Bandstand Beat

Bandstand Bits: Dick Clark croons, but storm clouds loom

On October 14, 1959, Dick Clark awoke with the knowledge that he was finally positioned where he always hoped he'd be - atop the entertainment mountain.

With the launch of his World of Talent program three weeks earlier, he was the only TV personality to be seen on a national network every day of the week. His new book on teenage behavior was flying off the shelves and his first Caravan of Stars music tour was packing them into auditoriums everywhere it stopped. American Bandstand was the country's top-rated daytime television show and he owned at least part of  28 businesses connected to the growing music and TV industries.

The movie in which he was the top-billed star was undergoing final edits in preparation for a spring release and tonight he'd step out of the comfort of the ABC-TV network to guest star on NBC's Kraft Music Hall with Perry Como. NBC took full advantage of Clark's marketability, promising that the congenial Clark would actually sing on the program.

That was only half true. Clark did, indeed, perform on the program but, true to the Bandstand tradition, he lip-synced to his own recording of Bye, Bye Blackbird.

In many cultures, black birds are seem as omens or messengers of impending change - sometimes good, sometimes bad. In Clark's case, it would lean toward the darker side.

Much of Philadelphia was in mourning that week, following the death of South Philadelphia native Mario Lanza under mysterious circumstances a week earlier. Within a week, Clark's Caravan of Stars would unravel following a riot in Kansas City and within a month, Clark would be ordered to divest himself of his music business interests by ABC president Leonard Goldenson as the threat of a congressional investigation into the music business appeared likely.

But Clark was sitting on top of his world when he appeared on the Como show that Thursday night in 1959.

In 1974, Clark did something of a reprise of the number (this time live) on the Dinah Shore show. You can see that clip here.

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.

 

 

 

Bandstand Bits: Dick Clark's first book: Still relevant after all these years?

In the fall of 1959, life was very interesting for Dick Clark.

He and his wife, Barbara, were preparing to move into their first house together, the first Dick Clark Caravan of Stars hit the road that September and Clark added a Sunday night show to his busy schedule, The World of Talent, making him the only TV personality to have a network television show available from coast to coast every day of the week.

He may not have realized it at the time, but his world (and the world of disk jockeys across the land) would soon be shaken by a congressional probe of payola. But Clark also added another title to his impressive resume that fall - published author.

The first edition of Clark's Your Happiest Years hit bookstores with a $2.95 price tag. The book of advice aimed at teenagers was published by Clark's own Rosho Corporation but was distributed by Random House.

Clark took advantage of the book's 157 pages to share a few personal anecdotes and the inside covers and dust jacket included rarely seen (to that date) photos of Clark's personal and professional life. But Clark's advice is mostly generic and some of it is downright dated, like this exerpt:

“A young woman should begin in her teens learning the things that keep a home running smoothly. She can watch how her mother cooks and bakes. There are also many opportunities for a daughter to observe how Mother handles Dad when he’s had a tough day at work. Mom can always use some help around the house, with dishes, cleaning, cooking, and a million other things a girl should know to qualify for that band of gold.”

In 1991, Seattle Times reporter Erik Lacitis took a copy of the book to a 7-11 store and started reading passages from it to teens. What he found was that maybe things haven't changed as much as we thought. You can check out his article here.

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.