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. Hosted by local radio personality Bob Horn, the original Bandstand nevertheless established much of the basic format of its later incarnation. In addition, the show has performances by popular musicians and audience members rate songs. The parents of one kid on the show found out that he was gay . Philadelphia In the late 1950s and early '60s, everyone knew Bob and Justine, Kenny and Arlene, and Ed and Bunny. [8] In the fall of 1961, ABC truncated American Bandstand's airtime from 90 to 60 minutes (4:005:00pm ET), then even further as a daily half-hour (4:004:30pm ET) program in September 1962; beginning in early 1963, all five shows for the upcoming week were videotaped the preceding Saturday. But I didnt have any crushes on any of the straight girls. By 1973, the show drew many of the top R&B performers and competed with American Bandstand for viewers on Saturday afternoons. Justines friends, who were the same age, got into the show one day, but she was turned away. Mine too alwYs rushed home fron West Catholic High to watch bandstand. My favorite dance was the Jitterbug the last dance where people danced together. ``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.. Reporters and bloggers, alike, Can the Democratic Party regain strength in Florida? Television host Dick Clark presides over the set of his show American Bandstand in 1957. Bob had his last get-together with Justine at a Christmas party in his Delaware home in 2013. Support WUSF now by giving monthly, or make a one-time donation online. Mam. "Bandstand's Backyard". As WFIL grew financially and the account became less important, Stewart wasn't needed and was eventually dropped from the program. As previously mentioned, during the 1978 season of Bandstand, Donna Summer became the only music artist in Bandstand's history to co-host the program. She tracked them down for the new coffee-table book, Bandstand Diaries: The Philadelphia Years, 1956-1963. 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). CD (Digipak) with 36-page booklet, 23 tracks. Taking center stage each week was superstar Bandstand couple Justine Carrelli and Bob Clayton, two of the show's most popular dancers. The shows were usually produced in either Stage 54 or Stage 55 at ABC Television Center. Artists would sing naturally to the studio audience over a background of their own disc, while viewers at home would hear only the original recording. These teenagers became the nation's first reality-TV stars--they received thousands of fan letters and were mobbed everywhere they went. He debuted in Studio 3B at WFIL-TV, near the El train stop in West Philadelphia, in 1956 when he was a 13-year-old junior high school student. GitHub export from English Wikipedia. In another format shift, it was shot outdoors at Universal Studios Hollywood. 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. "[5] In one humorous segment broadcast for years on retrospective shows, comedians Cheech and Chong appeared as the record raters. LOVED JUSTINE AND BOB AND ARLENE AND KENNY!!!! They accepted me. Some solo dances had animal names, for example, "The Pony" and "The Monkey"; others were named for . Im sorry young lady, you dont look 14 to me, was his answer. A correct photo of Carrelli and Clayton is featured at left. Labeled by Justine: "Dick and Kari at my home in Las Vegas". Some regulars had a hard time adjusting after leaving the show. David Raymond Frees, born (June 14, 1947) in (Reading, PA) and also known as "Pop Frosty" is a rock music and contemporary dance lover, best known for his longest-running American Bandstand Fan Club founded in November, 1960 and recognized by Dick Clark as. . We regret any confusion this caused.] 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. On their drive to lunch, Jim asked what was on her bucket list. What is causing the plague in Thebes and how can it be fixed? 5 Who wrote the theme song to American Bandstand? Just clear tips and lifehacks for every day. [The knowledge about the dancers] would have destroyed himand the . Pennsylvania dance party show, American Bandstand and aired it nationally beginning in 1957. Due to the size of the studio, the need to have as much dance space as possible, and the size of the cumbersome color camera compared to the black-and-white models, it was only possible to have one RCA TK-41 where three RCA TK-10s[4] had been used before. So I went on the computer and Googled Justine Carrelli.. It turns out she was only 10 months older. 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. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 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. In the early 1960s, a new collection of teen regulars succeeded Arlene Sullivan's generation on American Bandstand's dance floor. I was trying to hit them over their heads with my pocketbook, but they just wouldnt give up. Philadelphia. On May 3, 2002, Dick Clark hosted a one-off special 50th anniversary edition on ABC. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Bandstand originally used "High Society" by Artie Shaw as its theme song, but by the time the show went national, it had been replaced by various arrangements of Charles Albertine's "Bandstand Boogie", including Les Elgart's big-band recording remembered by viewers of the daily version. We moved around the floor the way our parents did in the 40s. That was the start of our romance, Jim said. With its new young host, Dick Clark, the show aired every day at 3 p.m. for an hour-and-a-half. No other dancers or couples even came close to comparing to them!!! It's now a Guinness World Record, Collier County issues burn ban; Fire fought on Wilson Boulevard. Nov 17, 2013 - A formal Justine & Bob American bandstand girl. Dick Clark died on April 18, 2012, at the age of 82. The show, which moved to Los Angeles in 1964 and was cut to one day a week in the mid-60s, stayed on ABC until 1987. Rock'n'Roll, Rockabilly, Dance-Twist, Limited edition DIGI pack DIGIBOOK CD kiadvny, 2023. Keep public media strong anddonatenow. She told me she got so many letters from fans who thought I looked like her and [with our dark hair], we did look alike. The other couple with such high popularity was Kenny Rossi and Arlene Sullivan. Jerry Oppenheimer is a best-selling author. best known for his love of music and dancing on American . (1957), Kenny Rogers and Arlene Sullivan were my favorites on American Bandstand. One night at a party I met a girl who was one of the stars on American Bandstand I was blown away.. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. In the 1970s, American Bandstand exploited a new roll call of teen idols, including Bobby Sherman, David Cassidy, and John Travolta. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. and they put a drinking cup in front of him and said, This is your cup, and youre the only one who will use this cup. One friend of mine was kicked out of the house.. 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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. In 1972, after a divorced Carole appeared on a reunion show, Spada sent a letter to her and they married later that year. He would dance on the show until early 1960. History goes back and forth with the timing and motives of the integration, but nevertheless, American Bandstand socially impacted teenagers' opinions regarding race. They won the first jitterbug contest when the show went nationwide in 1957. What they didnt know was that Arlene and several of the other female dancers, and most of the handsome teen boys, were gay. 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. I never had a crush on her. I had met other fans along the way, she said, but not that Id had lunch with them.. Nov 17, 2013 - A formal Justine & Bob American bandstand girl. With 37 continuous years on the air, this was the longest-running weekly popular music showcase TV program in the world. After being told by Dick Clark that as a recording artist a professional he could no longer dance on American Bandstand. They dont look at middle school kids or junior high kids, he said. Sullivan and the other dancers often congregated in Rittenhouse Square, the historic epicenter of what is known as the City of Brotherly Loves Gayborhood. There even was chatter and fear that Clark, who died at 82 in 2012, sent members of his production staff to spy on them and report back the names of the suspected gay regulars. Arlene Sullivan and Kenny Rossi danced together n American Bandstand for a little more than a year. That really annoyed me because quite a few of the Philadelphia dancers on Bandstand died of AIDS, Smith said. 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. 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. The young dancers on American Bandstand were the reality stars of the 1950s and '60skids nationwide rushed home to watch their every move and chatter about their relationships and exploits. He still treats me like Im the queen of the hop, Justine said. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. FOR SALE! Elgart's version was released as a single in March 1954 (Columbia 40180) as well as Curb's theme (by "Mike Curb & The Waterfall") in October 1969 (Forward 124). 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. 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. I knew I was different early on, but being with all these [Bandstand] friends, I came to terms with my feelings. 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 . April 18, 2012. They lost touch over the years. During the segment, two audience members each ranked two records on a scale of 35 to 98, after which their two opinions were averaged by Clark, who then asked the chosen members to justify their scores. 7 Who are the couples on Bandstand in real life? [Editor's note: Justine Carrelli and Bob Clayton were misidentified in a photo that ran in the May 13 issue of PARADE. Arelene, whose mother was a devoted fan, claims she danced on the show "to get my mother's attention." Within three months, Arlene was a regular appearing five days a . INSIDE EDITION caught up with a man and woman who met on Dick Clark's show American Bandstand 50 years ago, and have remained friends ever since. But I would still be his girl.. To this day, oh so many years have passed, and yet I still feel the magic of Arlene and Kenny!!! Later, in hindsight, I guessed that made me the first white Rosa Parks. 