She said to go to Hawaii. Clark eventually assumed ownership of the program through his Dick Clark Productions company. She blurted out count me in., So, I guess that was the part when I knew that it wasnt going to be a one-time meeting., She visited Jim in Venice that Thanksgiving. Also available in a computer colorized version. The Del-Vikings also known as The Dell-Vikings were an American doo-wop group that recorded several hit singles in the 1950s and continued to record and tour with various lineups in later decades. Who are the couples on Bandstand in real life? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Justine Carelli and Bob Clayton . Taking center stage each week was superstar Bandstand couple Justine Carrelli and Bob Clayton, two of the show's most popular dancers.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 parted ways. Bob 'Showboat' Hall . 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. We didnt say anything about meeting again, Justine said. In another format shift, it was shot outdoors at Universal Studios Hollywood. She thought he was a great singer. In 2004, Dick Clark, with the help of Ryan Seacrest, announced plans to revive the show in time for the 2005 season; although this did not occur (due in part to Clark suffering a severe stroke in late 2004), one segment of the revived Bandstanda national dance contesteventually became the series So You Think You Can Dance. The whole thing was like a grand party, she said. 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 . He still treats me like Im the queen of the hop, Justine said. The whole thing was like a grand party, she said. 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. "Dangerous". Many factors were involved in this, particularly the launch and rise of MTV and other music programs on television, and along with that, the number of ABC affiliates opting to pre-empt or delay the program. 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. Hosted by Bob Horn as a television adjunct to his radio show of the same name on WFIL radio, Bandstand featured short musical films produced by Snader Telescriptions and Official Films, with occasional studio guests. 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. This is a love story 55 years in the making, and you can thank the teen dance program American Bandstand for it. Watch. 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. 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. He found her selling real estate in Dolan Springs, Arizona, population 1,989. We'll see you then. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. And in her early 20s, she actually tied the knot with a young man. He was adorable.. 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. The name most associated with American Bandstand is that of Dick Clark, but when it premiered locally in Philadelphia on October 7, 1952 (as "Bandtstand") the host was Bob Horn. Im sorry young lady, you dont look 14 to me, was his answer. They went back to her office to look at old photos on the computer. "Bandstand's Backyard". Kenny & Arlene were: The Couple of American Bandstand!!!! 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. 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. The program was permanently shot in color starting on September 9, 1967. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. They won the first jitterbug contest when the show went nationwide in 1957. If it wasnt assaults from outside haters, some of the Bandstand kids suffered in their own homes. He kept his distance, she says. 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. 1960s. Nov 17, 2013 - A formal Justine & Bob American bandstand girl. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. They won the first jitterbug contest when the show went nationwide in 1957. The group is notable for the hit songs 'Come Go with Me' and 'Whispering Bells', and for having been a successful. 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. The show's most popular dance team of Bob Clayton and Justine Carrelli even cut their own record. sign up for our monthly Nostalgia e-newsletter or other e-newsletters tailored for boomers. Like the white homeowners associations' concerns about property values, WFIL's version of defensive localism built on a belief that integration would hurt the station's investment in Bandstand. Justine was 12. Thats why Elvis Presley and Ricky Nelson would never appear on the show, but movie stars Jeff Chandler, Tab Hunter, Sal Mineo came., Dancing came naturally to Sullivan, the way it did to all Regulars, she says. 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. Published Dec 11, 2013. 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). A correct photo of Carrelli and Clayton is featured at left. [2] Freddy Cannon holds the record for most appearances, at 110. Carole Ann Scaldeferri Spada, 70, of Newtown Square, a regular dancer on American Bandstand from 1957 to 1961, has died. Oldies. The followed the trend of solo ("open") dancing started by Chubby Checker and "The Twist.". 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. Beach Boys on American Bandstand. Home Yesteryear Nostalgia Where Are the American Bandstand Regulars Now? Clark continued as host of the series, which was restored to its former hour length,[22] and aired on stations including KYW-TV in Philadelphia; WWOR-TV in New York City[23] (WWOR's superstation status also gave the program further national exposure); KTLA in Los Angeles; WMAQ-TV in Chicago; WDIV in Detroit; WEWS in Cleveland; WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee;[24] and WCIX in Miami.