If this is what 50 is like, who cares?, Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Bob had his last get-together with Justine at a Christmas party in his Delaware home in 2013. The rule was you had to be 14 to get on the show. She was in that category.. They enjoyed walks in the park , and going to the drive-in movies with Barbara Leveick and her boyfriend at the time. Sometimes, he would come home from school and turn on the show. He still treats me like Im the queen of the hop, Justine said. We are a nonprofit public service, and your support is more critical than ever. 'American Bandstand' kept secret that teen stars were gay . Explore. In the meantime, have a wonderful week or two. Dick Clark's American Bandstand Fan Club| FiftiesWeb This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. It does not store any personal data. 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. Justine was the one who caught my eye, he said. To see more, visit WGCU. They were some of the most famous kids in America, dancing every day on "American Bandstand." "We were like miniature rock 'n' roll stars. Browse celebrity nostalgia on our website. Her sister, Ivette Jimenez, recalled the thrill of having an admirer from Seattle send her a check for a car. Who were the most popular dancers on American Bandstand? Who was the first black dancer on American Bandstand? Notes: Jul 1960: Name listed as PATRICIA ANN MOLITTIERI; Oct. 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. The segment gave rise to the catchphrase "It's got a good beat and you can dance to it. Who were the most popular dancers on American Bandstand? The show's most popular dance team of Bob Clayton and Justine Carrelli even cut their own record. Kenny loved to sing. But just like a lot of today's showmances are concocted, many of the Bandstand boppers were harboring a big secret: They were gay. ``Bandstand first aired for a national audience on ABC on Aug. 5, 1957. 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. The Buddy Deane Show aired on WJZ-TV until January 4, 1964. Back In The Day. The program was permanently shot in color starting on September 9, 1967. Philadelphia. Or sign up for our monthly Nostalgia e-newsletter or other e-newsletters tailored for boomers! Later, in hindsight, I guessed that made me the first white Rosa Parks. They dont look at middle school kids or junior high kids, he said. He introduced her to his sister and neighbors, who remembered her from Bandstand.. One couple on the show was a couple in real life; Justine Carrelli and Bob Clayton dated for three years. But I would still be his girl.. Set pieces from Soul Unlimited were utilized by Bandstand for its 19741978 set design. In 1972, after a divorced Carole appeared on a reunion show, Spada sent a letter to her and they married later that year. This development created a sometimes heated rivalry between Dick Clark and Buddy Deane, when performers who appeared first on Deane's program were refused booking on American Bandstand. There were occasional shows that were not hosted by Clark, in which case a substitute host (among them Rick Azar) was brought in.[6]. "Studio 'B'" measured 80 by 80 by 24 feet (24.4m 24.4m 7.3m), but appeared smaller due to the number of props, television cameras, and risers that were used for the show. bob and justine | American bandstand, Childhood tv shows, The lennon The afternoon soon turned into the cocktail-hour, so they went out for drinks. It's now a Guinness World Record, Collier County issues burn ban; Fire fought on Wilson Boulevard. Well, there's a proper place for "American Bandstand" in the American scheme of things, too. On their drive to lunch, Jim asked what was on her bucket list. Years later, when Clark was asked whether any of the dancers had died of AIDS, he stated that one had, Smith recalled. In fact, she was "the first female car racer at . It also was a prototype for musical television properties including cable channel MTV and Fox's reality-competition show American Idol. Like Smith, she believes that if her true sexual preference and that of others on the show had become public in the days before Stonewall and todays LGBT power, Bandstand would have been taken off the air. And "American Dreams" (Sundays, 8 p.m., Channel 2) definitely isn't it, despite being in the most prime . The Twist the first dance to come out where people danced separately and the Monkey and Jerk came out after Id left.. Dick Clark Productions is credited as the show's co-producer, and longtime employee Allen Shapiro serves as co-executive producer. American Bandstand Pictures - History of Rock Your email address will not be published. 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. Taking center stage each week was superstar Bandstand couple Justine Carrelli and Bob Clayton, two of the show's most popular dancers. He kept his distance, she says. 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]. Finally, we got away and jumped over the turnstile. 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. American Bandstand Pictures - History of Rock Then Dick Clark died in 2012. Stewart was the owner of a TV/Radio business in Philadelphia and even though he was an older gentleman, his advertising account was a large one for WFIL-TV, so he was put on the program to appease the account. The show was American Bandstand, and Dick Clarks clean-cut style meant the program had parents stamp of approval. Pennsylvania dance party show, American Bandstand and aired it nationally beginning in 1957. From doo-wop to 'I do.' What started with 'American Bandstand' ended Fifty years later, Bandstand fan Sharon Sultan Cutler wondered what had become of the "Regulars," the name given to the teens that showed up daily to dance. If she was on I watched it, if not I would do something else.. Dick Clark Dick Clark as host was that perennial television star who seemed to have found the fountain of youth and just never seemed to age. 