I am 79 .I would run home from school and watched the show. I first had to watch the show from a NY channel. I could hardly see it. Then after a year it went national and I could watch locally. Love it
Bob Clayton was a shoe salesman in Wilmington Delaware and Wanamaker's. Much to my surprise as a very young 9 year old watching American Bandstand and seeing all the kids dance in 1956 and 1957 and 58, I never imagined what these kids who we were watching did when they were not on TV dancing. I thought Bob Clayton had the coolest hair of all of them and I started to model my hair after his with my tube of Brylcream to make it stand up.. Then, one day I was with my mother shopping at Wanamakers in Wilmington, Delaware and I spotted Bob Clayton in the shoe department helping some one try on a pair of shoes. I was really amazed to see him there because the only reality I had of him was seeing him on TV dancing. As a kid, this really changed my perspective. I will never forget seeing him there doing a job in a real life situation. Kenny and Arlene were the other cool dancers. Looking back , it all seems so distant and unusual because I have been in the music business for many years and I have played music with the likes of Chuck Berry who I first saw on American Bandstand as a kid. By the time I had turned 22, I was backing Chuck up on drums at music festivals. Now as I watch the kids clapping their hands I realize that none of them could clap in time much at all and actually clapped on 1 & 3 instead of 2 & 4 where the back beat is supposed to be in Rock & Roll. When I was a kid I was clueless about this kind of thing but being a music teacher for 44 years and a drummer for 56 years things like that really stick out like a sore thumb. It just shows how much we have all evolved with music and rhythm. The kids these days are very hip and pick up music really quickly. These clips of the kids on American Bandstand are nostalgic and bring back so many amazing memories growing up just outside of Wilmington in a little community just North of it called Deerhurst.
Such great memories Scott.and you played with Chuck Berry??? Wow.am impressed 👏. I loved dancing mostly to his music.by far. Those were such fun days ..being young and dumb.and not.knowing what was really.going on in the world.🙄it's good for our souls to reminisce and hold on to these simpler times..and I bet I get a few Amens out there..yes???😉👍♥️♥️♥️
Who doesn't love history. Thanks Kenny and Arlene, Bob and Justine, remember them well. I still try to do that slow fox trot the was they did it in Philly. My friend Mike and I were asked by Helen and Francine in our apartment building to go with them in 1958 to Alan Freed's the Big Beat Show on Channel 5. Mike remembers we had to go to a thrift store to get jackets because they wouldn't let us in when we got there. Of course, regardless of Dick Clark, Ted Steele, Herb Sheldon or Alan, once we discovered Jocko's Rocket Ship show on Channel 13, Newark, it was all over.
2 years ago I made that comment .lol..and here I be again..giving it up again.👍🤣thank you..thank you.."Danke Shane "not sure of the spelling..but Wayne Newton made it a hit in 1963 when we came to beautiful Laguna Beach..💦
Which of them are still alive? I would love to congratulate them for making that era of music come alive with their dancing, even though it was before my time.
There is nothing to be proud! But her interviews have been illuminating, how many lesbians & homosexual were among the dancers? A lot of the guys became hairstylist or interior decorators.(lol) I wonder if they reflected the general population? Vicky, Del & Dugan at least were straight. Not sso sure about Popeye(LOL)
I ordered this book and it is great! Lot of excellent pictures! Every week day my BFF and I would watch BS. Quit watching AB when it moved to LA! Not the same!
Betty, maybe you just grew up and wanted to make your own 'music' The LA show became very slick but I did enjoy "Where the Action Is" I started watching the show in 54-55, I went to camp outside of Philly & the girls always wanted to look at it. We only looked at TV about 1 hour a day before dinner. Back then, it wasn't R n R. I remember watching the show in Aug '57 when Dick Clark went nationwide from NYC. Remember Johnny Carson had show that interrupted show in NYC.
Arlene why are nt there more of these shows available.....I remember they were live but...I also remember seeing Dick Clark saying that he had a whole slew of the old reel to reels (from at lleast when it went national?).....from some man who was going to throw them away>>>>:the businessman that Dick Clark was didn't keep all these tapes of who he knew then were going to be BIG?...I find that hard to believe??,,,,,,my point is everytime I turn around there is another one showing Kenny Cook in the dance contest of 1958 or the 4 of you (Kenny.Justine Bob) acenter square (which had to be at the peak of 1958? being camera hogged by the camera crew,,,,,anyway what is the big deal 0f getting all these rounded up and show more than 12 seconds of this one or that one,,,,,,,everybody knew everybody....but then again,,,,were all so old now...I might be just a small part of whos left that would even care to see them or own,.?.........I would appreciate any info on this if you can spare it,,,,thanx for giving me my childhood memories of life as pleasant as it was,,,,,,please take care and contact me if I can help salvage any thing at all.;;...... Bryn Davies' 131Kelley Drivd Coal Township e.mail,,,,brynieiii @gmail.com
I was 13 & 14 in '57 and '58 and I came home every day to watch for Arlene whomever she was dancing with. I thought that she was gorgeous. I had not thought about her since then. Watching the clips again today I can see why I thought she was so good looking.
