Both were ratings disasters. I was trying to hit them over their heads with my pocketbook, but they just wouldnt give up. 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. Togethera certain magic radiated from them when they were dancing!!! Dance Art. Justine Carrelli-Miller wasnt even a teenager in 1956 when she used her sisters birth certificate to get on American Bandstand. The show was live five days a week from Philadelphia, Dick Clark had yet to become the host and it had yet to go national. We didnt say anything about meeting again, Justine said. Justine started dancing on Bandstand in 1956, when she was still in junior high school. I was smitten by her. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. What characteristics allow plants to survive in the desert? Picture indicates this was in the 1970s. On Bandstand, she became lifelong friends with one of the celebrity guests, straight Annette Funicello, of Mickey Mouse Club and Beach Party fame. Memories of American Bandstand - Women of Wisdom Magazine Some solo dances had animal names, for example, "The Pony" and "The Monkey"; others were named for . He still treats me like Im the queen of the hop, Justine said. In addition, the show has performances by popular musicians and audience members rate songs. Connie Francis. They split their time between Dolan Springs and Venice. 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. Mam. How old is Arlene Sullivan from American Bandstand? Sullivan was almost 14, the required age for the show, when she became a Regular. 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. In Philadelphia, however, WFIL opted to tape-delay the game show for later broadcast in another time slot, and to continue on with Bandstand, though only for the local audience. The segment gave rise to the catchphrase "It's got a good beat and you can dance to it. Or sign up for our monthly Nostalgia e-newsletter or other e-newsletters tailored for boomers! Her husband, Richard Spada, said Mrs. Spada was recovering from a minor stroke she had suffered earlier when she became ill on the way . Who was justine's dance partner on american bandstand? American Bandstand (TV Series 1952-1989) - IMDb Jerry Oppenheimer is a best-selling author. 'American Bandstand' Couple Justine Carrelli and Bob Clayton - Parade "Bandstand's Backyard". Upset, but knowing what he wanted to do, Kenny told Arlene he would miss me and the show. The "ab" logo was replaced with the iconic stylized "AB" logo (shown at the top of this page) used for the remainder of the show's run. Jim joined the military, went through several jobs after getting out, got married, had three kids, became a widower at a young age, spent 23 years working in San Diego and moved to Venice, Florida to retire. One couple on the show was a couple in real life; Justine Carrelli and Bob Clayton dated for three years. LOT OF 8 American Bandstand Trading Cards 1993 - $5.43. On their drive to lunch, Jim asked what was on her bucket list. WGCU is your trusted source for news and information in Southwest Florida. Beach Boys on American Bandstand. from CBS in November 1957, they renamed the program as Who Do You Trust? And now we have computers. 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. His latest book, The Kardashians: An American Drama, will be published in September. We had fans, we had groupies," said Steve Colanero, 56, a dancer from 1959 to 1961 and . Dick Clark took it over in 1956, and it first aired as "American Bandstand" on the ABC on August 5 . He thought she was at least a couple of years older. West Philadelphia, North Philadelphia, Jersey you learned the different styles of the same dances., The Regulars did the Pony, Jitterbug, Calypso, Cha-cha and a slow dance that she says wasnt exactly a waltz: The kids didnt stand in one spot. To see more, visit WGCU. Her sister, Ivette Jimenez, recalled the thrill of having an admirer from Seattle send her a check for a car. 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. Many local Philadelphia teenagers became household names by appearing and dancing on American Bandstand on a regular basis from the '50s to the early '60s: As Bandstand moved towards the 1980s, the ratings began to decline. A Tribute to Bob Clayton | American Bandstand Diaries The Philly Years They won the first jitterbug contest when the show went nationwide in 1957. He still treats me like Im the queen of the hop, Justine said. Arlene Sullivan and Bunny Gibson went on to write memoirs about their time spent on Bandstand and growing up as members of the Baby Boom generation. The series also reached into its vaults for a highly rated twentieth-anniversary late night special. When cute