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. From 1977 to September 6, 1986, the show opened and closed with Barry Manilow's rendition of "Bandstand Boogie",[7] which he originally recorded for his 1975 album Tryin' to Get the Feeling. Robert H. Clayton, age 75 of Wilmington, DE. But he arrived Tuesday, beaming in a pink Dick Clark novelty tie. The lunch was a success. And now we have computers. Sullivan, who came out decades ago, spoke of one particular young man, now deceased, who was a victim of Clark's campaign. "The whole thing was like a grand party," she said. After a ten-month hiatus,[27] Bandstand moved to cable on USA Network[28][29] on April 8, 1989,[30] with comedian David Hirsch[31][32][33][34][35] taking over hosting duties. The Beach Boys were already the kings of surf pop by their first appearance on American Bandstand in 1964. American Bandstand played a crucial role in introducing Americans to such famous artists as Prince, Jackson 5, Sonny and Cher, Aerosmith, and John Lydon's PiLall of whom made their American TV debuts on the show. Dick Clark as host was that perennial television star who seemed to have found the fountain of youth and just never seemed to age. The combined impact of Bandstand's move to California and the Beatles' arrival devastated Cameo-Parkway and inflicted permanent damage to the artists signed to the label.[9]. 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. The lunch was a success. It featured teenagers dancing to Top 40 music introduced by Clark; at least one popular musical actover the decades, running the gamut from Jerry Lee Lewis to RunD.M.C.usually appeared in person to lip-sync one of their latest singles. The county's total year-end fund balance at the end of the . This is a love story 55 years in the making, and you can thank the teen dance program American Bandstand for it. Kenny left. Dick Clark did feature black recording artists as guests on American Bandstand - and he did so from his earliest days as host. A lot of good time, super songs and singers. WGCU is your trusted source for news and information in Southwest Florida. Dance Art. He co-owned a gift boutique with his second wife, Lutz is. One show from this first season (December 18, 1957, identified as the "Second National Telecast") is preserved in the archives of Chicago's Museum of Broadcast Communications. Called the "First Lady of Rock & Roll" in one headline of a marginal publication, [3] she is estimated to have sold more . Who were the most popular dancers on American Bandstand? Featured artists typically performed their current hits by lip-syncing to the released version of the song. in the 50s and 60s passed today. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. When Bandstand first went national with ABC in August 1957, Lee Andrews and the Hearts appeared among the first guests performing their song, "Long Lonely Nights." In that year as well, other black artists also appeared, including Jackie Wilson . Arlene with singer Frankie Avalon at an American Bandstand event. Hints. It preceded The Guy Mitchell Show. 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. Her sister, Ivette Jimenez, recalled the thrill of having an admirer from Seattle send her a check for a car. Sometimes, he would come home from school and turn on the show. But he vividly recalls that one of his fellow gay dancers was thrown onto the El tracks outside the studio, and another popular regular who was gay and often danced with Sullivan was dangled over an elevator shaft.. 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!. by Sharon Sultan Cutler | Jan 7, 2019 | American Bandstand, Philadelphia, Regulars | 8 comments. They won the first jitterbug contest when the show went nationwide in 1957. Who are the couples on Bandstand in real life? They joined Arlenes and Kennys fan clubs. Justine said yes. At the height of their popularity, they received as many as 500 letters a day. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Back In The Day. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. On September 13, 1969, the Bandstand set was given a complete overhaul and Les Elgart's big band version of "Bandstand Boogie" was replaced by the Mike Curb theme. A half-hour evening version of American Bandstand aired on Monday nights from 7:30p.m. to 8:00p.m. (ET), beginning on October 7, 1957. Thanks for contacting us. Teenagers dance on an episode of Dick Clark's television program, 'American Bandstand,' 1950s. The segment gave rise to the catchphrase "It's got a good beat and you can dance to it. 1960s. The increase in competition hurt Bandstand and the variety of options for music on TV decreased its relevance. Prior to the move, Bandstand had sourced many of its up-and-coming acts from Philadelphia's Cameo-Parkway Records. Davey Frees, president of the American Bandstand Fan Club, never got to the studio while the show was on the air. I was smitten by her. The whole country watched those lively teens tear . They got married in 2014, something both said they would never do again. Lers. Notes: Jul 1960: Name listed as PATRICIA ANN MOLITTIERI; Oct. She wasnt immediately successful, but with the help of a new southwest Philly friend, she eventually got in. As Sullivan puts it: The boys danced. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe gestures.