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). 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. Throughout the rest of the 1950s, American Bandstand featured a number of famous acts including the debut of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel (November 22, 1957), Jerry Lee Lewis (March 18, 1958), and Dion and the Belmonts (August 7, 1958). But just like a lot of today's showmances are concocted, many of the Bandstand boppers were harboring a big secret: They . They joined Arlenes and Kennys fan clubs. The county budget for the fiscal year 2022-2023, which ends on June 30, is $93,597,569 in expenditures versus revenues at $82,665,933. 17: Justine Carelli and Bob Clayton Autographed 45 This couple was one of the top 2 couples who danced as Regulars on American Bandstand late 50s/very early 60s. That was the start of our romance, Jim said. 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. American Bandstand/Music composed by. 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! Sullivans co-author, Ray Smith, recently retired after 40 years as an Emmy-winning Today show producer. As WFIL grew financially and the account became less important, Stewart wasn't needed and was eventually dropped from the program. Dick Clark later stated that he knew the prime-time edition would fail because its core audience teenagers and housewives was occupied with other interests in the evenings. The Secret Gay Lives Of The "American Bandstand" Dancers That was funny, Jim said, because in April its my brother-in-law and sisters anniversary and we are planning to go to Hawaii. In the early 1960s, a new collection of teen regulars succeeded Arlene Sullivan's generation on American Bandstand's dance floor. The bashing of Bandstand regulars, gay and straight, happened all the time, Sullivan and Smith reveal. And in her early 20s, she actually tied the knot with a young man. This show was on for 32 . I was trying to hit them over their heads with my pocketbook, but they just wouldnt give up. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". running a series on drunken driving. American Bandstand - Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia Dick Clark gave her a committee card, which all Regulars had to have to get into the building. I was smitten by her. By 1973, the show drew many of the top R&B performers and competed with American Bandstand for viewers on Saturday afternoons. He introduced her to his sister and neighbors, who remembered her from Bandstand.. The lunch was a success. My friends went to church dances every Friday and Saturday night. The Secret Gay Lives Of The "American Bandstand" Dancers For a time, she dated a neighborhood boy, Danny Rapp, lead singer of Danny & the Juniors, who had the hit song At the Hop., I was so afraid that I started trying to talk myself into being straight, Sullivan says. 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. The show's popularity helped Dick Clark become an American media mogul and inspired similar long-running music programs, such as Soul Train and British series Top of the Pops. But . 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 . Hosted by local radio personality Bob Horn, the original Bandstand nevertheless established much of the basic format of its later incarnation. They were the squeaky-clean Kardashians of their era, and Bandstand could easily claim the title as the first reality show. PHILADELPHIA (AP) _ Justine and Bob were a popular teen couple from Philadelphia who flickered on black-and-white TV screens in the late 50s, wearing the latest clothes, doing the latest dance steps, listening to the latest rock `n roll. We didnt say anything about meeting again, Justine said. What they didnt know was that Arlene and several of the other female dancers, and most of the handsome teen boys, were gay. LOT OF 8 American Bandstand Trading Cards 1993 - $5.43. from CBS in November 1957, they renamed the program as Who Do You Trust? The big teenybopper magazines of the era Sixteen and Teen plastered Bandstand dancers on their covers and wrote glowing, gossipy stories about their lives in Philadelphia, where Dick Clark produced the show. We've received your submission. Last edited on 22 February 2023, at 03:03, The Dick Clark Saturday Night Beech-Nut Show, Top of newscast salutes to Clark deserved, "Did the Beatles kill America's radio stars? [42], Bandstand "regulars" from the Philadelphia years, Move from ABC to syndication and the USA Network, AMERICAN BANDSTAND (1987 Closing Credits - ABC Finale), Laura Branigan - Shattered Glass & Interview - AB (1987). Philadelphia In the late 1950s and early '60s, everyone knew Bob and Justine, Kenny and Arlene, and Ed and Bunny. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Local radio disc jockey Buddy Deane was chosen as the host of The Buddy Deane Show on Channel 13, and began a daily two hour broadcast on September 9, 1957. Arlene with singer Frankie Avalon at an American Bandstand event. It was a local show Philadelphia, Jersey, the Lehigh Valley [Pennsylvania]. Barbara finally came back and said I had to come to the front because the back was only for colored people. "Dangerous". 5 Who wrote the theme song to American Bandstand? Artie Shaw Featured artists typically performed their current hits by lip-syncing to the released version of the song. But they were just normal kids, many of whom, in the early days, made their way daily from their respective high schools in Philadelphia to the televised dance party, The American Bandstand dancers ended up living all across the United States and followed a variety of careers. "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. 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. WGCU is your trusted source for news and information in Southwest Florida. But I didnt have any crushes on any of the straight girls. by Adam Salandra 3/14/2017. She thought he was a great singer. 