who were the original dancers on american bandstandwho were the original dancers on american bandstand

The promotion men who hung out with Horn fed him records by new artists and Horn was open to their suggestions partly because he knew it would help the show, and partly because he liked getting gifts from the song-pluggers. Stewart had no charisma and eventually was dropped from the program. In the very 1st Installment of AMERICAN BANDSTAND. WebPulitzer Prizeeligible magazine The National Enquirer broke an old but interesting story this week about Dick Clarks American Bandstand. Allison thought this decision was reprehensible and criticized Annenberg for it. While Clark opened. Now Blanc was running for election to a full term and he sought a hot campaign topic. Jeryl Brunner Aug 8, 2017 In the summer of 1956, a teenager named Ray Smith stood in line before Philadelphias WFILs Studio B to be one of the lucky kids to earn a Most acquaintances describe Horn as arrogant and self-centered, although none of the dancers on his show saw him that way. Wordens parties included nudity and sexual promiscuity. Between my dad and Good Charlotte, it was unbelievable. He was the first performer to be introduced on the Grand Ole Opry, the first African-American performer on the show, and the first performer to have his music recorded in Nashville. I talked to the kids on the same intellectual level. I used to see Horn with the young girl, Lois, when she accompanied him to the station for his 11-to-midnight radio show. A similar program later went on the air in Baltimore, and that inspired a John Waters film and the stage musical Hairspray. I never saw black people dancing on the show early on, but that didnt faze me. He made national headlines when he shut down a Philadelphia movie theater that was showing Brigit Bardots And God Created Woman, charging that it was obscene. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Vic Blanc became a judge, then resigned when he developed mental lapses which would today be labeled as Alzheimers disease. In addition, the show has performances by popular musicians and audience Read allDick Clark hosts a daily to weekly dance show that features the latest hit music for the attending teens to dance to. For the most part, the white kids from West Catholic and Roman Catholic, etc., were intimidated when we got on the floor. My father has always been the most comforting figure in my life, and hes kept me grounded. Dick Clark took over as host in 1956, and the show made its network debut on ABC-TV on Aug. 5, 1957. The BBC's. In addition, the show has performances by popular musicians and audience members rate songs. Tony Mammarella had to calm them down. I always dreamed of her doing my makeup on my wedding day, Sofia says. Ill close with a personal reminiscence. American Bandstand Broadcast History. American Bandstand 1961 4th Anniversary Show (Partial When I took over the programming of Menefees afternoon show in the summer of 1953, Menefee attacked me on the air. Vogue may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. Bow Wow Wow. On Thursday, for the first time in a quarter century, 27 of the original Bandstand dancers, including Joe, Kenny, Arlene, Carole, Flossie and Jim, reunited to rehearse their steps for a rock n roll celebration over Labor Day weekend in Philadelphia. Theres an El stop there and we used to watch the kids line up. His 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. radio show took place in a club-like setting where food and drinks were served, so it was a magnet for playboys, for girls who wanted to taste show biz glamour, and men who wanted to arrange introductions and get some action. I didnt know anyone who had sex. Also in 1956 a 19-year-old model accused vocalist Joe Valino (a Sinatra sound-alike whose real name was Joe Paolino) of getting her pregnant then taking her to a doctor to have it taken care of. The makeup for the entire weekend is super-simple and clean, Sofia says. Coincidence played a major role in this drama of entertainment history. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. One example is Bob Menefee, the top-paid disc jockey at WIP. Pat Boone. It is entirely hand-beaded, Sofia says. In 1950 WPEN moved into a modern new building at 2212 Walnut Street. Who were the original dancers on American Bandstand? He made national headlines when he shut down a Philadelphia movie theater that was showing Brigit Bardots , When Blancs campaign was launched, friends of Walter Annenberg hoped that the DA would find some dirt on WPENs popular night-time talk host, Steve Allison, because Allison often criticized Annenberg and the. Some people have criticized Dick Clark for keeping blacks out, but clearly the policy was started by Horn, before Clark. I dont think anyone kept them out; they just didnt come., Bunny Gibson was a dancer on the show for two-and-a-half years in the mid-50s. Horn played mainstream singers like Doris Day and Frankie Laine. ET. Segregation such as seen on, Black composer Leroy (After the Lights Go Down Low) Lovett is from an older generation and looks at things more benignly. When the program went on the ABC network, stations in the South, where racial segregation was the norm, objected to the fact that black dancers occasionally appeared on the dance floor. On one of those jobs Lois gave oral sex to one of the Allison crowd for $40 and on another job had sex with a man for a hundred dollars, all this when she was 15 and in the midst of her relationship with Horn. Family and friends stayed at the iconic Hotel du Cap in the South of France for the whirlwind wedding weekend, which began with a rehearsal dinner on Friday night. Any place theres dancing, Ill still go, said Joe Fusco, who was 15 when he joined the One of the gifts from