Dick Clark hosts a daily to weekly dance show that features the latest hit music for the attending teens to dance to. ``You knew when you were on `American Bandstand' something good was going to happen, Rydell said. She was a beauty queen (Miss Nashville 1959), and he was a fly boy who would amass 5,000 hours as a pilot/bombardier in a career that included a tour in Vietnam. He always treated me special. He made a lot of stars. What a tragedy, Clayton, 70, says. Its like I lost my big brother. While in Atlantic City earlier this month, I got to spend some time with Arlene Sullivan, one of the teen magazine favorite faces, along with her dance partner, Kenny Rossi. A: Most likely, he was talking about Rockestra Theme from Paul McCartney and Wings 1979 album Back to the Egg. On Oct. 3, 1978, over 20 musicians met at Abbey Road Studios in London and recorded two McCartney compositions: Rockestra Theme and So Glad to See You Here.. Known as the Regulars, they became the nation's first reality stars. She would catch Eddie daydreaming and she would accuse him of thinking about "that damn Caroline," he said. The Secret Gay Lives Of The "American Bandstand" Dancers I hope you finally see this Beth! WATCH: The Dancers of Bob Fosse's Dancin' Perform 'Big Noise From 4151 Prospect Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027 But this time, she had his ring. Showcasing all of the Top 40 tunes and singing sensations of the day, the show premiered locally in an afternoon time slot to attract after-school viewership in late September 1952, originally titled as simply "Bandstand" on Philadelphia television station WFIL-TV Channel 6 before later becoming broadcast nationally via ABC. He couldn't afford commitment, he said. The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. Caroline and Eddie had been on double dates with Polly and other boys. She is overseeing a redesign. American Bandstand Dancers Reunite to Honor Dick Clark Bunny Gibson 9:08, Frani Giordano, 15:23As mentioned in the video, Id like to give a huge thank you to Uncle George and @jthyme for getting me this rare clip. He grew up watching American Bandstand and MGM movie musicals starring Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire. It had been 63 years since Caroline Wallace had last kissed Eddie Lamm. Noting the shows success in Philadelphia, the ABC network, which wanted to fill the after-school time slot in its broadcasting schedule, picked up the show. . She dried her eyes and called Eddie. 1,013 American Bandstand Dancers Premium High Res Photos - Getty Images As a teenager in the late 1970s I always enjoyed watching American Bandstand on Saturday afternoons. After "American Bandstand" debuted on television in 1952, it made celebrities of the teens the cameras captured as the show's "regular dancers." They loved going water skiing on Old Hickory Lake. I know there are a lot of American Bandstand fans that will be very excited to see this. Sullivan,70, is busy working on a new book about her "Bandstand" days with fellow "Bandstand" regular Bunny Gibson (also one of the most . I had to stop listening to the radio before I could hear the song. Happy 60th anniversary of the 4th anniversary of Bandstand going national! They have been living in his longtime home in Canyon Lake. unfortunately he passed on Apri. Whats the name of that song? Author Armistead Maupin ("Tales of the City") is 70. Please subscribe to keep reading. American Bandstand - Pinterest Where Are the American Bandstand Regulars Now? You have permission to edit this article. (Mineo's life ended decades later after he was arriving home after a rehearsal on Feb. 12, 1976 and was stabbed to death in the alley behind his apartment building in West Hollywood, with the knife blade striking his heart, leading to immediate and fatal internal bleeding.). Q: I was listening to a classic rock station recently when the DJ said that he was going to play a song that featured members of Pink Floyd, the Who and Led Zeppelin. For anyone with "American Bandstand" memories, the gals of this trio would love to hear from readers by emailing author@onceuponourtimes.com. "It gave me a whole different outlook on life and death. Years later, when Clark was asked whether any of the dancers had died of AIDS, he . "Tony Bennett, Tab Hunter, Jeff Chandler and Patti Page were some of the big-time favorites we were all so excited to meet," Arlene said. Steven and Sterling went on to form a singing group in the late 70s called the Triple S Connection. She picked up her high school sweetheart at the Nashville International Airport. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, BY BRADFORD BRADY and JOHN MARON | ON THE RECORD, 29 nominations received for Gene "Pappy" Thompson Award for Excellence, PREP BASEBALL: Bristol eighth-grader Hayden Reed commits to Va. 