American Bandstand

American Bandstand was a live dance music television show. It premiered locally as Bandstand on Philadelphia television station WFIL on October 7, 1952 in "Studio 'B'", which was located in their just-completed addition to the original 1947 building (4548 Market Street), and was hosted by Bob Horn. On July 9, 1956, Horn, following a drunk driving arrest, was replaced by Dick Clark. The show was picked up by ABC on August 5, 1957 after some badgering from Clark to the network to put the show on nationally, broadcasting daily (first live, then on kinescope when Clark went on tour with the singers) until 1963 and then airing weekly until 1989.

Related Topics:
Television - Philadelphia - Television station - WFIL - October 7 - 1952 - Bob Horn - July 9 - 1956 - Dick Clark - ABC - August 5 - 1957 - Kinescope - 1989

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Charlie O'Donnell, then a very young Philadelphia radio DJ, landed his very first network announcing assignment on Bandstand, a job he would hold until the late-1960s.

Related Topics:
Charlie O'Donnell - DJ

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Tony Marmamella was the original producer of Bandstand.

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The show featured real kids dancing to Top 40-type music, often with mimed performances by the artists themselves. In 1957, Patti Page was crowned American Bandstands favorite female vocalist in its first nationwide audience poll.

Related Topics:
Top 40 - Patti Page - Female

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The show moved to Saturday afternoons on September 7, 1963, to Los Angeles on Februrary 8, 1964, to color on September 9, 1967, to syndication on September 19, 1987, and to cable (USA Network) on April 8, 1989 with a new, younger host (comedian David Hirsch) to bring in more viewers. It ended for good on October 7, 1989.

Related Topics:
September 7 - 1963 - Los Angeles - Februrary 8 - 1964 - September 9 - 1967 - September 19 - 1987 - USA Network - April 8 - 1989 - October 7

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Standout performances on American Bandstand include a chaotic 1980 appearance by the (at that time) abrasive art-rock ensemble, Public Image Limited—a fact often suspected of being an urban legend, which is nonetheless confirmed by broadcast videotapes and by Dick Clark himself.

Related Topics:
1980 - Public Image Limited - Urban legend

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The show is featured prominently in the 2000s TV drama American Dreams, whose executive producer is none other than Dick Clark.

Related Topics:
2000s - American Dreams - Dick Clark

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