After graduation from Syracuse University in July 1951, Dick Clark went to work at WRUN radio in Utica, N.Y. A big complication, though, came in the form of Clark's father - also named Richard Clark - who was the station manager. In order to avoid confusion, the younger Clark broadcast under the name Dick Clay for the rest of his run at WRUN. He also worked in television briefly at WKTV.
American Bandstand offered viewers a real treat on October 31, 1961, when it presented a Halloween show with many of the show's regulars decked out in costumes. Frani Giordano's Vampira outfit - with a long black gown and black wig - was judged the best costume, earning Frani a transistor radio. Other highlights included Arlene DiPietro as a cannibal and Bunny Gibson in a Balinese outfit.
From April 17, 1954, through June 17, 1954, WFIL-TV broadcast live the "McArthur hearings" from Washington, D.C., which generally meant that Bob Horn's Bandstand program was pre-empted. Despite the interruption, many Philadelphia teens flocked to the Bandstand studio every weekday afternoon just in case the hearings wrapped up early and the show was broadcast.
Lee Andrews and the Hearts, one of Philadelphia's most popular vocal groups during the American Bandstand years, got their big break when they lip-synced Long Lonely Nights on the final day of the show's first week, Friday, August 9, 1957.
The crew from American Bandstand had regular Tuesday night basketball games at West Philadelphia High School where tall, young announcer Charlie O'Donnell often stood out, Also making occasional appearances at the casual pickup games were popular singers of the era like Adam Wade and Johnny Mathis.
© 2019 Larry Lehmer
Author Larry Lehmer's book about Dick Clark and American Bandstand -- Bandstandland: How Dancing Teenagers Took Over America and Dick Clark Took Over Rock & Roll --is available from Sunbury Press. Go here to learn the story behind the writing of Bandstandland or here to listen to the Pennsylvania Cable Network's interview with author Larry Lehmer.
Larry Lehmer's book about the last tour of Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens -- The Day the Music Died -- is available at Amazon.