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Airdate: May, 30, 1970Which couple did you like best?Here is your first (and unfortunately last) look at all of the 1970 Dance Contest finalists from across . 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They kissed under the lamp post at the FedEx facility. Each year, they attended an aviation reunion so George could see his old pilot buddies in Hemet, California. George Kennedy died in 2001. He drove her home and asked her permission to kiss her on the steps of her parents' house. In early October 1952, a dance show hosted by Bob Horn premiered on Philadelphia's WFIL-TV, taking from the popular "ballroom" live radio show format and pointing a camera at it. Local Business . Jan 26, 2019 - Kenny Rossi--one of the most popular Regulars/Dancers to dance on early American Bandstand ( years late 50s/early 60s) She had several jobs as a young woman. About a month after her funeral at Riverside National Cemetery, he said he came to the realization "I've got life left.". 4y; Most Relevant is selected, so some replies may have been filtered out. She and Polly had been friends at West High. In the show's later years, it became a weekly Saturday morning staple broadcast. When American Bandstand became the most popular daytime television program in the late 1950s, a group of ordinary Philadelphia high school students who loved to dance suddenly became a national phenomenon. Forty years after 'Bandstand' debut, Clark and dancers celebrate She worked as the host of a Saturday morning television program called "Out Front." Then my mother said, 'She looked just like you.'". Actress Lena Dunham ("Girls") and actor Robert Pattinson are 28. He has remained friends with many Regulars. Of the two, Rockestra Theme received some radio airplay at the time. Bassist Wylie Gelber of Dawes is 26. What she did tell me was the most exciting days during the show's taping was when famous names of the day dropped by to promote music, TV and film projects. She was divorced in 1985 and remarried in 1989. I was going to fly out there [to California] and take him to lunch and I had thought at the time, Is that positive thinking or what? Its just a tragedy. Check out PARADE's May 13 issue for more from American Bandstand's former dancers. Bandstand Diaries: The Philadelphia Years 1956 to 1963 Eventually, they ended up living in a gated community in Canyon Lake, and he had a long career as a pilot and instructor in the military. Both Carrelli and Clayton bonded with Clark over their Bandstand experiences and stayed in touch with their former host since leaving the show in the early 60s. She also became an interior designer. It was September 1956. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. As for Arlene, she didn't say whether or not her experience as a teen sensation on the show was anything like the competitive "cutting-a-rug" depictions as shared in the 1988 film "Hairspray.". On April 23, 2022, Eddie called Caroline. Bandstand Diaries: The Philadelphia Years, 1956-1963 shares the fascinating story of how Dick Clark's American Bandstand and its millions of viewers catapulted its teenage dancers (called "the Regulars") to fame. Im happy to add their names here in the description if you give them to me, but please include the time marker so I can ID them. Dick Clark's secret: 'Bandstand' dancers were having a gay old time OFFBEAT: 'American Bandstand' original Arlene Sullivan ready for - nwi Eddie was dropping out of college. Any place there's dancing, I'll still go, said Joe Fusco, who was 15 when he . They dated for more than three years. Eddie was dropping out of college. Arlene with singer Frankie Avalon at an American Bandstand event. Please subscribe to keep reading. This site is maintained by American Bandstand Dancers Hal L. Landau, Linda D. Gonzales & Bunny. In 1959, she entered the Miss Nashville pageant, stitched up a short red costume and did a dance routine to "Won't You Charleston With Me" ending with a jitterbug to "Sweet Georgia Brown." American Bandstand, abbreviated AB, is an American music-performance and dance television program that aired regularly in various versions 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, running the . American Bandstand Dancers. Originally titled "Bandstand," the first episode on October 7 featured New York transplant and former announcer Dick Clark playing records as the first-ever video DJ. "American Bandstand" was one of the most popular television shows for teenagers. American Bandstand 1960s Dance Partners Barbara Warchol - YouTube Browse 1,013 american bandstand dancers photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more photos and images. or. We were family for years, Carrelli, 68, tells