Carmella Astrella. Did you know he helped launch The Oprah Winfrey Show? Teenagers sat in rows on bleachers that were assembled on one side of the studio. Filmes Sries Pessoas Notcia. Classic - My Photos Mix Photo. Most people around the station found him less than charming. They both danced on American Bandstand from 1960-1963. In July 1956, Dick Clark, a commercial pitchman and deejay with an unsullied reputation, inherited WFIL-TVsBandstandfrom scandal-tainted Bob Horn and revamped it for a national audience of teenage consumers as ABCsAmerican Bandstand, which first aired in August 1957. When Dick Clark found out about it he was furious and banished them from attending his show forever. He says that he would have loved to see blacks in the studio, so I could learn their dance steps. Horn developed a daily ritual of kids judging new records. The show was still seen mid-afternoons five days a week on the ABC television network. In 1951 Ed Sullivan was so consumed with anti-Communist zeal that he wrote a lengthy accusation of choreographer Jerome Robbins for supporting the Commie cause. Sullivans home paper, the New York Daily News, thought the article was too angry and too personal and refused to run it, but the Philadelphia Inquirer published it on page one. Peggy Waggoner Names talks about her experience: When I started dancing on American Bandstand in 1965, blacks and whites could dance, but not as couples. Philadelphia In the late 1950s and early '60s, everyone knew Bob and Justine, Kenny and Arlene, and Ed and Bunny. SOME OF WHICH HAVE BEEN LICENSED BY ME AND/OR IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN. The sad truth, though, is that the kids who danced to the records appeared to be almost all white. Here he is pictured with Kenny Rossi. But just like a lot of today's showmances are concocted, many of the Bandstand boppers were harboring a big secret: They were gay. Self 1 episode, 1970 Karen Carpenter . Clark said this about Horn: He was a man in his late thirties, was heavyset with a double chin, long, narrow nose and greased-back black hair. 2023 Getty Images. The teenage committee administered the reservation list. Thursday evening?s Showtime.Matt + band ? One day a group of American Bandstand dancers went to Harmony Park, a popular club in Anaheim, and got drunk. Although Clark was relatively new at his job, he took a strong stand and told the affiliates that hed make no changes to meet their objections and so blacks did appear, but infrequently. Check out our american bandstand dancers selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. I brought a series of black girls with me so we could do the slow dances together.. But soon WFIL built the set that became famous, which is now on display at the Smithsonian Institution, simulating a corner of a music store. These men were, you might say, realists. This model, a 17-year-old mother named Dorothy who was separated from her husband, later testified that the controversialist took her upstairs to the record library after he signed off his show and they performed sexual acts on each other. Catholic schools in those days were 99% white. Not nasty trouble. That's 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. American Bandstand 1961 - 4th Anniversary Show (Partial Episode) - Former Dancers From Years Past YouCanDanceToit! The grind was a very sexy dance that you did on a slow record. My friends Famous Hooks and Lori Montgomery were told they could no longer be dancing partners because of our racial difference., Hooks confirms the story: The producer told us very nicely that it was okay with him personally, but some stations wouldnt like it, so please dont do slow dances together. PT. This went on for almost three years, sometimes in a radio studio while Horns records were spinning on the air. 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. Maxine hollered rape. She had idolized Arlene Sullivan when she was a Regular. He said If you care enough to want to go to my dances, Ill drive you., Jerry Blavat started coming to the show in 1953 when he was only 13. While Clark opened. You are bidding on a Lot of 8 American Bandstand Trading Cards 283952355685 When I saw him socially, he did not seem like a zealot or a crusader. In any event, he struck another car and left a 5-year-old occupant of that car paralyzed. American Bandstand 1950s Dance Partners 1 ABdancers 6.85K subscribers Subscribe 33K views 6 years ago As a teenager in the late 1970's I always enjoyed watching American Bandstand on Saturday. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. 