Dick Clark was recovering nicely after the payola hearings wrapped up in 1960. The popularity of "The Twist" was sweeping across the country as Clark was learning that his idyllic marriage may be crumbling. We pick up the story in this excerpt from "Bandstandland":
"In an article in TV Radio Mirror that was published before the public was aware of trouble in the Clark’s marriage, Clark told of the anguish a friend felt as he went through a divorce.
Clark noted that the friend, a performer, had been on the road 45 weeks in the previous year. His wife didn’t like show business, he said.
“Maybe this performer's wife didn't know what was ahead of them,” Clark said. “Maybe they didn't sit down and talk about it ahead of time.”
He added that he and his wife were different than his friend. They’ve discussed the problems and uncertainties of show, he said.
“Bobbie is always ready for the unexpected,” he said.1
Clark said that he and Bobbie had discussed how filming The Young Doctors during the Christmas holiday of 1960 would interfere with the family’s holiday plans, but they agreed that the sacrifice could be worth it if helped Clark develop a meaningful film career.
“You can't kid about the importance of a career to a man's ego,” Clark said. “But above that — always — is being with people you love. Business must be secondary to people. Show business being what it is, husband and wife have to work a little harder to secure their happiness.”2
Looking back, Clark conceded that he probably hadn’t paid enough attention to his wife. Too many missed dinners, movie dates and anniversaries took their toll. But, before he confronted his wife about what he had been told, he hired a private detective who confirmed the affair.
“After much soul-searching, Bobbie and I decided to get a divorce,”3 he said
1 TV Radio Mirror, January 1961.
2 Ibid.
3 Rock, Roll & Remember, p. 227.
Excerpted from Bandstandland: How Dancing Teenagers Took Over America and Dick Clark Took Over Rock & Roll.
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.
© 2019 Larry Lehmer
