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Aug 5, 2003 It was 46(!) years ago on August 5th, 1957, that a true musical icon was born. American Bandstand, with host Dick Clark, aired its first national show on ABC. It became the longest running series on the ABC network, which aired from 1957 to 1987! (It was resurrected for a year on USA in 1989.) It was the first network rock and roll show, and the longest running musical show in television history. And it became the flagstore and launching pad of a media empire for Richard Wagstaff Clark. Born on Nov.29th, in Mount Vernon, New York, Clark discovered the joy of radio in the tenth grade and proceeded to forge a career. A few years later, Clark was given a summer job at WRUN- AM radio in Rome, N.Y., a station owned by his uncle and run by his father. (Connections do help!) He started as an office boy, but advanced to fill-in for a vacationing weatherman on the WRUN's new FM station. By summer's end, Clark was doing station breaks. He attended Syracuse University (major in advertising with a minor in radio) where in his senior year, he worked at WOLF, a local country station. He returned to WRUN for a short time as "Richard Clay" that then led to his first television job, as a newscaster at WKTV in Utica, N.Y. Then in 1952, using the name "Dick Clark", he worked for WFIL radio and television in Philadelphia, PA. That summer WFIL started having announcers play records over the air; shortly after, the same format was tried on TV. Bob Horn, A WFIL radio deejay, became host of the new televised program "Bob Horn's Bandstand." Within a month, teenagers were invited to come and dance to the records played. The show began a successful run, from 1952 to 1957. Clark was hosting a similar program on radio and filled in for Horn when on vacation. Then in 1956, Horn was arrested for drunk driving, while the station was conducting an anti-drinking while driving campaign(!!) Clark took over the show on July 9th. And both became a local success. Clark's clean-cut, boy-next-door, "all-American" image, and the show itself was very reassuring to white, middle-class Americans who felt threatened by this new rock and roll music. (Rock was predominated by black artists at this time and for several years, pre-Beatles.) Clark knew almost none of the songs, (His personal taste is said to be in the 40s.) but was great working with the kids, asking about clothing trends, favorite songs, (Rate-A-Record was a very popular segment; 3 kids would listen and then rate a new song. Rankings ranged from 35 to 98. Legend has it that an early Beatles song was played on this segment BEFORE 1964 and was rejected!) and dance fads (Many teens learned the Stroll and other "latest steps" through Bandstand.) It was Clark's efforts that led Bandstand to national success; he had been sending kinescopes of the show to New York, thus convincing the ABC programmers to include the show in its lineup. It was a brilliant move: ABC was a struggling network and needed hits. The program, to reflect its new statue and network affiliation, was renamed "American Bandstand." The first national show aired on Monday, August 5th, 1957, and ran Monday through Friday from 3 to 4:30 pm. EST. (Teens were coming home from school then!) It was quite innovative for the time; each show featured popular artisits lipsynching their latest hits, interviews, autograph sessions, and of course, dancing! There was a dress code: Girls weren't allowed to wear slacks or tight sweaters, guys had to wear a coat and tie. Smoking and chewing gum wasn't allowed. Focus began around a regular group who developed their own national following(Kenny,Arlene, Justine,among others). American Bandstand provided the first national exposure of many singers and was one of the first programs to be racially integrated, which Clark himself insisted upon. The show's success sparmed the growth of several local labels, such as Jamie, Cameo, and Parkway. Clark became financially involved in Swan and Jamie, and the label's acts. The labels prospered as a result of Bandstand exposure. The show became such a powerhouse, to the point where if a song was played on the show, thousands of records were sold in a week. A song played daily could go top ten. Agents clamored to get their acts on. Many felt that Philadelphia acts and records were getting excessive exposure due to Clark's business interests, and in 1959, a Senate committee began investigating music industry payola. Clark was a main focus, having partial copyrights to one hundred and fifty songs, many played on his show. He also had ties to thirth-three music-related businesses, including publishers, recording companies, and pressing plants. Clark was eventually cleared, but was required to drop his music holdings for Bandstand to continue. He did. And the beat went on. In 1964, American Bandstand moved to Los Angeles, California for two reasons: The American music scene was Los Angeles by then, and Clark was expanding into other program productions. (In early Sept., 1963, Bandstand went from a daily to a weekly show, airing on Saturday). Once Clark was an aspiring actor and has appeared in a few films, playing himself and character parts. He's hosted TV compilation and game shows ($10,000 Pyramid) and of course, New Year's Rockin Eve. He's produced series, such as "American Dreams" nd the 1965 music series "Where The Action Is", and since 1973, the annual American Music Awards. Many feel Clark was responsible for shifting rock and roll into the white bread teen idol sound prevelent in the late 50s-early 60s. Be that as it may, there's no denying that Dick Clark and Bandstand forever changed rock and roll have become pop culture icons. Dick Clark was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, and his Bandstand podium now rests in the Smithsonian. And deservingly so. Did you know that: Clark is only 5 feet 8. He was in the last "Perry Mason" episode. He's written 5 books; 3 on the history of American Bandstand, a memoir, Rock, Roll, and Remember, and 1 on teen grooming tips! Bandstand went from black and white to color in early Sept. 1967. David Hirsh was the new show host when Bandstand aired on the USA network in 1989, but the new host and show were off the air later that year. The first song played on the national show was "Whole Lotta Shaking Going On" by Jerry Lee Lewis. The first guests were Billy Williams and The Chordettes. The Last song on the ABC show was ""Shattered Glass" by Laura Branigan. B. B. King is the only performer NOT to lip-synch on American Bandstand. The show's theme song is "Bandstand Boogie," the original by the Les Elgarts Orchestra. The music was by Charles Albertine, words added later by Barry Manilow and Bruse Sussman. ------------ Email Patricia Jacobs: Patj25@yahoo.com Comment on this column in the forum. ------------ |
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