young teenagers Arlene Sullivan and Kenny Rossi slow danced together on "American Bandstand" back in the late '50s and early '60s, kids across the country swooned. Justine went home humiliated, but her mother suggested she take her older sisters birth certificate to the show the next day. Self - Harlem Globetrotter 1 episode, 1961 John Laws . He introduced her to his sister and neighbors, who remembered her from Bandstand.. American Bandstand - Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. A lot of good time, super songs and singers. Attempts continue to launch a successful game show or sitcom", "Final American Bandstand: The Cover Girls", http://nicestkids.com/nehvectors/nicest-kids/bandstands-backyard, "Remembering American Bandstand's 50th [Photos]", Son of Svengoolie - 'Good Morning, Sven' (Opening,Show #218) (verse occurs at the 1:35 mark), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=American_Bandstand&oldid=1140855641, American Bandstand's 20th Anniversary (1973), American Bandstand's 25th Anniversary (1977), American Bandstand's 30th Anniversary (1982), American Bandstand's 33 1/3 Celebration (1985), American Bandstand's 40th Anniversary (1992), American Bandstand's 50th Anniversary (2002), The show was featured prominently in the 20022005, This page was last edited on 22 February 2023, at 03:03. I hope more people of the past can enjoy their past by checking Bandstand Dairies,looking things up on the computer and contact your old fiends. ``This is like I died and went straight to heaven, he said. It was the late '60s and early '60s when kids across the country would tune in to see Arlene Sullivan and Kenny Rossi slow dance on American Bandstand.Before the reality show craze took America by . "When I first met Kenny Rossi he was sitting way up in the stands I noticed his curly black hair, blue suit, beautiful brown eyes. running a series on drunken driving. They dont look at middle school kids or junior high kids, he said. Who were the most popular dancers on American Bandstand? My favorite dance was the Jitterbug the last dance where people danced together. At the height of their popularity, they received as many as 500 letters a day. The lunch was a success. The Village People performed their legendary song, "YMCA" for the audience in Pasadena, California. Classic TV Shows - Dick Clark's American Bandstand| FiftiesWeb Back In The Day. Famous Americans. Watch American Bandstand 1950s: Justine Carrelli and Bob Cayton highlighted . Dick Clark died on April 18, 2012, at the age of 82. Reporters and bloggers, alike, Can the Democratic Party regain strength in Florida? My family, friends and co-workers all remember Saturday's weekly TV series American Bandstand back in the 1960's and 1970's when it was THE ONLY music related theme show that could compete each week with the popularity of the following evenings Sunday night TV's Ed Sullivan show. ``While I was caught up in the magic of it, it was fantastic, said Justine, who at 12 1/2 used her older sisters birth certificate to get onto the show. They were a beautiful couple, I named my daughter Arlene in 1958, I enjoyed watching them so much, would hurry up and come home from school to watch AB. Wed stay up all night talking about boys, she said. 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. Clark, known as Americas oldest teenager, knew. Self - Singer 1 episode, 1962 The Boopers . American Bandstand - 10 Great Performances - LiveAbout Dick Clark Productions is credited as the show's co-producer, and longtime employee Allen Shapiro serves as co-executive producer. She wasnt immediately successful, but with the help of a new southwest Philly friend, she eventually got in. When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Bill Before Florida Senate Would Put Local Ordinances on Hold if Challenged, Legislation would make it illegal for doctors to provide gender-affirming care to transgender youths, Florida Republicans are taking on the media. Karen Hardie. American Bandstand Dancers - American Bandstand Dancers Justine . It turns out she was only 10 months older. The increase in competition hurt Bandstand and the variety of options for music on TV decreased its relevance. LOVED JUSTINE AND BOB AND ARLENE AND KENNY!!!! "The whole thing was like a grand party," she said. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. 