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. The Inquirers publisher supported the work of the House Un-American Activities committee and its crusade against Communist sympathizers in the entertainment field. She was 17 years old. For example, Bernie Jacobs, the man who ran the modeling agency and set Steve Allison up with his accuser, also arranged modeling jobs for Lois, Horns accuser. Pelculas Series Personas Noticias. They wrote thousands of Clark became a national icon with the popular dance show American Bandstand in the late 1950s, hosting the show for more than 30 years. I may never be like @ThatKrazyK9, @RahneKallon or even @Leon_the_Fox in terms of dancers, but I at least had fun dancing on my birthday! Channel 6, WFIL, was owned by Walter Annenberg, whose newspaper, the Philadelphia Inquirer, campaigned against drunk driving, so he didnt want to let Horn off lightly. Remember, these Regulars weren't paid actors or dancers. I'm sure I missed several of the regulars that are featured here today in the opening credits. But then some people at the station worried that the program could become identified as a black show. He took us fishing on his boat and introduced us to his wife and kids. Horn became a radio personality at Phillys WIP, then moved to WFIL in 1951 because that station offered more money and because FIL had a sister TV station (part of the ABC network) and Horn hoped for a future on television. In the course of his probe Blanc discovered connections between many disparate people. To put this in perspective, when the later-to-become-famous Ed Rendell was elected District Attorney in 1977 his vote total was much less than Blancs only 212,000. For more about your favorite dancers read Bandstand Diaries #americanbandstand #bandstanddiaries #dickclark #philadelphia, Painfully shy, Lenny Natale who danced on American Bandstand from 1955-1958 was introduced to the Regulars by Joe Fusco-his lifelong friend. The event will be re-scheduled later, his press release said. In that year, a group of teenagers appeared on the show, dancing to a hit single from that year, The Reflections' (Just Like) Romeo and Juliet. Teenagers and young adults ran home from school to watch them jitterbug and stroll while they copied their fashions, fads and dance moves. He also played show tunes and interviewed Harold Rome, the composer of the Broadway musical Fanny when it played its pre-Broadway try out in Philadelphia in 1954. The sexual relationship, however, was not revealed until later. 10/11pm/midnight/1amLocal hero DJ Rich Reason will be taking to the decks from 7pm. A big studio was on the ground floor, which WPEN used for the 950 Club in the afternoon and for Steve Allisons talk program at night, while the stations offices were on the second floor. Senator Estes Kefauver, who was running for Vice President in 1956. After his dalliance with Dorothy, Allison allowed these men and girls free reign around the station. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. American Bandstand didn't just introduce the country to the latest rock-and-roll musicians, it had the nation on its feet with the latest dance crazes, such as the Pony, the Jitterbug, and the . Dick Clark's American Bandstand Theater, Branson, Missouri. 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. When he ran dances out-of-town he always made sure that each of us had rides to get there and back. Getty Images 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. One example is Bob Menefee, the top-paid disc jockey at WIP. In 1966, in Houston, Horn died of a heart attack at the age of 50. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe gestures. Yet, as the third and fourth stories in this collection show, there was a downside toAmerican BandstandsPhiladelphia years. When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. For more on friendship read Bandstand Diaries: www.bandstanddiaries.com #americanbandstand #bandstanddiaries #bestfriends #nostalgia #fashion #book #vintage, Here is Anna Russo Bonanni who was one of the last Regulars who danced on Philadelphia's American Bandstand in 1963. She has an uncanny way of getting to know people. Oral sex was labeled an unnatural act and people went to jail for doing it. Stewart had no charisma and eventually was dropped from the program. On the day that Allison was indicted, he was about to receive an award for public service from the City of Philadelphia. 