Bandstand

Although "Bandstand" apparently got its start in 1952, I first became familiar with it during the late 1950s and early 1960s, when Dick Clark was hosting the show. I became a teenager in 1958, and although I lived in a small southern town, I felt as much a part of Bandstand as those kids in Philadelphia. My mother and father both worked, so I was usually alone during the afternoon, after school. I remember my usual routine -- cook some frozen fish sticks in the oven, and settle down to watch Bandstand.

Part of the format involved playing several new songs, and having a small panel of teens rate then, to predict which ones had the best chance of becoming a hit. Of course, those of us who were watching often went over to the record store the next chance we had, to buy a copy of the winners, so the predictions became self-fulfilling. The biggest thrill was actually seeing on TV, the singers that we only knew through listening to the records. Brenda Lee. Leslie Gore. Paul and Paula. Bobby Vinton. Names that most of the younger generations would never recognize. And now, some of that is being brought to us in the Dick Clark sponsored TV series, "American Dreams." Bandstand, an important TV program in my formative teen years.

Those words were sung by Barry Manilow. It was a theme song used for a show that made Rock and Roll what is is today. that show was called American Bandstand hosted by Dick Clark. Bandstand was THE show for all the hottest music, dances and preformers. But the show didn't start that way. On October 6th 1952 Bandstand went on the air as a local show brodcast out of my hometown of Philadelphia from the WFIL studios of Channel 6 on 46th and Market Street. Bandstand started out showing the forerunners of Music Videos called Snader Musical Films. The host of Bandstand then was a WFIL DJ named Bob Horn. The Sanders were boring so the WFIL Bandstand staff decided to bring kids in and have them dance to the hottest records of the day. Bandstand was a local hit. in 1956 Bob Horn was fired from the show and 26 year old Dick Clark took over the Bandstand lectern. on August 5th 1957 Bandstand became American Bandstand and the ABC Network broadcast the show nationally and American Bandstand changed Rock and Roll forever. American Bandstand had a 37 year run giving many preformers their national debut and launching their stardom. After 37 years of Dancing American Bandstand came to an end in 1989. Dick stepped down and handed the show over to 26 year old David Hirsch AB vanished from TV but the impact of American Bandstand will live on forever. In the words of Barry Manilow."We'll Rock and Roll and Stroll on American, Lindy hop and slop it's American tune in turn on i'm in I'm on Today... Bandstand!

This was MTV before MTV. No one ever heard of Dick Clark until American Bandstand. If you were an up and coming Music Group, you fought to get on one of two shows, Ed Sullivan and American Bandstand. All the oldsters watched Ed while all the teens of the time watched American Bandstand. When I was growing up EVERYONE watched American Bandstand. Even on the small screen with tiny speakers, it was the only place you could actually see the bands you loved without going to their concerts. Then along came Soul Train. That was just a sad copy. I have no idea who hosted that show, but, EVERYONE knew who Dick Clark was. Am I right?

Pepsi Cola had a very catchy slogan during the 1980s. But unlike "Pepsi" American Bandstand was NOT the choice of a New Generation! The long running music show had a big part in mainstreaming Rock N' Roll. Long time host Dick Clark had a winner for decades. Adolescents was the backbone of it's audience, butGeneration X was slow to embrace AB because MTV conspired with: syndicated, network and local music video programs to challenge American Bandstand's legacy. Music Videos had very little if any audience interaction, unlike Bandstand. This is regardless of whether the interaction had to do with a studio or television audience. VeeJays merely played videotapes. But on the contrary most television viewers did not have to wait for Noon Eastern on Saturday to see their favorite artists perform. Music Videos from decades prior to the Eighties consisted of footage from American Bandstand and talk or variety shows. But now the producers and directors of videos were no longer limited to the set of American Bandstand. They can shoot their videos on location or on major studio backlots. They had the freedom to use : animation, special effects, or any other format they liked. But during this added dimension in pop music what was the viewing experience like for American Bandstand? You tuned in to watch other people dance and to watch recording artists give lip-synch performances. "Dude! That is like, so lame!" As the youngsters would say in 1980s vernacular. With the advent of the Music Video Shows American Bandstand just seemed kind of weak! You may say "Skillz! if it was so lame then explain why a program like the syndicated 'Soul Train' continued to flourish with a simular blueprint of dancing and lip-synching?" I will tell you why! Because viewers wanted to dress in the festive gear that they saw on Soul Train, and they wanted to emulate the dance moves that they saw on the show that was dubbed "The Hippest Trip in America". You watched Soul Train so that you can look and dress the part; and you went clubbing with hopes that you would not leave the disco by yourself! But even compared to its more Nubiancentric competitor American Bandstand paled by comparison. Most of what you saw on Bandstand in the 1980s consisted of dancers dressed like they were at a church picnic and moved like wind-up dolls on the AB dance floor. AB was clearly a shadow of its former self. During the decade of New Wave and Boat Shoes and Micheal Jackson kids just didn't aspire to appear on American Bandstand like they did during previous decades. AB simply experienced the ratings dooldrums at best. Finally ABC ended it's long association with the music show and American Bandstand crawled to basic cable to die.

All the greatest songs ever recorded.

All the Number One Hits.

All the latest dances.

All the greatest musical guests of all time.

For three decades,Dick Clark brought you the best in entertainment.

From 1957 until 1989,this show was a Saturday afternoon staple for the teenage set.

That show was American BANDSTAND. It ran for 37 years on ABC-TV. For the three decades that it ran on the ABC network,it went on to become the third longest-running musical variety show of all time. During the last nine seasons of the show(1980-1989)the show saw a decline to some heavy competition,but due to the loyal support of the viewers,the show survived inspite to some newer viewers and a whole new generation.

It's easy to understand why it lasted three decades and was one of the top shows among the teenage set.It also paved the way for the next generation and the beginning of the "MTV" status that was to follow. Dick Clark was always the excellent and cordial host,who held his own,and remain so until the final episode of the series in 1989. Thank you,Dick Clark for making this possible.