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. Where did the dancers from American Bandstand come from? JUST TO WATCH AMERICAN BANDSTAND. The kids of today missed out. Arlene asked him to dance and thus Arlene and Kenny happened. Justine was 12. I didnt know what I was doing and decided I cant do this, and I called my dad and asked him to come get me, she says. Here is a short recap of her recollections. They accepted me. They lost touch over the years. We use cookies to give you the best experience. Who are the couples on Bandstand in real life? In fact, she was "the first female car racer at . While Bandstand fans across the country imagined a true romantic relationship between Sullivan, who secretly liked girls, and her on-screen companion, Rossi, who was straight, she says it was little more than made-for-TV puppy love. We were the first reality show, she adds. She thought he was a great singer. Arlene Sullivan and Kenny Rossi on the cover of Teen magazine in 1959. But I didnt have any crushes on any of the straight girls. Other pairs were regular dance partners, but didnt become romantically involved. She is a Marco Polo member of the Society of American Travel Writers, a past president of Virginia Professional Communicators and a member of the Virginia Communications Hall of Fame. 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. The original "Bandstand," as it was called in 1952, was first hosted by deejay Bob Horn, who later was fired due to a drunk-driving conviction.. . They went back to her office to look at old photos on the computer. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. American Bandstand Kids Remain Friends 50 Years Later Former 'American Bandstand' Couple Justine Carrelli and Bob Clayton One market not telecasting Bandstand was Baltimore, Maryland, as local affiliate WAAM (now WJZ-TV) elected to produce a local dance show in the same afternoon time slot. and scheduled the program at 3:30pm ETalmost in the middle of Bandstand. It became a staple in homes and heavily influenced American society culturally, musically, and socially. Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe gestures. 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. sign up for our monthly Nostalgia e-newsletter or other e-newsletters tailored for boomers. American Bandstand Pictures - History of Rock 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 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. Arlene learned that Kenny had a particular fondness for parties as he liked the attention when he was dancing. Your email address will not be published. Here is a short recap of her recollections. What is causing the plague in Thebes and how can it be fixed? American Bandstand | Encyclopedia.com unsold game show pilots). He died Jan. 19, 2009, at age 64. In the first year after Dick Clark took over as host in the summer of 1956, Bandstand remained a popular local hit, but it took Clarks ambition to help it break out. Explore. Justines friends, who were the same age, got into the show one day, but she was turned away. Called the "First Lady of Rock & Roll" in one headline of a marginal publication, [3] she is estimated to have sold more . Arlene Sullivan, a star on Bandstand, is now 74. Like Rick Pierce, Bandstand dancer Sandra Mae Dawson, who died Feb. 25, 2008, at age 66, was into car racing. LOT OF 8 American Bandstand Trading Cards 1993 $5.43 - PicClick CA They wrote thousands of letters. No other dancers or couples even came close to comparing to them!!! They werent playing baseball they were DANCING. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Kenny & Arlene were: The Couple of American Bandstand!!!! They got married in 2014, something both said they would never do again. New museum exhibits are now on view across Tampa Bay, John Sims, prominent Sarasota artist and former Ringling instructor, dies at 54, Already a star in the Keys, Fred the Tree is now going to Hollywood, Locally made film 'Home for Thanksgiving' conjures hope after loss. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Kenny went on tour and was away a lot. As WFIL grew financially and the account became less important, Stewart wasn't needed and was eventually dropped from the program. Pennsylvania dance party show, American Bandstand and aired it nationally beginning in 1957. "Dangerous". 'American Bandstand' kept secret that teen stars were gay such material remains the copyrig. If she was on I watched it, if not I would do something else.. 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. 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]. The program was broadcast live, weekday afternoons and, by 1959, the show had a national audience of 20 million. . The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. 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. Thank you. Set pieces from Soul Unlimited were utilized by Bandstand for its 19741978 set design. 