american bandstand regulars who have died

He was 82, and had suffered a heart attack while in a Santa Monica hospital for an outpatient procedure. He was 89 years old. Sullivan was raised in a rowhouse in a working-class neighborhood; we surmise from her writing that it was somewhere in Southwest Philly (she attended John Bartram High School), although Sullivan doesnt specify a home address. On Bandstand, she became lifelong friends with one of the celebrity guests, straight Annette Funicello, of Mickey Mouse Club and Beach Party fame. They also reported on the careers and whereabouts of many of the other regulars and several of the shows musical guests. ", A musical about the 'Miracle' Cubs? What they didnt know was that Arlene and several of the other female dancers, and most of the handsome teen boys, were gay. "I loved those kids," she says now, living with her husband on the Northwest Side of Chicago. It originally aired as simply "Bandstand" in 1952, shot at WFIL-TV's studios in Philadelphia and airing locally. This is the interview with Arlene, Kenny, Frank and Carole about their days on American Bandstand and their experiences with the Golden Boys. Carole made the world a better place," Gibson wrote on a Facebook page called America's Original Bandstand Dancers. June Bouche on November 20, 2018 at 9:12 pm . The reality behind the scenes ofAmerican Bandstandwas quite different than what viewers saw on national television. Everybody knew the names of The Regulars on Bandstand. I knew all their names. Teresa Bowling. While the teens, all homegrown talent, rocked onstage, two cameras homed in on them for close-ups. ", "I was shaking like a leaf," Colanero recalled. I was saddened to hear about Norman. Bunny Gibson was a kid when Dick Clark came into her life - or, rather, when she entered his world in Studio B at 46th and Market Streets in West Philadelphia. Fifty years later, Bandstand fan Sharon Sultan Cutler wondered what had become of the "Regulars," the name given to the teens that showed up daily to dance. In 1988, the National Park Service listed 4548 Market Street on the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Kenny Rossi and Arlene Sullivan, Bunny Gibson and Eddie Kelly, Pat Molittieri, Carmen Jimenz, Joyce Shafer. 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. e9.size = "300x250"; Weekday afternoons were spent with the kids in Philly, the kids on American Bandstand. American Bandstand Fundraiser Pictures, To my knowledge, no VHS tape of American Bandstand is commercially available. REGULARS Gallery 3. . Really enjoyed reading your article Larry , I also grew up in the 50s watching American Bandstand, your article brought back so many memories of the good ole days growing up. "He was the commander," Colanero said. In March of 1970 we moved to New Jersey. The show also incorporated appearances by acts like Paul Anka, Frankie Avalon, and Connie Francis, who would lip-sync performances. 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. Henderson remained the chief newsreader for Australia's Channel 9 until finally announcing his retirement in 2002. OnAmerican Bandstandsdance floor, Sullivan was first partnered famously with Kenny Rossi (1957-58), a multitalented Italian-American student at West Catholic Boys High School, and such was her national popularity that her fan mail eventually totaled some 500 letters weekly. They were hurting him. Happy tears. Parents across America would never, NEVER have allowed their kids to put Bandstand on, she writes. That really annoyed me because quite a few of the Philadelphia dancers on Bandstand died of AIDS, Smith said. But it was not easy on the mean streets of Philadelphia to be a Bandstand regular suspected of being gay. The shy Sullivan pushed herself forward with the contact because she wanted to get on TV to impress her mother. Rock, Roll and Remember. . Pennants from local high schools lined the walls of American Bandstands production studio, emphasizing to viewers and advertisers the shows local orientation. Mickey Mouse Club Were goin hopin today Sullivans co-author, Ray Smith, recently retired after 40 years as an Emmy-winning Today show producer. Determined, Don got Bunnys number from one of the regulars and he met his dream girl. Let the good times roll! They were introduced as a result of an email sent to the Fifties Web. Who died from American Bandstand? But he vividly recalls that one of his fellow gay dancers was thrown onto the El tracks outside the studio, and another popular regular who was gay and often danced with Sullivan was dangled over an elevator shaft.. Anna Russo, 2800 North 7th Street, Apt. e9 = new Object(); We went downtown, and I ran to the back of the bus the way I always did in Philly but Barbara and her friend kept telling me to come to the front. A Midlothian-based freelance writer, Martha Steger has received national awards for her journalism, essays, short fiction and poetry. Shore, Michael, with Dick Clark. during those wonderful days. Never, did I ever think that I would be with him, holding his hand when he passed away. They joined Arlenes and Kennys fan clubs. American Bandstand Day: Dick Clark receives a proclamation designating Market Street as Bandstand Boulevard. In 1962, ABC trimmed the shows airtime from 90 to 60 minutes. Clark claimed that the affiliates got greedy and took the time back to put their own material on where they got 100 percent of the revenue. Click here to see some of your favorites back in action. After working in insurance in Philadelphia, and studying acting and dance, Ray moved to New York City . This historical marker recalls Dick Clarks American Bandstand, which was broadcast from West Philadelphia from 1957 to 1964. Bandstand began as a local program on WFIL-TV (now WPVI), Channel 6 in Philadelphia on October 7, 1952. Marietta. Later, in hindsight, I guessed that made me the first white Rosa Parks. I purchased this from Historic Photos. [7] The Diary of Arlene Sullivan, in Sullivan, Smith, and Cutler,Bandstand Diaries, 43-63. Those "American Bandstand" days were the best for all of us teenagers who followed the program, the regulars, the dances, the performers, etc. putting buyers and sellers in touch with auction houses who have set worlds record.contact auctionmarketnews@yahoo.com with your Auction dates,want lists ,prices realized. Dick Clark 1929 2012, Dick Clark with Johnny Crawford. Clark "was a good man, but he wasn't as friendly with us as people may think," Colanero said. 