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The leisure world was all shook up because the landmark TV program “American Bandstand” made its nationwide debut on today in historical past, August 5, 1957.
“American Bandstand” had been a neighborhood hit referred to as “Bandstand” in Philadelphia since 1952, and fronted since 1956 by an bold younger host named Dick Clark.
He famously acquired his probability to take over this system when its authentic host, Bob Horn, was fired after an arrest for drunk driving.
Clark then lobbied for a wider viewers. His want was granted on August 5, when “American Bandstand” was broadcast on 67 ABC-affiliate stations throughout the nation.
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Followers liked the present and Clark’s affable on-air character, whereas he shortly proved to have incredible eyes and ears for tendencies and expertise.
The largest acts of the rock ‘n’ roll period, throughout a number of genres, all appeared on this system: Michael Jackson, Madonna, The Seaside Boys, to call a number of.
Singer and musician Bobby Rydell sits subsequent to host Dick Clark within the viewers of “American Bandstand” round 1958. Rydell sang well-liked songs reminiscent of “Volare” and appeared within the hit movie “Bye Bye Birdie.”
(Hulton Archive/Getty Pictures)
Clark, the longer term leisure titan, “remodeled himself and a neighborhood Philadelphia tv program into two of essentially the most culturally vital forces of the early rock-and-roll period,” notes Historical past.com.
Billy Williams carried out “I am Gonna Sit Proper Down and Write Myself A Letter,” whereas The Chordettes sang “Simply Between You and Me” on the nationwide debut episode, in line with IMDB.
Two-thirds of Rock Corridor of Fame acts made their debut on “American Bandstand,” in line with Rolling Stone.
The present was quickly showcasing an astonishing checklist of rising-star acts from the R&B, soul and burgeoning rock ‘n’ roll genres.
Paul Anka made his nationwide debut two days after “American Bandstand,” performing “Diana” on this system on August 7, 1957.
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“From the outset he launched the nation to a parade of future Corridor of Famers, together with Johnny Money, Eddie Cochran, Sam Cooke, the Drifters, Buddy Holly and Jackie Wilson,” reported Rolling Stone upon Clark’s demise in 2012.
One Rolling Stone account claims that two-thirds of the members of the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame made their nationwide debut on “American Bandstand.”
On this Feb. 3, 1959, file photograph, Dick Clark selects a report in his station library in Philadelphia. Clark, the tv host who helped convey rock ‘n’ roll into the mainstream, died on April 18, 2012, of a coronary heart assault at 82.
(AP Photograph/File)
This system additionally helped encourage nationwide dance crazes, together with the Watusi, the Stroll and the Twist.
The track “The Twist” was named the most important chart hit of all time by Billboard in 2018.
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“American Bandstand” was such an instantaneous nationwide success that ABC in October moved the present from its 3:30 after-school time slot focusing on youngsters to a prime-time slot with wider viewers potential.
This system reached as many as 20 million viewers per episode, in line with leisure sources.
Michael Jackson performs “We’re Nearly There” on “American Bandstand” in 1975.
(ABC/Disney Basic Leisure Content material through Getty Pictures)
Clark noticed larger issues forward, even within the early years of “American Bandstand.”
He fashioned Dick Clark Productions in 1957, produced and hosted the primary “Dick Clark’s New Yr’s Rockin’ Eve” in 1972 and created the American Music Awards in 1974 to compete with the Grammy Awards, in line with a timeline of the present printed by CBS Information.
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Clark and “American Bandstand” ended their community run in 1987, after 30 years as arguably essentially the most influential program in leisure historical past.
Clark himself was inducted into the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame in 1993.
Some rock legends made their final nationwide look on “American Bandstand.”
“He curated the soundtrack of the American teenager’s life,” the Rock Corridor states. “Because the charismatic host of ‘American Bandstand,’ Dick Clark gave rock bands nationwide publicity, stood up towards censorship and unfold the gospel of rock and roll.”
Some rock legends made their final nationwide look on “American Bandstand.”
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Buddy Holly carried out “It is So Simple” on the August 7, 1958, episode.
He was killed in a aircraft crash, together with Ritchie Valens and “The Massive Bopper” J.P. Richardson, the next February.