'Dreams' May Have the Beat, But You Can'T Dance to It . He called her but when he received a recording he hung up without leaving a message. First called Bandstand, the program premiered October 6, 1952, hosted by Philadelphia radio DJ Bob Horn (1916-66). It's now a Guinness World Record, Collier County issues burn ban; Fire fought on Wilson Boulevard. 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]. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Im sorry young lady, you dont look 14 to me, was his answer. In the meantime, have a wonderful week or two. See production, box office & company info, Bandstand Boogie (The Theme of 'American Bandstand'), Nostalgic? 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. share their memories of the late Dick Clark and more. 4 How old is Arlene Sullivan from American Bandstand? ``It was like having a New Years party every day, and when it was over I missed it _ the camaraderie, the dancing _ there was a void.. 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. The whole country watched those lively teens tear . Hints. DICK CLARK AND AMERICAN BANDSTAND: THE EARLY DAYS Random Thoughts American Bandstand Dancers - Legacy.com Then Dick Clark died in 2012. 2 comments By 1973, the show drew many of the top R&B performers and competed with American Bandstand for viewers on Saturday afternoons. 1964 - The Beach Boys - "Don't Worry, Baby". 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. "Bandstand Performers"1957 | The Pop History Dig The previous theme was retained as bumper music. We've received your submission. Bandstand Diaries co-author Arlene Sullivan wrote about meeting Kenny in script. After his first marriage ended, Kenny eventually remarried and had a son, Jonathan. They were some of the most famous kids in America, dancing every day on "American Bandstand." "We were like miniature rock 'n' roll stars. As Sullivan puts it: The boys danced. Carole Ann Scaldeferri Spada, 70, of Newtown Square, a regular dancer on American Bandstand from 1957 to 1961, has died. 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. If she was on I watched it, if not I would do something else.. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Total playing time approx. Browse celebrity nostalgia on our website. Remember the audience's common response "I Like the beat". With 37 continuous years on the air, this was the longest-running weekly popular music showcase TV program in the world. Jim Miller was in junior high, living on Long Island, New York, when Bandstand became a national hit. God bless friendships !!! At the end of each school day, they trooped to the former WFIL-TV studio in West Philadelphia, while young viewers across the nation tuned their sets to watch them. Some regulars had a hard time adjusting after leaving the show. Absolutely! Justine was the one who caught my eye, he said. Watch American Bandstand 1950s: Justine Carrelli and Bob Cayton highlighted on American Bandstand. The only singer to ever co-host the show with Dick Clark was Donna Summer, who joined him to present a special episode dedicated to the release of the Casablanca film Thank God It's Friday on May 27, 1978. That really annoyed me because quite a few of the Philadelphia dancers on Bandstand died of AIDS, Smith said. The rule was you had to be 14 to get on the show. Justine Carelli and Bob Clayton . American Bandstand - Broadcast History: Bandstand began as a local program on WFIL-TV (now WPVI), Channel 6 in Philadelphia on October 7, 1952. She never saw much of Clark outside of the studio. With its new young host, Dick Clark, the show aired every day at 3 p.m. for an hour-and-a-half. 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!. Connie Francis - Wikipedia Carmen Jimenez, a regular from 1957 to 1961 who now works as a social worker, remembered the strange sensation of having fans, including one who started sobbing at the sight of the dancers in a hamburger joint. He liked the "kids" and enjoyed giving someone their start in the music business. Sometimes, he would come home from school and turn on the show. CD (Digipak) with 36-page booklet, 23 tracks. But it was not easy on the mean streets of Philadelphia to be a Bandstand regular suspected of being gay. passed away at home on November 6, 2016. And "American Dreams" (Sundays, 8 p.m., Channel 2) definitely isn't it, despite being in the most prime . He kept his distance, she says. ", "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. CD1<br><br>01 - Snap! Dick Clark, wherever you are, we miss you. 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, and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as the program's producer.It featured teenagers dancing to Top 40 music introduced by Clark; at least one popular musical actover the decades .