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. It turns out she was only 10 months older. Justine Carrelli. The lunch was a success. Where Are the American Bandstand Regulars Now? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". In addition, the show has performances by popular musicians and audience members rate songs. 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. 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 . Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe gestures. The shy Sullivan pushed herself forward with the contact because she wanted to get on TV to impress her mother. Themselves - Dancers 1 episode, 1962 Tony Brady . Self - Singer 1 episode, 1962 The Boopers . Who sang american bandstand theme song? - vbuole.afphila.com 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. 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 did get to know Annette Funicello [a Mouseketeer on the original Mickey Mouse Club], who came to the show. Arlene and Kenny first danced to Why Dont You Understand by George Hamilton IV. 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. They won the first jitterbug contest when the show went nationwide in 1957. American Bandstand: With Dick Clark, Charlie O'Donnell, Peaches Johnson, Stan Rodarte. Jim Miller was in junior high, living on Long Island, New York, when Bandstand became a national hit. American Bandstand Dancers Justine Carrelli and Bob Clayton. But he arrived Tuesday, beaming in a pink Dick Clark novelty tie. ", "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. Labeled by Justine: "Dick and Kari at my home in Las Vegas". They lost touch over the years. Themselves 1 episode, 1962 The Surfsiders . They were hurting him. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. In September 1964, Bandstand began using a new logo based on the ABC circle logo, reading "ab" in the same typeface followed by a number representing the year the show aired. After that, management at WFIL-TV/Channel 6 (46th & Market) in Philadelphia installed the clean-cut Dick Clark to take over the teen dance party show and renamed it "American Bandstand." They werent playing baseball they were DANCING. Just About Everyone on American Bandstand Was Secretly Gay DICK CLARK AND AMERICAN BANDSTAND: THE EARLY DAYS Random Thoughts When Dick Clark died it came to mind what happened to Justine, again, Jim said. 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. So I went on the computer and Googled Justine Carrelli.. "The whole thing was like a grand party," she said. Kenny went on tour and was away a lot. I had met other fans along the way, she said, but not that Id had lunch with them.. 'AMERICAN BANDSTAND': Dancers from early days take a step back These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. FOR SALE! We didnt say anything about meeting again, Justine said. I started going out to straight clubs.. Browse celebrity nostalgia on our website. The whole thing was like a grand party, she said. I was smitten by her. Some of the stories I heard are heartbreaking, Sullivan recalls. I started going out to straight clubs.. I got stopped at the door and said to the cop, but Lucille and Diane got in and theyre in my class, she said. 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. A look ahead at the legislative session, Barbara Bryant, the first woman to head the U.S. census, has died at 96, Scientists find signs of horse riding in ancient human remains, A man dies of a brain-eating amoeba, possibly from rinsing his sinuses with tap water, Garland supports effort to hold Russia accountable for war crimes, Harlem, Hopper and Dreams. Published Dec 11, 2013. We moved around the floor the way our parents did in the 40s. Who was justine's dance partner on american bandstand? He thought she was at least a couple of years older. Famous Americans. The whole thing was like a grand party, she said. 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. This first national broadcast of American Bandstand was filmed in the Starlight Ballroom in Wildwood, NJ. Arlene Sullivan, a star on Bandstand, is now 74. 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. They got married in 2014, something both said they would never do again. They werent playing football. American Bandstand Kids Remain Friends 50 Years Later Justine turns 80 next year and Jim 79. They won the first jitterbug contest when the show went . They werent playing basketball. They were some of the most famous kids in America, dancing every day on "American Bandstand." "We were like miniature rock 'n' roll stars. Fifty years later, Bandstand fan Sharon Sultan Cutler wondered what had become of the Regulars, the name given to the teens that showed up daily to dance. 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. CD (Digipak) with 36-page booklet, 23 tracks. What is causing the plague in Thebes and how can it be fixed? We only had three channels in those days. Memories of American Bandstand - Women of Wisdom Magazine Then Dick Clark died in 2012. Dick Clark died on April 18, 2012, at the age of 82. I was surprised how short she was, he said. 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. 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 . At the height of their popularity, they received as many as 500 letters a day. 3. Bob Clayton and Justine Carrelli. Kenny Rossi became a pop star in his own right, with hits such as But I Do and Open Your Heart. Pat Molittieri also had a few hit singles before pursuing acting; she died in 1975. Thank you Arlene for given us a second turn of theGold Yeaysand new meaning of my Old Years. In fact, it was dangerous. best known for his love of music and dancing on American . Justine became a singer, moved to Las Vegas, married her bandleader, had two sons, divorced 15 years later, became a real estate agent and moved to a small town in northwest Arizona.