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. He died in 1968 at the age of 71. Most acquaintances describe Horn as arrogant and self-centered, although none of the dancers on his show saw him that way. Then my crowd all sat down. This, however, was basically a talent show and dancing was secondary. Available at http://www.bandstanddiaries.com and Amazon. Allison thought this decision was reprehensible and criticized Annenberg for it. Then he was arrested and we never made the record. She, like Colella, finds it hard to believe that Horn had an affair with a teenage girl. Horn asked his dancers to recommend new songs. Bob Adleman, the public relations man for WPEN, arranged an elegant event at Longchamps Restaurant on Rittenhouse Square where Allison would accept the honor. It became a national institution and Dick Clark a celebrity. The next day Bill Sylk owner of WPEN and the Sun Ray Drug chain called Walter Annenberg and said If you steal my talent Ill pull a million dollars of Sun Ray advertising out of the Inquirer. After that threat, WFIL withdrew its offer to us and that was the end of that.. 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. Allison then moved to California. A low-budget sexploitation film called Models, Inc. was distributed by Philadelphia film executive Jack Harris. Dirty Bertie was the debaucherous son of Victoria and Albert; every Tuesday our in-Haus trio take to the stage for an evening of easy listening.One week you might hear a band playing Django Rhinehart style Gypsy Jazz, the next week could be a Electronic Trio playing neo soul, the next a Montuno Cuban piano led trio and the week after could be Americana style three part . At least three factors are important to note regarding the last three years ofAmerican Bandstandin West Philadelphia: the 1960 payola scandal, the reality behind the shows happy faces, and developments in the pop music industry that affected the show and compelled its relocation in 1964 to Los Angeles in a reduced version. When they started dancing on American Bandstand it would take them an hour to get to the studio by bus and train. Did you know she loved motor boating and skating? #americanbandstand #bandstanddiaries #nostalgia #philadelphia #holiday #holidaygift #vintage, Bobbi Young appeared on Bandstand and American Bandstand from 1953-1958. One singer who appeared on his show says Horn was a loud-mouth smart-ass with an appetite for girls. Other acquaintances use words like arrogant and self-centered. Clark looked like one of the kids. (Horn was 40 when he left Bandstand and Clark was a babyfaced 27.) Show more. 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. For more about your favorite dancers, read Bandstand Diaries. He even went back on the air a few minutes later and said: Hey, that record wasnt bad after all.. 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. 1y. In addition, the show has performances by popular musicians and audience members rate songs. One night he asked one of his models to put on something white, then introduced her to Allison. Blanc had a love-hate relationship with show business, and even got personally involved in it. https://collaborativehistory.gse.upenn.edu/sites/default/files/Bandstand%20historical%20marker%20%281%20of%201%29.jpg. Harvey Sheldon, a white high school student who later became a songwriter, reported that he jitterbugged with a black girl on the show in 1952 or 53 and no one said anything about it. 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. One of the regular attendees at the broadcasts was Bernie Jacobs, a man who ran a modeling agency. "American Bandstand" dancer Richard Pierce served in Vietnam before settling in Anchorage, Alaska, in the early 1980s. 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. This log was entered as evidence at Allisons trial, and this self-serving document combined with a parade of civic leaders and city officials as character witnesses got Allison a not-guilty verdict. Beach Boys on American Bandstand. The TV program AmericanBandstand was an icon in the entertainment industry, and an important driver of popular culture. He asked me to be on the committee and be an example for others. He said funeral services are pending. #americanbandstand #bandstanddiaries #philadelphia #television #nostalgia #book #author #coffeetablebook #lennynatale #kennyrossi, Here is Janet Hamill who danced on American Bandstand from 1957-1960. Horn usually brought an entourage of men with him to the studio, and sometimes additional girls. While Clark openedAmerican Bandstandsstage to black R&B and rock n roll performers, he and his producers segregated the studios dance floor and white teenagers adapted black dances for white audiences. The Mann Act was law, barring anyone from transporting a person across state lines for an immoral act, even when it was consensual. Hooks credits Dick Clark for personally choosing him to be a regular dancer on the show, the first black to gain that distinction. Published Dec 11, 2013. She isnt reluctant or shy. For all about the lifelong friendships and memories with the Regulars, read Bandstand Diaries. 