The show had just "gone national" on the ABC television network on August 5th. As Sullivan puts it: The boys danced. Bob Clayton and Justine Carrelli. Thank you Arlene for given us a second turn of theGold Yeaysand new meaning of my Old Years. "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. Arlene Sullivan and Kenny Rossi danced together n American Bandstand for a little more than a year. Justine Carelli and Bob Clayton were the dream couple of the show, the star struck lovers. They were some of the most famous kids in America, dancing every day on "American Bandstand." "We were like miniature rock 'n' roll stars. And in her early 20s, she actually tied the knot with a young man. 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. In the early 1960s, a new collection of teen regulars succeeded Arlene Sullivan's generation on American Bandstand's dance floor. and scheduled the program at 3:30pm ETalmost in the middle of Bandstand. I hope you've had a good half-hour. 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. Some of the stories I heard are heartbreaking, Sullivan recalls. I never had a crush on her. The rule was you had to be 14 to get on the show. Here is a short recap of her recollections. In addition, the show has performances by popular musicians and audience members rate songs. 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. In August 1957, American Bandstand, a new television show broadcast out of Philadelphia, PA, featured local teenagers dancing to the new rock 'n roll music. Who was justine's dance partner on american bandstand? 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. Delmont, Matthew F. (September 30, 2014). Blanche Keastead, N.J.Bob and Justine share their memories of the late Dick Clark and moreA: Though they split in 1960 after three-plus years of jitterbugging on the Dick Clarkhosted show, they were happy to see each other at the 40th reunion in 1992. Some regulars had a hard time adjusting after leaving the show. He was adorable.". They won the first jitterbug contest when the show went nationwide in 1957. 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. The Saturday show would run until 1960. 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 Bobby Rydell and Fabian, two other rock n roll celebrities with Philadelphia and ``Bandstand roots, recalled how a gig on the nationally broadcast show meant enormous exposure that led to movie contracts and other TV appearances. The county's total year-end fund balance at the end of the . The kids of today missed out. First called Bandstand, the program premiered October 6, 1952, hosted by Philadelphia radio DJ Bob Horn (1916-66). I met Arlene in 1961 she was very sweet.Unfortunely I never got to meet Kenny. ", "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. That was the start of our romance, Jim said. On their drive to lunch, Jim asked what was on her bucket list. From 1974 to September 6, 1986, Bandstand featured another instrumental at its mid-show break: Billy Preston's synth hit "Space Race". Upset, but knowing what he wanted to do, Kenny told Arlene he would miss me and the show. ``It was like having a New Years party every day, and when it was over I missed it _ the camaraderie, the dancing _ there was a void.. For now, Dick Clark on ABC, so long. 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. He sometimes wondered what happened to Justine, especially around New Years Eve when he would watch Dick Clark host his special. That was the start of our romance, Jim said. Im sorry young lady, you dont look 14 to me, was his answer. Philadelphia In the late 1950s and early '60s, everyone knew Bob and Justine, Kenny and Arlene, and Ed and Bunny. such material remains the copyrig. I was SO mixed up., Today, Arlene Sullivan lives with a partner and, despite having suffered strokes, still loves to dance. 3. Bandstand & Race. Sullivan, who came out decades ago, spoke of one particular young man, now deceased, who was a victim of Clark's campaign. We are a nonprofit public service, and your support is more critical than ever. Jim Miller was in junior high, living on Long Island, New York, when Bandstand became a national hit. Set pieces from Soul Unlimited were utilized by Bandstand for its 19741978 set design. Carole Ann Scaldeferri Spada, 70, of Newtown Square, a regular dancer on American Bandstand from 1957 to 1961, has died. They got married in 2014, something both said they would never do again. we were like a little family together, and we all had something in common, and we all stuck together, and that made it easier for us.. Movies Showing. This version introduced lyrics written by Manilow and Bruce Sussman, referencing elements of the series. Wed stay up all night talking about boys, she said. Jim explained he had been a fan and wanted to have lunch with her on his way to California. Just clear tips and lifehacks for every day. 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. 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). Dance Art. Dick Clark did feature black recording artists as guests on American Bandstand - and he did so from his earliest days as host. passed away at home on November 6, 2016. Rock'n'Roll, Rockabilly, Dance-Twist, Limited edition DIGI pack DIGIBOOK CD kiadvny, 2023. 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. They were the squeaky-clean Kardashians of their era, and Bandstand could easily claim the title as the first reality show. Taking center stage each week was superstar Bandstand couple Justine Carrelli and Bob Clayton, two of the shows most popular dancers. It does not store any personal data. Justine Carrelli-Miller wasnt even a teenager in 1956 when she used her sisters birth certificate to get on American Bandstand. The show was live five days a week from Philadelphia, Dick Clark had yet to become the host and it had yet to go national. . He would dance on the show until early 1960. 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. Who are the couples on Bandstand in real life? Then Dick Clark died in 2012. Here is a short recap of her recollections. His latest book, The Kardashians: An American Drama, will be published in September. I had met other fans along the way, she said, but not that Id had lunch with them.. 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. Hosted by local radio personality Bob Horn, the original Bandstand nevertheless established much of the basic format of its later incarnation. Where did the dancers from American Bandstand come from? American Bandstand will be back someday, I assure you. The other couple with such high popularity was Kenny Rossi and Arlene Sullivan. I'm David Hirsch and, on behalf of American Bandstand, I bid you, for the last time, goodbye. God bless friendships !!! best known for his love of music and dancing on American . They were some of the most famous kids in America, dancing every day on "American Bandstand." "We were like miniature rock 'n' roll stars. By 1973, the show drew many of the top R&B performers and competed with American Bandstand for viewers on Saturday afternoons. Of all the regulars, Carole Scaldeferri Spada may have realized the longest lasting effect. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. 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. 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]. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. I knew I was different early on, but being with all these [Bandstand] friends, I came to terms with my feelings. INSIDE EDITION caught up with a man and woman who met on Dick Clark's show American Bandstand 50 years ago, and have remained friends ever since. When did Dick Clark start dancing on American Bandstand? He still treats me like Im the queen of the hop, Justine said. From 1969 to 1974, "Bandstand Theme", a synthesized rock instrumental written by Mike Curb, opened each show. We didnt say anything about meeting again, Justine said. Justine turns 80 next year and Jim 79. 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. The rule was you had to be 14 to get on the show. Carole Ann Scaldeferri Spada, 70, of Newtown Square, a regular dancer on American Bandstand from 1957 to 1961, has died. The Twist the first dance to come out where people danced separately and the Monkey and Jerk came out after Id left.. 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.