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. Another component of the show was its Rate-a-Record segmentwhere people evaluated a record on a scale of 35 to 98which originated the saying, Its got a good beat and you can dance to it. For this eras music industry, American Bandstand was arguably the most significant television venue in the country. It was horrible., Smith says he was lucky to have escaped a beating. The TV exposure, plus the profiles some of the dancers were given in Teen magazine in the late 1950s, made them instant celebrities. [2] Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Paylola and Sponsorship Identification, Federal Communications Act, Amendments, 1960. Like The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia on Facebook, Follow The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia on Instagram, Like The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia on Facebook, Philadelphia, the Place that Loves You Back, (Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries. Wed stay up all night talking about boys, she said. However, advertisers do to enable personalized ads. . A show where well-dressed teens gently bop around to the big hits while maintaining an appropriate distance apart hardly seems like it would be a hot bed of sexual experimentation, but American Bandstand apparently featured a crew of Philadelphia kids who had more than dancing in common. and other collectibiles . California residents do not sell my data request. I did notice the studio was not as full, allowing the Regulars much more camera time. "It was arduous at first," she says. Covering Auction Houses who specialize in Buying and Selling Antiques & Collectibiles from A-Z, Art-Rare Books-Comics-Coins-Records-Postcards-Autographs-Jewelery-Watches-Guns- Glass-Pottery- Toys-Dolls-Cookie jars-Decoys-Fenton glass- . One chapter in the book, "Tributes to the Regulars," features short sketches of some of those dancers who have died. By clicking Consent you are authorizing advertisers to collect information to personalize the ads you see. Where Are the American Bandstand Regulars Now? Rock Obituaries: Knocking on Heavens Door. Reading the book, one easily grasps or is reminded what an impactful cultural phenomenon "American Bandstand" was for a couple of generations of TV-watching kids. Norman had a very, very unique sense of humor, which made him so popular with all that knew him. In the wake of the quiz show scandal, however, a subcommittee of the House of Representatives set up hearings to determine if the practice should be made illegal. My favorite dance was the Jitterbug the last dance where people danced together. Norman passed away on December 6, 1990. (Author information current at time of publication. Rachel Fuda and Dolores Catania Get Honest About What It Takes to Look Like a Housewife, JoJo Says Theres Definitely Parallels Between Her and, Mica Burton's Rebellion Against Her Dad, LeVar Burton, Was Being a 'Star Wars' Fan, 50% Off Pet Items for Amazon Pet Day - Starting Now, Rachel Fuda and Dolores Catania Get Honest About What It Takes to Look Like a 'Real Housewife'. That might have had something to do with the scandal that surrounded the departure of his predecessor, Bob Horn, who faced a drunken-driving arrest and morals charges. Particularly during the shows prime Philadelphia years (1952-63), Philadelphia youth culture became American culture through American Bandstand. Kelly said he avoided Rittenhouse Square, knowing if he were seen there, theyd be banished, but it was an open secret that most of the boys on the show were gay. Thats all we did dance and every part of the city had its own style. In 2014, the National Enquirer interviewed Frank Brancaccio and Eddie Kelly, other series regulars. 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. . So fearful of the kids real behavior, [Clark] imposed a strict dress code: jackets and ties for boys, and nothing tight for girls. These 14- to 18-year olds like Arlene and Kenny, Justine and Bob . In a fine introduction to this book one of those people, singer Bobby Rydell, recalls his first appearance on the show in 1959 and the many that followed, as well as a "short but sweet" romance with one of the teen dancers, writing: "To appear on 'American Bandstand' was everyone's dream.". We each won a HI-FI, and 50 record albums. Ray Smith was one of the shows secretly gay dancers. American Bandstand aired five days a week in live national broadcast until 1963, when the show moved west to Los Angeles and began a 24-year run as a taped weekly program with Dick Clark as host . The Regulars, also known as The Committee were only a part of the Bandstand story. Arlene Sullivan, a star on Bandstand, is now 74. . While ABC wasnt in the quiz show business, a congressional subcommittee found another reason to investigate the network. However unethical his behavior may have been, his federal income tax records seemed to be in order. [6] Jackson,American Bandstand, 71; Jacksons description of Arlene Sullivan. (Chris Walker/Chicago Tribune). Black & White/Color (9/9/1967), Dick Clarks first day as host: 7/9/1956 They are extending the honeymoon in Stone Mountain, Georgia, where Duke has called home.

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