"American Bandstand" stars Kenny Rossi and Arlene Sullivan. He was 21 and she was 16. 36,838, © 2021 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved He still had that in him until the evening before he passed away. Where things are poppin'(Pop!) I was sitting at a bar having a drink in Grand Rapids, MI and happened to start chatting with a guy sitting next to me. 53,155, This story has been shared 43,528 times. 1st song played on the national edition was Jerry Lee Lewis’ “Whole Lotta Shaking Goin’ On.”1st Guests: Billy Williams, ChordettesLast song on the ABC network was Laura Branigan’s “Shattered Glass.”, See above pictureThe Stroll recorded by The Diamonds in 1958. A   Philadelphia, PA 19133, BONUS PAGE View Our Classic TV Shows Directory He spoke of his youth, of Bandstand and his favorite gal, Bunny. Some memories of Miami and Dade County in the 50's, 60's and 70's.You know you grew up in old Miami or Dade County if you remember: The Dade County Courthouse was the tallest building in the county The beautiful marble Miami Public Library was in Bayfront Park east of Biscayne Boulevard. When ABC picked the show up, it was renamed American Bandstand, airing it’s first national show on August 5, 1957. Don and Bunny had two daughters: Angel and Maria and four grandchildren: Lea & Christopher Di Vello, Alexis Karanzalis & Nicole Weiss. (7/21/2011) I just received this from Bunny Gibson and certainly thought it was appropriate to mention here: Anna Russo, formerly Anna Banani, went to American Bandstand 1963 until AB left Philly for Los Angeles, lost both of her legs to diabetes and is in need. Click here to see some of your favorites back in action. On “Bandstand,” she became lifelong friends with one of the celebrity guests, straight Annette Funicello, of “Mickey Mouse Club” and “Beach Party” fame. “Some of the stories I heard are heartbreaking,” Sullivan recalls. Mickey Mouse Club I was SO mixed up.”, Today, Arlene Sullivan lives with a partner and, despite having suffered strokes, still loves to dance. Normally, I do not forward mail to the Regulars. Special Features: Arlene Sullivan and Kenny Rossi on the cover of Teen magazine in 1959. In its first season (1957), ABC presented a nighttime version of American Bandstand (1952). We sent some 15,000 fan letters each week. “Norman and I met in January 1959 while standing outside of the studio waiting to get inside. Michael Rich. “I started going out to straight clubs.”. I imitated all the dance steps, sometimes with the refrigerator door as a partner. For Teenagers Only , The Dave Astor Show "The Dave Astor Show, For Teenagers Only was Maine's version of American Bandstand. Most Common Text: Click on the icon to return to www.berro.com and to enjoy and benefit . We each won a HI-FI, and 50 record albums. Hundreds of kids lined up each day hoping to be one of the few lucky ones who got to dance alongside the Regulars and share part of the magic that was American Bandstand. But I didn’t have any crushes on any of the straight girls. I still have my HI-FI sitting against a wall between my living room and dining room. Clark was “determined” to keep the homosexuality of popular “Bandstand” regulars a secret, Smith said. Words by Barry Manilow and Bruse Sussman, “We’re goin’ hoppin’ (Hop!) To the left you’ll find original pictures of some of the Regulars. Open source password manager with Nextcloud integration - nextcloud/passman From that dance on we became steady dance partners until I had to leave the show on my 18th birthday, which was in August of 1961.”, The Pony Contest… Sullivan’s co-author, Ray Smith, recently retired after 40 years as an Emmy-winning “Today” show producer. Music by Charles Albertine The big teenybopper magazines of the era — Sixteen and Teen — plastered “Bandstand” dancers on their covers and wrote glowing, gossipy stories about their lives in Philadelphia, where Dick Clark produced the show. Dick Clark 1929 – 2012, Dick Clark with Johnny Crawford. Back in July, I received a most endearing email from Duke which told of his experiences in life. Remember, these Regulars weren’t paid actors or dancers. I knew when couples broke up. He debuted in Studio 3B at WFIL-TV, near the El train stop in West Philadelphia, in 1956 when he was a 13-year-old junior high school student. Wagon Train Website, . This site is not endorsed by or associated with dick clark productions, inc. or its family of companies. Thanks for contacting us. ”, True love… Copyright 1996-2021. These experienced Regulars considered an infrequent participant or a first time visitor “an amateur.” I wonder what they would have thought about a kid in TV Land, practicing the new steps in front of her bedroom mirror and praying to God her little brother didn’t catch her at it. Never, did I ever think that I would be with him, holding his hand when he passed away. May, 1961. Television host Dick Clark presides over the set of his show “American Bandstand” in 1957. . Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. I was a preteen, which is to say, I was a teenage wannabe. Weekday afternoons were spent with the kids in Philly, the kids on American Bandstand. Finally, we got away and jumped over the turnstile. Do Not Sell My Personal Information.