Which of them are still alive? I would love to congratulate them for making that era of music come alive with their dancing, even though it was before my time.
The title mentions Kenny being in the video and other than a brief picture he was not in the video. I was very disappointed by that. You need to change the title as it is very misleading!!
You bet, I had the hots for her in '57 and '58 and seeing her pictures again at age 78 I can (again)see why. It only takes a second or two watching these videos to transport you to 1958. Of course I don't remember what I did yesterday.
hi, i THINK the "secret" is that harvey robbibns was gay and died of aids and dick clark didnt want to publicize that many of the guys were gay as it would destroy the wholesomenes of AB (many of the gay guys found AB perfect as they could show the world they were straight, dancing with girls, etc... and actually the girls too who were gay, like arlene sullivan "hide" on bandstand as well ). obviously most of the guys/girls were not gay, but............i almost dont want to think of it, to destroy my innocent/wonderful memories of AB.....oh welll........
I luved watching Arlene & Kenny dance!!!!
I am 79 .I would run home from school and watched the show. I first had to watch the show from a NY channel. I could hardly see it. Then after a year it went national and I could watch locally. Love it
I remember when I was a little girl watching American Bandstand love it!
I love this video,I watch it over & over again. Wonderful times.
I was born in 1957;I love these wonderful times.
Bob Clayton was a shoe salesman in Wilmington Delaware and Wanamaker's. Much to my surprise as a very young 9 year old watching American Bandstand and seeing all the kids dance in 1956 and 1957 and 58, I never imagined what these kids who we were watching did when they were not on TV dancing. I thought Bob Clayton had the coolest hair of all of them and I started to model my hair after his with my tube of Brylcream to make it stand up.. Then, one day I was with my mother shopping at Wanamakers in Wilmington, Delaware and I spotted Bob Clayton in the shoe department helping some one try on a pair of shoes. I was really amazed to see him there because the only reality I had of him was seeing him on TV dancing. As a kid, this really changed my perspective. I will never forget seeing him there doing a job in a real life situation. Kenny and Arlene were the other cool dancers. Looking back , it all seems so distant and unusual because I have been in the music business for many years and I have played music with the likes of Chuck Berry who I first saw on American Bandstand as a kid. By the time I had turned 22, I was backing Chuck up on drums at music festivals. Now as I watch the kids clapping their hands I realize that none of them could clap in time much at all and actually clapped on 1 & 3 instead of 2 & 4 where the back beat is supposed to be in Rock & Roll. When I was a kid I was clueless about this kind of thing but being a music teacher for 44 years and a drummer for 56 years things like that really stick out like a sore thumb. It just shows how much we have all evolved with music and rhythm. The kids these days are very hip and pick up music really quickly. These clips of the kids on American Bandstand are nostalgic and bring back so many amazing memories growing up just outside of Wilmington in a little community just North of it called Deerhurst.
Such great memories Scott.and you played with Chuck Berry??? Wow.am impressed 👏. I loved dancing mostly to his music.by far. Those were such fun days ..being young and dumb.and not.knowing what was really.going on in the world.🙄it's good for our souls to reminisce and hold on to these simpler times..and I bet I get a few Amens out there..yes???😉👍♥️♥️♥️
I thought Arlene was so cool, and I was in love with Kenny Rossi! 😍. Too cute!!!
Who doesn't love history. Thanks Kenny and Arlene, Bob and Justine, remember them well. I still try to do that slow fox trot the was they did it in Philly. My friend Mike and I were asked by Helen and Francine in our apartment building to go with them in 1958 to Alan Freed's the Big Beat Show on Channel 5. Mike remembers we had to go to a thrift store to get jackets because they wouldn't let us in when we got there. Of course, regardless of Dick Clark, Ted Steele, Herb Sheldon or Alan, once we discovered Jocko's Rocket Ship show on Channel 13, Newark, it was all over.
Never missed that show
rushed home from school to watch every afternoon, so much fun!