Parade.com about Clark's passing. See more of American Bandstand Dancers on Facebook. Stevens daughter (@Cheenjoo Pearl) commented here a few months ago and said that, sadly, both Steven and Sterling had passed away. Log In. They kissed underneath a security lamp post. #americanbandstand #bandstanddiaries # . See more of American Bandstand Dancers on Facebook American Bandstand Dancers - Home | Facebook "She informed me of the blow-by-blow description," Caroline said. His military career was notable because he was part of the nuclear team that was ready during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. Airdate: May, 30, 1970Which couple did you like best?Here is your first (and unfortunately last) look at all of the 1970 Dance Contest finalists from across the country. Actor Harvey Keitel is 75. Caroline and George established a fly-in community in Newborn, Georgia. About See All. As the world reacts to the news of Dick Clarks passing after suffering a heart attack Wednesday morning, we remember the legacy the TV legend left behind. (Steven 1952-2015, Sterling 1952-2003, RIP) The young lady in couple #4 from Oklahoma City, Beth Freeland, commented here a few months ago as well. "I got on my knee and did it properly," Eddie said. Clark produced it briefly in syndication and on cable. And she was showing something very special to her classmates. Community See All. On the Billboard Hot 100 this week 1) Tossin and Turnin Bobby Lewis 2) I Like It Like That Chris Kenner 3) The Boll Weevil Song Brook Benton 4) Dum Dum Brenda Lee 5) Hats Off To Larry Del Shannon 38) Stand By Me Ben E. King The Bandstand Top 10 today (I can only see the first 8) 1) Lets Twist Again Chubby Checker 2) School Is Out Gary (U.S) Bonds 3) Last Night The Mar-keys 4) Dum Dum Brenda Lee 5) Pretty Little Angel Eyes Curtis Lee 6) Hats Off To Larry Del Shannon 7) Tossin and Turnin Bobby Lewis 8) I Like It Like That Chris Kenner Thank you for watching!_______________________________ This is dedicated to my dad who, through our long car trips together listening to oldies radio (950 KJR Seattle) and by listening to his Turtles (and other) records when I was a kid, first inspired my passion for the wonderful music of the 1960s. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Singer Stevie Wonder is 64. 'American Bandstand' kept secret that teen stars were gay Eddie and Polly moved to California and had two sons. I'm sure I missed several of the regulars that are featured here today in the open. They went to school dances and looked sharp together. Her grandsons walked her down the aisle. Bradford Brady and John Maron are freelance music writers based in Raleigh, N.C. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. How did they come up with their name? This couple broke up in 1959. Could they find love again after 63 years As he slid into her passenger seat, she thought he looked strong and strapping. The band released their first self-titled album in 2009. In December 1959, he decided to join the Air Force. Country singer Lari White is 49. Contact American Bandstand Dancers on Messenger. I lost my dad this week, Tuesday, July 27, 2021. She had two daughters, which was great. Here's what Caroline thought when she heard about Eddie's marriage: "What in the hell did she have that I didn't have. Remember hurrying from school in the 50's and turning on that old black and white tv at 4'oclock to watch all those kids dance on "American Bandstand" live from Philadelphia, The show first began as a local program in the cramped quarters of Studio B at WFIL Tv channel 6 at 46th and Market streets in Philadelphia on October 7, 1952. Teenagers dance on an episode of Dick Clark's television program, 'American Bandstand,' 1950s. In July, couple #1, Steven Rice and Linda Gibson, will win the trip to Hawaii. The trio is best known for performing the original theme for the TV show Dance Fever, which ran in syndication from 1979-1987 and featured a weekly dance contest. Bandstand Diaries: The Philadelphia Years, 1956-1963 In fact, she was "the first female car racer at Cecil County Drag Strip . The first song aired on that broadcast was Jerry Lee Lewis Whole Lotta Shakin Goin On.. 