them was Lois. On Thursday, for the first time in a quarter century, 27 of the original Bandstand dancers, including Joe, Kenny, Arlene, Carole, Flossie and Jim, reunited to rehearse their steps for a rock n roll celebration over Labor Day weekend in Philadelphia. You were like a big star. Four months later, Horn was arrested on morals charges. Also, the kids danced to Whitemans band, not to records. With Robert Wises screen adaptation of Bernstein, Robbins, and Sondheims West Side Story (1961), however, the dance is revealed as potentially combative, and the gym as a place where divisions of ethnicity and class arent healed but are instead exacerbated. So, simultaneously, the DA was investigating Horn, Allison and Valino and people associated with them, and everything came to a head, so to speak, at the same time. Because of the sex accusations, the drunk-driving and a jail term, there was no chance hed get another chance on the air in Philadelphia. Whose Culture? Who created the TV show American Bandstand? Original Bandstand The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Sun | T.G.I.F. His conversation with them was stilted; he never associated with them as equals. They are true rock stars. Dick Clark and American Bandstands Behind-the This log was entered as evidence at Allsions trial, and it combined with a parade of civic leaders and city officials as character witnesses got Allison a not-guilty verdict. And it was Frees, not any of the original Bandstanders interviewed Thursday, who remembered the words to the shows theme song, written by Barry Manilow. One day a group of, In this part of the story well see what Bob Horn did that ended his career and also caused the ABC network and its Philadelphia affiliate to ignore the 50, Most acquaintances describe Horn as arrogant and self-centered, although none of the dancers on his show saw him that way. Allison differentiated himself from Bob Horn as a performer, saying he was not a disc-jockey but, instead, a man who discussed issues on the air. Watch for Part Two of our copyrighted story, which involves an election for District Attorney and the campaigns emphasis on teenage sex with radio and TV personalities. At his trials, Horn said that he first met Lois when she came to his office at WFIL one evening in 1954 and after that he saw her frequently at the West Philadelphia restaurant where he ate dinner. List of acts who appeared on American Bandstand - Wikipedia Ill bet she knows more artists in the business than I do.. Within the dress are subtle details, including an embroidered heart to represent the love that Elliot and I share, as well as a blue embroideredS&E on the inside of the dress above my heart. Sofia wanted to do something unique for her veil, so she worked with the Chanel team to create a glistening piece adorned with resin water droplets that sparkled when she walked. 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. It has always been a dream of mine to have Chanel design my wedding dress, Sofia says. Horn was from the old school, a radio announcer conversant with varied forms of music, from semi-classical to pop. He gave special attention to local singers including Sunny Gale, Gloria Mann, Georgie Shaw and Micki Marlo. Clark inherited WFILs local television showBandstand(1952-56) from the deejay Bob Horn, who proved that teenagers liked watching their peers dance. Sofias diamond drop earrings were by Kwiat. Blanc boasted that he had smashed the ring in local aspects and the FBI would clean up the interstate angles. Barbara Marcen Wilston danced at the show from 1953 to 1959. Horn was arrested for drunk-driving on June 21, 1956 and was suspended from his broadcasts, then was forced to resign. That becomes understandable when you learn that its original host led a sordid life that included a sexual affair with a teenage girl. Valino was convicted of arranging an abortion and his singing career virtually ended. Blanc had a love-hate relationship with show business, and even got personally involved in it. Walter DeLegall, a black man who was a teenager then, said about the early days: I used to dance on the original Bandstand. Believe it or not, at that time the show looked like a black blue-light basement party because our crowd would take over the floor when we showed up. The ceremony started at 6 p.m., and the bride was escorted by her father down the aisle, which was lined with a clear glass marquee and adorned with an abundance of white and cream florals by Roni Floral Design. First, they required that boys show up wearing suits and ties. The grind was a very sexy dance that you did on a slow record. It reflected the fact that Horn played big band recordings by Harry James, Tommy Dorsey and other similar artists. Bob Horn complimented me on my dancing ability and for the way I dressed. No, the black people who went in that building were there to clean up, as cleaning people. The program, starting in 1952, originally was simply named Bandstand. Horn played mainstream singers like Doris Day and Frankie Laine. WebAmerican Bandstand (TV Series 19521989) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. If we dont do something, theyll take over was the expressed fear. He later became a Hollywood screenwriter. Bob got one of his friends to write a song for me, Since I Met Him at the Senior Dance, and Bob paid for me to take singing lessons. The station, where I worked at the time, fired him. A generation later, courts began to rule that a woman has the right to say no at any point in a relationship. Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations. Sort of healthy trouble. The Mann Act was law, barring anyone from transporting a person across state lines for an immoral act, even when it was consensual. She isnt reluctant or shy. I dont know why, but black kids didnt want to come., Doris Wilson was a young teenager when Bandstand was in Philadelphia. I imitated Hooks has a white father and black mother, while Montgomery is white. It has a fictional plot about the racial integration of a 1960s teen television dance program, and it reminds me of my own experiences surrounding Bandstand in the 1950s. I was asked to be a character witness at his trial and I testified that he never tried anything with us. The young dancers on American Bandstand were the reality stars of the 1950s and '60skids nationwide rushed Lois testified that Horn took her to apartments where she willingly had sex with him, and she specified four dates starting in 1953 when she was 13. Cuz Bongiorno became a regular at Bandstand early in 1953. American Bandstand This, however, was basically a talent show and dancing was secondary. But some things still didnt change. But Horn also was the bad guy who allowed blacks to be systematically excluded when it looked as if their dancing might dominate the show. With Clark, the program became more popular than ever. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". WebBy the mid-1970s, moreover, American Bandstand ratings were in decline and faced a challenge from Soul Train. Allison then moved to California. Ive always loved his timeless pieces, Sofia adds. In addition, the girl who accused Joe Valino of arranging her abortion was one of the models who attended the Allison show and met men there. Yet, as the third and fourth stories in this collection show, there was a downside toAmerican BandstandsPhiladelphia years., The longstanding popular belief aboutAmerican Bandstand, promoted by Dick Clark in the later years of his career, is that the Philadelphia version of the show racially integrated the Studio B dancefloor and bleachers. American Bandstand: West Philadelphia's Seven-Year Wonder To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories, To revisit this article, select My Account, thenView saved stories. In all, 27 men were arrested. A 1957 jury deadlocked, then a judge acquitted Horn at a second trial, this one without a jury. I always thought Horn did a poor job relating to the kids. When Horns personal indiscretions led to his ouster from Bandstand in 1956, he was replaced by the more youthful, slimmer, squeaky clean Dick Clark. It said that his guests that night were movie star Denise Darcel and crooner Johnny Desmond and that he went home immediately after the broadcast. We were all in our pajamas and had a lot of fun and then that led into breakfast. So, simultaneously, the DA was investigating Horn, Allison and Valino and people associated with them, and everything came to a head, so to speak, at the same time. The Secret Gay Lives Of The "American Bandstand" Dancers We blacks watched from across the street. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The engineers and announcers looked on with a mixture of envy and horror, and none of them reported what they saw to management. But what did we know? says Colella. Bob was a PR pro who really knew how to spin a story. WebBrowse 1,013 american bandstand dancers photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more photos and images. Clark revamped Horns show for national broadcast by ABC. One, a district attorneys re-election campaign. There were trysts of another Jacobs model and another WPEN announcer, and other girls had encounters with a publicist and a photographer, respected professionals who were in love with their wives and felt they were just having some harmless, job-related fun on the side. Kathleen Riley, who has been doing her hair for years, was on duty as well. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. May 3rd, 2002. What experience do you need to become a teacher? When Dick Clark wrote in his 1976 autobiography, Bandstand was a segregated show for years. Horn produced alibis for those dates and Horn got a break when the judge refused to allow testimony about any other times. And when I heard a few words changed to my name, I thought it was so sweet of him to think of me and change my name like that. The Buddy Deane Show was taken off the air because home station WJZ-TV All rights reserved. Dick Clarks American Bandstand was the offspring of deejay Bob Horns Bandstand, which WFIL-TV broadcast daily from 1952-56 from a WFIL studio at 4548 Market St. ! Sofia recalls being stunned. At WFIL they thought: What a wonderful idea for TV! This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. It was very sweettruly unbelievable!, Following dinner, Sofia changed into a fun, flirty Claudia Schifferinspired Chanel look. We thought it was unfair but we followed the rules. https://collaborativehistory.gse.upenn.edu/sites/default/files/Bandstand%20historical%20marker%20%281%20of%201%29.jpg. She was an attractive brunette who sat with Bob at a table in a small studio while engineers observed their behavior from behind glass. I didnt know it at the time, but Blanc must have been on his way to or from his secret lair on some occasions when he stopped by to see my dad. I just want it to feel timeless: I dont want to look back in like 20 years and be like, Shes a glamazon. Her beauty came courtesy of makeup artist to the stars Pati Dubroff. Since no black students went to school dressed like that, we couldnt get in anymore. He was going to cut a record with me singing on one side and my dance partner, Tom DeNoble, singing on the other side. Some blacks complained that these cards were sent mainly to all-white parochial schools, but I cant find evidence of that. Each girl chose her own dress, ranging from YSL to Rodarte., The night before the wedding, Sofia slept in a villa on the property with her bridesmaids. All the brides other jewelry pieces were by Fred Leighton. I just wanted it to feel timeless: I dont want to look back in like 20 years and be like, Shes a glamazon. Her beauty came courtesy of makeup artist to the stars Pati Dubroff. Dick Clark hosts a daily to weekly dance show that features the latest hit music for the attending teens to dance to. For seven years kids had been coming to WPEN at 1522 Walnut Street and riding the elevator to spend a couple of hours at their club, which was a small studio without windows. The disc jockey might have gone back on the air after a few days, however, if the citys district attorney hadnt made a phone call to the station. Dave Feldman also started coming in 1953. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. His career was brought down by a teenage girl, but she did not come from the studio audience at Bandstand. Debby Boone. 'American Bandstand' Couple Justine Carrelli and Bob It was an innocent time, says one of them. Girls chased ya; the guys hated ya, said Fusco. This soon became a potential explosive situation, so the studio created an admission system that required passes that were distributed prior to the day of the show. What were the results of this elaborate investigation? Allison and Horn were each acquitted, but neither one of them got their jobs back. This is but one of the many bitter memories that I and many of the people that I grew up with have about American Bandstand.. The Tennessee senator had achieved national prominence when he waged a public crusade against crime bosses with televised hearings. It does not store any personal data. When Blancs campaign was launched, friends of Walter Annenberg hoped that the DA would find some dirt on WPENs popular night-time talk host, Steve Allison, because Allison often criticized Annenberg and the Inquirer. It took us about a year working with Banana Split, who have been fantastic., A few weeks before the weddingand ahead of debuting her new last name on TikTokthe bride went to the Chanel haute couture salons in Paris, accompanied by her mother-in-law, Lady Caroline Grainge, and her best friend, Ali Meller, for her final dress fittings. So, you know, it was no big thing. One night he asked one of his models to put on something white, then introduced her to Allison. One man, convicted and fined fifty dollars, went on to a career as a philanthropist and supporter of political candidates up to the 21st century. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Horn was from the old school, a radio announcer conversant with varied forms of music, from semi-classical to pop. Other deejays of that time, however, were more gracious than Horn. American Bandstand: West Philadelphia's Seven-Year Wonder Before long there were black kids dancing as regulars and American Bandstand was one of the few television shows where I would get to see black people as artists.. Former 'American Bandstand' Dancers React to Carole Ann Scaldeferri Spada, 70, of Newtown Square, a regular dancer on American Bandstand from 1957 to 1961, died Sunday, Dec. 8, of congestive heart failure at a Springfield hospital. From 1965 to 1967 Dick Clark also produced a show called Shebang which spotlighted a Mexican-American regular, Manuel Acosta, who slow-danced with a blonde white girl named Lynn. The men sat on chairs against the walls of the studio and the girls sometimes knelt in front of them and satisfied them. They surprised me with balloons and all of my favorite breakfast foodswe were like giddy little girls getting excited for the day to come.. American Bandstand premiered locally in late March 1952 as Bandstand on Philadelphia television station WFIL-TV Channel 6 (now WPVI-TV), as a replacement for a weekday movie that had shown predominantly British films. This historical marker recalls Dick Clarks American Bandstand, which was broadcast from West Philadelphia from 1957 to 1964. They were more interested in stations that played r&b all the time, and they stopped coming by their own choice., Deejay Jerry Blavat says: Blacks didnt go to public music events. She just walks up and introduces herself. But he was an ambitious politician. He tangles nightly with the bigwigs on every hair-raising issue., When Allison met the 19-year-old news editor of the station, Sam Smith, Allison explained why he had to leave Philly: Look, all I did was put my cock in the mouth of some under-age girls. After the indictment was announced, Adleman hastily wrote a press release to save the city from embarrassment. Theres a new kid working in the record library, he told his listeners, and listen to the junk he picked for me. Then Menefee came into the record room and said he hoped I wasnt angry with him for making me the butt of his joke. The station advertised, Troubles in town, sporting the monicker of Steve Allison. She was petite, less than 100 pounds, with a big bosom. It became integrated in 1957 because I elected to make it so, he was being outrageously simplistic. WebAmerican Bandstand (1952-89) was a massively popular music television program with strong Philadelphia roots, storied national success, and the power to shape the music Segregation such as seen on Bandstand during the late Fifties and early Sixties was characteristic of American society during that time, when separate but equal was still viewed as legitimate by many Americans., Black composer Leroy (After the Lights Go Down Low) Lovett is from an older generation and looks at things more benignly. We had it all timed, and it felt like someone was looking out for us up above because it was a very cloudy day and then the clouds parted., Walking down the aisle with her father was something Sofia had always dreamed about. Hosted by local radio personality Bob Horn, the original Bandstand nevertheless established much of the basic format of its later incarnation.