Classic TV Shows - Dick Clark's American Bandstand

You are in:

Index of All TV Shows
TV Main Page

Classic TV
on DVD & VHS

TV Ratings - US & UK

American Bandstand REGULARS Page

BONUS PAGE
American Bandstand Fundraiser Pictures

E Mail American Bandstand Fan Club

Go to Fan Page

To my knowledge, no VHS tape of American Bandstand is commercially available

6 CD Collection

Bandstand - Bob Horn

Bandstand the Untold Story: The Years Before Dick Clark - book

Television's Greatest Hits, Vol. 3
From the 70's and 80's - CD
Has the American Bandstand theme

Rest In Peace
Dick Clark

(November 30, 1929 - April 18, 2012)

This site is not endorsed by or associated with dick clark productions, inc. or its family of companies.

American Bandstand - Broadcast History

Bandstand began as a local program on WFIL-TV (now WPVI), Channel 6 in Philadelphia on October 7, 1952. Then it was hosted by Bob Horn and was called Bob Horn's Bandstand.On July 9 of 1956 the show got a new host, a clean-cut 26 year old named Dick Clark. When ABC picked the show up, it was renamed American Bandstand, airing it's first national show on August 5, 1957. The show was moved to Los Angeles in 1964. From 1963 to 1987 Bandstand was on only once a week, on Saturday. Briefly it was part of the USA Network with new host David Hirsh but went off the air in 1989.

American Bandstand

10/7/1957 - 9/5/1987 ABC 60 minutes
4/8/1989 - 10/7/1989 Syndicated
Black & White/Color (9/9/1967)

Dick Clark's first day as host: 7/9/1956
Goes from a daily to a weekly Saturday show in Philadelphia: 9/7/1963

Broadcast from Los Angeles: Begins 2/8/1964

Produced by Anthony "Tony" Mammarella and Dick Clark

(Bob Horn's) Bandstand

10/7/1952 - 7/1957 local program

American Bandstand Cast

Dick Clark - Host
Bob Horn - Host (Bob' Horn's Bandstand)
CLICK HERE FOR REGULARS

American Bandstand Theme Song

"Bandstand Boogie"
Music by Charles Albertine
Words by Barry Manilow and Bruse Sussman

"We're goin' hoppin' (Hop!)
We're goin' hopin' today
Where things are poppin'(Pop!)
The Philadelphia way We're goin' drop in (Drop!)
On all the music they play On the Bandstand.! "

American Bandstand Trivia
Firsts and Lasts

1st song played on the national edition was Jerry Lee Lewis' "Whole Lotta Shaking Goin' On."

1st Guests: Billy Williams, Chordettes

Last song on the ABC network was Laura Branigan's "Shattered Glass."

B.B. King is the only performer NOT to lip-synch on American Bandstand.

American Bandstand Tidbits

Weekday afternoons were spent with the kids in Philly, the kids on American Bandstand. I knew all their names. I knew when couples broke up. I imitated all the dance steps, sometimes with the refrigerator door as a partner. My mother thought I was nuts.

To many of you, it was about the music and the artists. Forget that. I was a preteen, which is to say, I was a teenage wannabe. And, for me, the kids on Bandstand were all I aspired to be.

Dancing was a major feature of Bandstand. The kids who showed up every day (Bandstand aired every weekday afternoon for the first six years) knew all the most popular steps. The Slop. The Hand Jive. The Bop. They even invented a few - the Stroll, the Circle and the Chalypso.

These experienced Regulars considered an infrequent participant or a first time visitor "an amateur." I wonder what they would have thought about a kid in TV Land, practicing the new steps in front of her bedroom mirror and praying to God her little brother didn't catch her at it.

Filmed in the cramped quarters of the WFIL Studios at 46th and Market Streets in Philly, Bandstand is such a part of Americana that Dick Clark's podium now resides in the Smithsonian.

(7/21/2011) I just received this from Bunny Gibson and certainly thought it was appropriate to mention here:

Anna Russo, formerly Anna Banani, went to American Bandstand 1963 until AB left Philly for Los Angeles, lost both of her legs to diabetes and is in need. I'm sure she'll be thrilled to hear well wishes and from Bandstand friends and fans and donations would help her a lot. Anna Russo, 2800 North 7th Street, Apt. A Philadelphia, PA 19133

Thank you, Webmaster

CLICK FOR
THE REGULARS PAGES
A PHILLY YEARBOOK

also a BONUS PAGE of pic.s
American Bandstand Fundraiser

Dick Clark was born November 30, 1929.

Bob Horn

Rate-A-Record
"It has a good beat and you can dance to it."
Rate-A-Record, where three kids would listen and then rate a new song, was a very popular segment. Rankings went from 35 to 98.

Dick Clark's American Bandstand - book

External Links
TV Guide's American Bandstand Page, with TV Listings, Photos, Videos, Exclusive News and More.

Bandstand - the Stroll
The Stroll

American Bandstand Trivia
The Stroll

See above picture

The Stroll recorded by The Diamonds in 1958
Written by Clyde Otis & Nancy Lee

I get a lot of questions about how do to the Stroll. It's easy. Here's how:

Form two lines, guys on one side, facing the gals on the other.

The first guy and gal make their way down the line strutting their stuff. Swish and sway your way down the row. At the end, separate with the guy rejoining the mens aisle, the gal lining up with the women.

Then the next couple makes their way down the line.

Meanwhile the people in the line move to the music. You know, look cool.

Bunny Gibson and Don Travarelli
click here to read their love story

Bunny Gibson discusses the 50th celebration of American Bandstand'

Return to
Top of Page

Continued, Page Two

The Fifties Web - Your Retro 50s, 60s and 70s Source