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. She said she couldn't hold it up straight. American Bandstand: With Dick Clark, Charlie O'Donnell, Peaches Johnson, Stan Rodarte. You can cancel at any time. Clark was "determined" to keep the homosexuality of popular "Bandstand" regulars a secret, Smith said. What was the first song featured on the television show American Bandstand? This time, she had a great marriage to a World War II veteran named George Kennedy (not the actor). On April 20, they flew to Nashville for a high school reunion luncheon. LOS ANGELES - APRIL 1960: Host of the television show 'American Bandstand' Dick Clark appears in a scene with Michael Callan from the movie 'Because They're Young' which was released in April 1960. Bandstand was hosted by radio DJ Bob Horn and featured local teenagers bopping to the current hits of the day as well as a vocalist or band performing a couple of songs. Original Bandstand Members Back In Philadelphia To Boogie He flew scouting missions in an "Old Birddog" (Cessna 140) in Vietnam in 1969-70. "I didn't like it.". A: Premiering in 1952, Bandstand (as it was originally called), began life as a local program on Philadelphia-based WFIL, which broadcast both radio and television programs. She was a sophomore, straight-A student and a cheerleader. Singer Darius Rucker of Hootie and the Blowfish is 48. However, a bizarre chance encounter with a stranger following a show lead them to change their name. For those that don't like the watermark or the timer on the screen, please send your complaints on the back of an envelope or postcard to American Bandstand, Philadelphia, PA. "I would start crying. Famous Hooks: Proving That 'I'm Better' - Los Angeles Times Finally, he called a mutual friend who called Caroline to explain that phone number from California with the 951 area code was Eddie Lamm. American Bandstand - 10 Great Performances - LiveAbout "That kiss felt like home," she said. She was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig's Disease). Sullivan, who came out decades ago, spoke of one particular young man, now deceased, who was a victim of Clark's campaign. He presented her with a beautiful ring that his mother had worn during her marriage to his father. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. "Bandstand" was hosted by radio DJ Bob Horn and featured local teenagers bopping to the current hits of the day as well as a vocalist or band performing a couple of songs. Kenny Rossi and Arlene Sullivan, both from Philadelphia, met on the show and loved their days of Bandstand fame. Create new account. American Bandstand 1961 - 4th Anniversary Show (Partial - YouTube Bradford Brady and John Maron write the weekly On The Record column. These Regulars . Actor Buck Taylor ("Gunsmoke," ''Gods and Generals") is 76. 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. [The knowledge about the dancers] would have destroyed himand the . He was a senior, with a Tennessean paper route as his only income. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Arlene Sullivan and her dance partner, Kenny Rossi, became teen idols after TV cameras and fan magazines captured their dancing and would-be romance antics on the show "Bandstand," later called "American Bandstand," hosted by Dick Clark. Bassist Mickey Madden of Maroon 5 is 35. Former 'American Bandstand' Dancers React to Dick Clark's Death - Parade "We talked like we had talked the day before.". "I was her caretaker," he said. Years later, he said he just didn't feel like he was ready because he didn't have a full-time job or career. "I said, 'Will you marry me?'". Our guess is that will never happen, as Frani, the . Up Around The Bend is at #5 today on the Billboard Hot 100 and will peak at #4 next week. The Philadelphia high school Regulars who danced on Dick Clark's American Bandstand in the late 1950s and early 1960s became national celebrities and America's first reality stars. American Bandstand Dancers - Home | Facebook She cried in front of her cat "Shortstop." On their third phone call, he told her he loved her. He had a going-away party, and she came. On the Record: What was first song on TV show American Bandstand? On Oct. 9, 2022, they were married in a ceremony at Lake Arrowhead in the Southern California mountains. Sullivan,70, is busy working on a new book about her "Bandstand" days with fellow "Bandstand" regular Bunny Gibson (also one of the most popular regulars on the show) assisted by authors Sharon Sultan Cutler and Cookie Tischler, the latter duo being the scribes behind the tome "Once Upon Our Times (Because Life Isn't A Fairytale): 65 Years Growing Up Baby Boomer." 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 a teenager in the late 1970s I always enjoyed watching American Bandstand on Saturday afternoons. She worked in the travel industry in Nashville. He drove her home and . But she said she only had one happy year. He had a going-away party, and she came. When a drunken driving scandal forced Horn from the show in 1956, a 26-year old WFIL personality by the name of Dick Clark, who had substituted as host when Horn was on vacation, stepped in as full-time host. We had fans, we had groupies," said Steve Colanero, 56, a dancer from 1959 to 1961 and now retired to Palm Beach, Fla. "I spread the Beehive across America," said Bunny Gibson, 56, on the show from 1959 to 1962.