[25]. The use of videotape allowed Clark to produce and host a series of concert tours around the success of American Bandstand and to pursue other broadcast interests. When WFIL-TV moved to a new facility on City Line Avenue (one that did not have a studio that could accommodate the show), ABC moved production of Bandstand to the ABC Television Center (stage 5) in Los Angeles (now known as The Prospect Studios) on February 8, 1964, which coincidentally was the day before the Beatles first appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show. Tom Ridge and Mayor Edward G. Rendell helped unveil a state historical marker outside the studio after dancing ``The Twist with Checker. Here is a short recap of her recollections. WGCU is your trusted source for news and information in Southwest Florida. Her husband, Richard Spada, said Mrs. Spada was recovering from a minor stroke she had suffered earlier when she became ill on the way . This version introduced lyrics written by Manilow and Bruce Sussman, referencing elements of the series. Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero (born December 12, 1937), [2] known professionally as Connie Francis, is an American pop singer, actress, and top-charting female vocalist of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Watch American Bandstand 1950s: Justine Carrelli and Bob Cayton highlighted on American Bandstand. It turns out she was only 10 months older. Dick Clark, wherever you are, we miss you. They wrote thousands of letters. We moved around the floor the way our parents did in the 40s. 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]. As WFIL grew financially and the account became less important, Stewart wasn't needed and was eventually dropped from the program. "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. 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. Kenny went on tour and was away a lot. God bless friendships !!! 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. On July 9, 1956, Horn was fired after a drunk-driving arrest, as WFIL and dual owner Walter Annenberg's The Philadelphia Inquirer were then Bandstand Dairies has made my golden years even better to remember the SOLID GOLD DAYS. They were some of the most famous kids in America, dancing every day on "American Bandstand." "We were like miniature rock 'n' roll stars. They were the squeaky-clean Kardashians of their era, and Bandstand could easily claim the title as the first reality show. With American Bandstand being originally located in Philadelphia, segregation easily affected the concentrated area. Pop Singers. The guy who had been in charge of the show before he took over was the subject of a scandal a DUI, I think so Clark wanted to be the clean-cut guy, and he was. One couple on the show was a couple in real life; Justine Carrelli and Bob Clayton dated for three years. 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. Justine was the one who caught my eye, he said. A lot of good time, super songs and singers. [18][19][20] Dubbed as The New American Bandstand and distributed by LBS Communications, the series' tapings were moved from the ABC Television Center to the Hollywood studios of Los Angeles's PBS member station KCET,[21] with a new set was similar to that of Soul Train. He still treats me like Im the queen of the hop, Justine said. 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). These teenagers became the nation's first reality-TV stars--they received thousands of fan letters and were mobbed everywhere they went. We are a nonprofit public service, and your support is more critical than ever. American Bandstand premiered locally in late March 1952 as Bandstand on Philadelphia television station WFIL-TV Channel 6 (now WPVI-TV), as a replacement for a weekday movie that had shown predominantly British films. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. From 1974 to September 6, 1986, Bandstand featured another instrumental at its mid-show break: Billy Preston's synth hit "Space Race". Dick Clark gave her a committee card, which all Regulars had to have to get into the building. Karen Hardie. She is a Marco Polo member of the Society of American Travel Writers, a past president of Virginia Professional Communicators and a member of the Virginia Communications Hall of Fame. Featuring guest artists who lip-synced to their latest tunes, and a teenage audience whose members danced for the cameras, the show launched a conga line of dance crazes, fashion and hair trends, and sent the latest teen . 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. The Buddy Deane Show aired on WJZ-TV until January 4, 1964. Finally, we got away and jumped over the turnstile. We've received your submission. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The couple, born again Christians, run a no-smoking, no-gossip beauty shop in the Philadelphia suburbs. 4 How old is Arlene Sullivan from American Bandstand? Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. The county's total year-end fund balance at the end of the . unsold game show pilots). But I would still be his girl.. We regret any confusion this caused.] . This prompted him to attempt to appear on the show; soon thereafter Justine and Bob became arguably the most popular couple on the American Bandstand. Other performers including Brandy, members of KISS, Dennis Quaid and his band The Sharks, Cher, and Stevie Wonder also performed to remember the iconic program.[41]. by Adam Salandra 3/14/2017. Thanks for contacting us. They won the first jitterbug contest when the show went . . This is a love story 55 years in the making, and you can thank the teen dance program American Bandstand for it. Teenagers dance on an episode of Dick Clark's television program, 'American Bandstand,' 1950s. 2 comments Although the Regulars didnt perform in the South, Sullivans memory of a personal visit to Fort Worth, Texas, stuck with her: My friend Barbara [a fellow Regular] and I were visiting Barbaras friend there. I got stopped at the door and said to the cop, but Lucille and Diane got in and theyre in my class, she said. On their drive to lunch, Jim asked what was on her bucket list. Bill Before Florida Senate Would Put Local Ordinances on Hold if Challenged, Legislation would make it illegal for doctors to provide gender-affirming care to transgender youths, Florida Republicans are taking on the media. in the 50s and 60s passed today. Themselves - Dancers 1 episode, 1962 Tony Brady . The Monday-night version aired its last program in December 1957, but ABC gave Clark a Saturday-night time slot for The Dick Clark Saturday Night Beech-Nut Show, which originated from the Little Theatre in Manhattan, beginning on February 15, 1958. American Bandstand was where lip-synching became an artform. Reporters and bloggers, alike, Can the Democratic Party regain strength in Florida? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". 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. Tuesday, Justine Carrelli and Bob Clayton took another spin in the same studio, where they joined more than two dozen other middle-aged teen dancers from ``American Bandstand. Host Dick Clark and former teen idols such as Chubby Checker and Connie Francis also made it to the 40th anniversary celebration. In the early 1960s, a new collection of teen regulars succeeded Arlene Sullivan's generation on American Bandstand's dance floor. While the American series has aired sixteen seasons, its format was also replicated worldwide, from Norway (Dansefeber) to Australia (So You Think You Can Dance Australia). Taking center stage each week was superstar Bandstand couple Justine Carrelli and Bob Clayton, two of the show's most popular dancers. He had no idea if she was married. Sometimes, he would come home from school and turn on the show. But back in the Bandstand days, Smith was one of the shows secretly gay dancers. 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. 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. Two weeks later, Bandstand moved to first-run syndication. 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. It was shot live from Studio B at Forty-Sixth and and Market Streets, where the two . And "American Dreams" (Sundays, 8 p.m., Channel 2) definitely isn't it, despite being in the most prime . Jim didnt know that Justine lied about her age when introduced for the spotlight dances. Jerry Oppenheimer is a best-selling author. (1957), Kenny Rogers and Arlene Sullivan were my favorites on American Bandstand. Who was justine's dance partner on american bandstand? wordlist = ['!', '$.027', '$.03', '$.054/mbf', '$.07', '$.07/cwt', '$.076', '$.09', '$.10-a-minute', '$.105', '$.12', '$.30', '$.30/mbf', '$.50', '$.65', '$.75', '$. 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]. Famous Americans. 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. 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. They knew what was going on, but they never asked the question., Sullivan says there were at least four other popular girl dancers on Bandstand who she quickly learned were lesbians and we all started hanging out together. Dick Clark was a wonderful man who enjoyed his work. PublishedJanuary 1, 2023 at 10:00 AM EST. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Dick Clark hosts a daily to weekly dance show that features the latest hit music for the attending teens to dance to. At the height of their popularity, they received as many as 500 letters a day. ``While I was caught up in the magic of it, it was fantastic, said Justine, who at 12 1/2 used her older sisters birth certificate to get onto the show. 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. Dick Clark died on April 18, 2012, at the age of 82. 5 Who wrote the theme song to American Bandstand? They were a beautiful couple, I named my daughter Arlene in 1958, I enjoyed watching them so much, would hurry up and come home from school to watch AB. Connie Francis. See production, box office & company info, Bandstand Boogie (The Theme of 'American Bandstand'), Nostalgic? Mike Curb Arlene learned that Kenny had a particular fondness for parties as he liked the attention when he was dancing. Im sorry young lady, you dont look 14 to me, was his answer. I'm David Hirsch and, on behalf of American Bandstand, I bid you, for the last time, goodbye. On Bandstand, she became lifelong friends with one of the celebrity guests, straight Annette Funicello, of Mickey Mouse Club and Beach Party fame. I figured I had no chance in hell, but I was smitten by her the same way I was smitten by Marilyn Monroe and actresses like that. At the end of each school day, they trooped to the former WFIL-TV studio in West Philadelphia, while young viewers across the nation tuned their sets to watch them. Ray Smith was one of the shows secretly gay dancers. He was also reportedly involved in a prostitution ring and brought up on morals charges. ``I just hit 50 and I feel like Im 14 today. She saw the hang up and returned the call, thinking it might be an interested buyer. Clark, known as Americas oldest teenager, knew. Connie Francis. The lunch was a success. 