For all of you that were on the show, you were so lucky!!!..
blinko656 you kids no how good you had it back then.
Yes they did.
I remember them all ...fondly !
2 years ago I made that comment .lol..and here I be again..giving it up again.👍🤣thank you..thank you.."Danke Shane "not sure of the spelling..but Wayne Newton made it a hit in 1963 when we came to beautiful Laguna Beach..💦
Arlene my Favorite on Band Stand!!!!
Which of them are still alive? I would love to congratulate them for making that era of music come alive with their dancing, even though it was before my time.
Amazing......remember it well.......learned to dance. Great time.
The best TV show of it's time.❤❤❤
There's NOTHING like it now so it's arguably one of the best real-life TV show in history. It was clean, wholesome viewing.
Out an proud ,they went
Separate ways but she loves
Kenny
There is nothing to be proud!
But her interviews have been illuminating, how many lesbians & homosexual
were among the dancers? A lot of the guys became hairstylist or interior
decorators.(lol) I wonder if they reflected the general population?
Vicky, Del & Dugan at least were straight. Not sso sure about Popeye(LOL)
I ordered this book and it is great! Lot of excellent pictures! Every week day my BFF and I would watch BS. Quit watching AB when it moved to LA! Not the same!
Betty, maybe you just grew up and wanted to make your own 'music'
The LA show became very slick but I did enjoy "Where the Action Is"
I started watching the show in 54-55, I went to camp outside of Philly &
the girls always wanted to look at it. We only looked at TV about 1 hour
a day before dinner. Back then, it wasn't R n R.
I remember watching the show in Aug '57 when Dick Clark went nationwide
from NYC.
Remember Johnny Carson had show that interrupted show in NYC.
Arlene you look great and kenni too
Arlene why are nt there more of these shows available.....I remember they were live but...I also remember seeing Dick Clark saying that he had a whole slew of the old reel to reels (from at lleast when it went national?).....from some man who was going to throw them away>>>>:the businessman that Dick Clark was didn't keep all these tapes of who he knew then were going to be BIG?...I find that hard to believe??,,,,,,my point is everytime I turn around there is another one showing Kenny Cook in the dance contest of 1958 or the 4 of you (Kenny.Justine Bob) acenter square (which had to be at the peak of 1958? being camera hogged by the camera crew,,,,,anyway what is the big deal 0f getting all these rounded up and show more than 12 seconds of this one or that one,,,,,,,everybody knew everybody....but then again,,,,were all so old now...I might be just a small part of whos left that would even care to see them or own,.?.........I would appreciate any info on this if you can spare it,,,,thanx for giving me my childhood memories of life as pleasant as it was,,,,,,please take care and contact me if I can help salvage any thing at all.;;......
Bryn Davies'
131Kelley Drivd
Coal Township
e.mail,,,,brynieiii @gmail.com
I Love this progam
I was 13 & 14 in '57 and '58 and I came home every day to watch for Arlene whomever she was dancing with. I thought that she was gorgeous. I had not thought about her since then. Watching the clips again today I can see why I thought she was so good looking.
Which of them are still alive? I would love to congratulate them for making that era of music come alive with their dancing, even though it was before my time.
Bob and Justine. Oh yes!!!
I had a huge crush on Kenny Rossi and still do. Kenny is still good looking
My Cousin and I were named after Arlene and Kenny 🥰
The title mentions Kenny being in the video and other than a brief picture he was not in the video. I was very disappointed by that. You need to change the title as it is very misleading!!
ARLENE, BEST LOOKIN GIRL !!!
You bet, I had the hots for her in '57 and '58 and seeing her pictures again at age 78 I can (again)see why. It only takes a second or two watching these videos to transport you to 1958. Of course I don't remember what I did yesterday.
That picture looks like Frankie avalon
There's Arleen with Harvey? Whatever happened to that guy? Why all the silence around him?
hi, i THINK the "secret" is that harvey robbibns was gay and died of aids and dick clark didnt want to publicize that many of the guys were gay as it would destroy the wholesomenes of AB (many of the gay guys found AB perfect as they could show the world they were straight, dancing with girls, etc... and actually the girls too who were gay, like arlene sullivan "hide" on bandstand as well ). obviously most of the guys/girls were not gay, but............i almost dont want to think of it, to destroy my innocent/wonderful memories of AB.....oh welll........
Still cute! And your partner is handsome!
Arlene Sullivan. Yep. Followed her on BS.
I don't believe he still gets stopped and asked the question. We men love to bullshit. It's in our nature ~