1,010 American Bandstand Dancers Premium High Res Photos Browse 1,010 american bandstand dancers stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. This was her unique moral code. On the other hand, Blancs total and Blancs margin of victory was not anywhere near what his predecessor, Richardson Dilworth, had achieved in 1951. The men sat on chairs against the walls of the studio and the girls sometimes knelt in front of them and pleasured them. #americanbandstand #bandstanddiaries #book #author #television #philadelphia #popculture #nostalgia, Although Joe Ahern was a Regular American Bandstand dancer from 1959-1961, his professional life took him out of Philadelphia later, managing television stations all over the world. Theres an El stop there and we used to watch the kids line up. Hi Carmen, I'm 74 years old. Courtesy American Bandstand. In this, he was way ahead of his time and ahead of whats seen in the show Hairspray. (I was in his office as he wrote it. Menu. Victor Blanc, the DA, was investigating what he called teenage sex rings. He phoned Lew Klein, an executive at WFIL who was a lodge-brother of his, and warned him not to reinstate Horn because theres more to the story; this is only the beginning of Horns problems. The district attorney phoned Klein as a personal courtesy, and to serve the public interest. choosing to stay out of the limelight, we do know that she is a grandmother to 13 grandchildren. Later that year they came in 2nd place for the Jitterbug Contest. A family member revealed that one day Horn felt so depressed that he put a pistol in his mouth and his wife had to talk him out of committing suicide. Horn led a double life that included activities his virginal dancers never dreamed of. These record-promo men knew of her, and got her into the station to meet Horn. Horn didnt act like a star, he says. He had a wife and four children, aged 2 to 7, at home, but visiting them would require an almost-two-hour round-trip to come back for his 11 p.m. radio show, so he stayed in Philadelphia. . For the most part, the white kids from West Catholic and Roman Catholic, etc., were intimidated when we got on the floor. Blanc decided to go on a crusade of his own and he chose entertainment celebrities as his target. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. He tangles nightly with the bigwigs on every hair-raising issue., Allison displayed a crudity that even exceeded Horns. "American Bandstand" stars Kenny Rossi and Arlene Sullivan. For more on your favorite dancers, read Bandstand Diaries. Not being able to get in, that was a way of life then. The rest left to right are Barb Levick, Arlene DiPietro, Frani Giordano, and Janet Hamill. Ill bet she knows more artists in the business than I do.. AU $5.00 (approx US $3.36)Australia Post International Economy Air. The programs signature features were Philadelphia teens dancing to popular music and the portly Horn interviewing musical guests who lip-synced their latest hits on the show. From the first day, I established the most platonic of friendships with the kids. Horn would tell them that he wanted cases of whiskey, and named his brands. Picture is dated November 1960 on the back. Linda Gonzales, Hal Laws, Bunny Gibson, Louie & Kathy Novoa,Lisette Stclaire & American Bandstand Producer Larry Klein at Reunion 11 . For more about your favorite dancers and show, read Bandstand Diaries. When he arrived in Washington and 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. There he worked for Anchorage Chrysler "as a mechanic specializing in. Blacks were 28% while Asians and Latinos were less than 1%. If we dont do something, theyll take over was the expressed fear. Ive never been sexually attracted to very young girls. Did you know they were best friends since the 1st grade? Did you know that when Dick Clark announced her Sweet 16 birthday party on air, it turned into mayhem when kids from all over Philadelphia showed up? What were the results of this elaborate investigation? Pelculas Series Personas Noticias. Even when black artists like Chuck Berry and Fats Domino appeared in live shows, 95% of the audience was white. When you place those new singers alongside older ones like Etta James, Roy Hamilton and Al Hibbler, you see a substantial list of black artists.