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. New museum exhibits are now on view across Tampa Bay, John Sims, prominent Sarasota artist and former Ringling instructor, dies at 54, Already a star in the Keys, Fred the Tree is now going to Hollywood, Locally made film 'Home for Thanksgiving' conjures hope after loss. ``You knew when you were on `American Bandstand something good was going to happen, Rydell said. Other pairs were regular dance partners, but didnt become romantically involved. 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. CD1<br><br>01 - Snap! In the meantime, have a wonderful week or two. Arlene with singer Frankie Avalon at an American Bandstand event. . best known for his love of music and dancing on American . share their memories of the late Dick Clark and more. We were like sisters. Jim explained he had been a fan and wanted to have lunch with her on his way to California. Hosted by local radio personality Bob Horn, the original Bandstand nevertheless established much of the basic format of its later incarnation. Tony Mammarella was the original producer with Ed Yates as director. Self - Harlem Globetrotter 1 episode, 1961 John Laws . Bandstand & Race. He sometimes wondered what happened to Justine, especially around New Years Eve when he would watch Dick Clark host his special. It preceded The Guy Mitchell Show. Clark was known for integrating his audiences as well as his performers unusual in the late 50s. Name: Patricia Ann Molittieri [Patricia A Ranieri] [Patricia Ranieri] SSN: 571600669 Gender: Female Race: White Birth Date: 22 Jan 1943 Birth Place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania [Darby, Pennsylvania] Death Date: Jul 1979 Type of Claim: Original SSN. American Bandstand's Official East Coast Fan Club President. While Bandstand fans across the country imagined a true romantic relationship between Sullivan, who secretly liked girls, and her on-screen companion, Rossi, who was straight, she says it was little more than made-for-TV puppy love. We were the first reality show, she adds. In addition, the show has performances by popular musicians and audience members rate songs. 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. Arlene Sullivan, a star on Bandstand, is now 74. This more-familiar version of Bandstand debuted on October 7, 1952, in "Studio 'B'", which was located in their just-completed addition to the original 1947 building in West Philadelphia.mw-parser-output .citation{word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}^ , and was hosted by Horn, with Lee Stewart as co-host until 1955. Then Dick Clark died in 2012. Parents across America would never, NEVER have allowed their kids to put Bandstand on, she writes. But he feared that if the shows secret ever came out, Middle America would change the channel. The kids of today missed out. The Beach Boys were already the kings of surf pop by their first appearance on American Bandstand in 1964. What characteristics allow plants to survive in the desert? Lers. Of all the regulars, Carole Scaldeferri Spada may have realized the longest lasting effect. In addition, the show has performances by popular musicians and audience Dick Clark hosts a daily to weekly dance show that features the latest hit music for the attending teens to dance to. This show was on for 32 . He sometimes wondered what happened to Justine, especially around New Years Eve when he would watch Dick Clark host his special. 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. Just clear tips and lifehacks for every day. 3. Copyright 2022 WGCU. To this day, oh so many years have passed, and yet I still feel the magic of Arlene and Kenny!!! Five-foot-two, brown-eyed, brown-haired Arlene and handsome Kenny, a year younger, were among the TV music shows elite, its stars, the vaunted regulars along with another couple often on camera pert, blond Justine Carrelli and suave Bob Clayton. Unsure and fearful about her true sexual identity, Sullivan tried passing as straight. Taking center stage each week was superstar Bandstand couple Justine Carrelli and Bob Clayton, two of the shows most popular dancers. 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. Some solo dances had animal names, for example, "The Pony" and "The Monkey"; others were named for . Delmont, Matthew F. (September 30, 2014). 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. 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. FOR SALE! ", "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. PublishedDecember 28, 2022 at 7:00 AM EST, See stories by Sheldon Zoldan/Special to WGCU, Some California mountain residents could be snowed in for another week, Tom Sizemore, 'Saving Private Ryan' actor, has died at 61, He visited Disneyland 2,995 days in a row. 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.