in 2012. This is a love story 55 years in the making, and you can thank the teen dance program American Bandstand for it. Justine got in, and along with her dance partner and soon-to-be-boyfriend, Bob Clayton, became one of the shows most popular couples. She was in that category.. 1960s. Justine got in, and along with her dance partner and soon-to-be-boyfriend, Bob Clayton, became one of the show's most popular couples. But just like a lot of today's showmances are concocted, many of the Bandstand boppers were harboring a big secret: They were gay. Home Yesteryear Nostalgia Where Are the American Bandstand Regulars Now? 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. Watch American Bandstand 1950s: Justine Carrelli and Bob Cayton highlighted on American Bandstand. Throughout the rest of the 1950s, American Bandstand featured a number of famous acts including the debut of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel (November 22, 1957), Jerry Lee Lewis (March 18, 1958), and Dion and the Belmonts (August 7, 1958). He introduced her to his sister and neighbors, who remembered her from Bandstand.. Required fields are marked *, Bandstand Diaries: The Philadelphia Years 1956 - 1963. 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.. Bob retired after being in the shoe business and the chemical business, where he often worked 18 hour days. ``We didnt know what impact this would have on people, said Carmen, 52, who arrived with a trademark blonde streak in her hair. Arlene asked him to dance and thus Arlene and Kenny happened. 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. The previous theme was retained as bumper music. 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. American Bandstand: With Dick Clark, Charlie O'Donnell, Peaches Johnson, Stan Rodarte. Who are the couples on Bandstand in real life? You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Then it was hosted by Bob Horn and was called Bob Horn's Bandstand.On July 9 of 1956 the show got a new host, a clean-cut 26 year old named Dick Clark. They were some of the most famous kids in America, dancing every day on "American Bandstand." "We were like miniature rock 'n' roll stars. 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. She tracked them down for the new coffee-table book, Bandstand Diaries: The Philadelphia Years, 1956-1963. We only had three channels in those days. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. And then they leave the show, go up on the El, go home to their neighborhoods, they then had to run to their door because somebody was always waiting there to beat them up.. We were like sisters. But just like a lot of today's showmances are concocted, many of the Bandstand boppers were harboring a big secret: They . We ended up spending weekends together when she came to New York and D.C. to perform We went to lunch together and had fun, but Annette had to rest and perform, so we didnt have time for anything else., Sullivan never felt like a superstar, even when the Regulars averaged 100 to 150 fan letters a day. Bobby Rydell and Fabian, two other rock n roll celebrities with Philadelphia and ``Bandstand roots, recalled how a gig on the nationally broadcast show meant enormous exposure that led to movie contracts and other TV appearances. He was also reportedly involved in a prostitution ring and brought up on morals charges. In late spring of 1957, the ABC television network asked their O&O's and affiliates for programming suggestions to fill their 3:30p.m. (ET) time slot (WFIL had been pre-empting the ABC programming with Bandstand). They were hurting him. He needed a group to show up every day, she says, and nobody got paid. When she was 13, a boy the same age became smitten with her from his living room in Middletown, Conn. Richard Spada drew a picture of Carole and sent it to the show; Dick Clark held it up on the air. They will always be my favorite couple. Like nostalgia? But they were just normal kids, many of whom, in the early days, made their way daily from their respective high schools in Philadelphia to the televised dance party, The American Bandstand dancers ended up living all across the United States and followed a variety of careers. 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. 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. best known for his love of music and dancing on American . Taking center stage each week was superstar Bandstand couple Justine Carrelli and Bob Clayton, two of the show's most popular dancers.At just 13 and 16, respectively, the twosome became regulars on the Dick Clark-hosted show, dancing as a couple for almost three years before they parted ways. 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.
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