HI, I'M SHADY SEAWEED
"AMERICA'S OLDEST LIVING TODDLER"
WELCOMING
YOU TO THE
59th ANNUAL
NEW YEAR'S
ROCKIN' EVE
ROCKIN' EVE
IN THE SHADY!
The wrecking ball in Shady Square is about to drop, signalling the end of
the year 2021. As we look ahead to the coming year, let's view the past
with 20-20 hindsight as we go back to the glory years of Dick Clark's
long running music program American Bandstand. Tonight the spot-
light is not on the songs or artists who performed on the show, not
even on Dick Clark. Instead I ask that you focus your attention
the year 2021. As we look ahead to the coming year, let's view the past
with 20-20 hindsight as we go back to the glory years of Dick Clark's
long running music program American Bandstand. Tonight the spot-
light is not on the songs or artists who performed on the show, not
even on Dick Clark. Instead I ask that you focus your attention
on the teenagers who danced on Bandstand over the years.
Assuming that you don't have time to watch every video
from start to finish, I cued each one to the spot where,
in my opinion, the best dance sequence begins.
RETURN WITH US NOW TO
THE GOLDEN YEARS OF BANDSTAND.
THE GOLDEN YEARS OF BANDSTAND.
Observe the young studio dancers of the 1960s,
their body language, clothing styles and hairdos.
Note their attitude, how they conducted
themselves on the program.
their body language, clothing styles and hairdos.
Note their attitude, how they conducted
themselves on the program.
THE CRYSTALS
The Crystals song "Da Doo Ron Ron" was written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich
and Phil Spector. Like "yada yada yada" on Seinfeld, the words "Da Doo Ron Ron"
were merely nonsense syllables used to fill gaps in the song until "real" lyrics
could be inserted. However Spector decided he liked the gibberish and
it was left in the song. The result was a top 3 hit for his girl group.
On January 4, 1964, when the following episode aired, American Bandstand
was still broadcasting from Philadelphia. In this clip, you will see the most
popular members of Bandstand's cast of studio dancers performing an
unusual move they invented, a maneuver that's too cool for school.
Watch as they repeatedly bump together in a stylish East Coast
variation of the Lindy Hop, a dance style that did not
follow the show out to the West Coast that year.
"Da Doo Ron Ron (When He Walked Me Home)" - The Crystals
(May/June 1963, highest chart pos. #3 Hot 100/#4 Cash Box,
#5 R&B, dancers on Jan. 4, 1964, ep. of American Bandstand)
TIM TAM & THE TURN-ONS
The gang of regulars on the West Coast version of Bandstand had their own
dance styles. In this clip in particular, the dancing is very impressive because
the gang gets down, gets into it, and does a more energetic workout than
usual. Watch the moves as the kids groove to "Wait A Minute," a minor
the gang gets down, gets into it, and does a more energetic workout than
usual. Watch the moves as the kids groove to "Wait A Minute," a minor
hit by the Detroit area rock 'n' roll band Tim Tam And The Turn-Ons.
"Wait A Minute" - Tim Tam and the Turn-Ons
(Mar. 1966, highest chart pos. #76 Hot 100,
dancers on Feb. 12, 1966 ep. of Bandstand)
dancers on Feb. 12, 1966 ep. of Bandstand)
THE SUPREMES
(SHEBANG!)
Now here is a glimpse of another LA-based music show for teenagers.
Shebang, hosted by disc jockey and radio personality Casey Kasem,
aired from 1965 to 1968 on KTLA channel 5. In this rare video,
Kasem and the studio dancers, some of them regulars on
American Bandstand, celebrate the show's one year
anniversary. You will see Jewel Akens, the man
who had a hit with "The Birds And The Bees,"
autographing the Shebang banner, and a
blonde dancer at the 6:50 mark who
looks a lot like Goldie Hawn!
"Stop! In The Name Of Love" - The Supremes
(Mar./Apr. 1965, highest chart pos. #1 Hot 100
& Cash Box/#2 R&B, dancers on Mar. 16, 1966,
one year anniversary ep. of TV series Shebang)
THE BOX TOPS
Clothing and hair styles and dance steps changed considerably
as the early 60s yielded to the mid and late 60s. Notice how
as the early 60s yielded to the mid and late 60s. Notice how
the Bandstanders looked and danced in the fall of 1967.
"The Letter" - The Box Tops
(Sept./Oct. 1967, highest chart pos. #1 Hot 100 & Cash Box,
dancers on Oct. 21, 1967 ep. of American Bandstand)
THE 5TH DIMENSION
I grew up knowing "Go Where You Wanna Go" only as the 1965 song written
by John Phillips, recorded by The Mamas & The Papas and released as a single
and as a track on their 1966 debut studio album If You Can Believe Your Eyes
and Ears. Until recently I wasn't aware of the cover by The 5th Dimension
released in 1967 on their debut studio album Up, Up and Away. Watch
what the Bandstand studio dancers do with the song.
"Go Where You Wanna Go" - The 5th Dimension
(Feb./Mar. 1967, highest chart pos. #16 Hot 100 & Cash Box,
dancers on Feb. 4, 1967 Ep. of American Bandstand)
SPENCER DAVIS GROUP
More great dancing out on the West Coast can be witnessed in this
clip from an episode in early 1967 as the Bandstand teens do their
thing to "Gimme Some Lovin', a top 5 hit for the English rock band
The Spencer Davis Group featuring Steve Winwood on lead vocals.
"Gimme Some Lovin'" - Spencer Davis Group
(Feb./Mar. 1967, highest chart pos. #5 Cash Box/#7 Hot 100,
dancers on Feb. 4, 1967 ep. of American Bandstand)
dancers on Feb. 4, 1967 ep. of American Bandstand)
BOBBY VINTON
To close the show, a song and video that mark a pivotal point in time for
several reasons. It is one of the first episodes of American Bandstand
to be taped after the assassination of President Kennedy. It is one of
the last Bandstand shows to be taped in Philadelphia before the show
moved to LA. It also represents a moment when the pop music scene
was about to change radically and permanently. The song you are
about to hear, a sweet romantic 50s style ballad by pop crooner
Bobby Vinton, reached #1 on the chart the first week of 1964.
By the time this episode of Bandstand aired one week later on
January 11th, Bobby's ballad had been replaced at the top of the
chart by the rowdy and allegedly dirty ditty "Louie Louie" by the
garage rock band The Kingsment, and "I Want To Hold Your Hand"
by an English combo named The Beatles made it's first appearance
on the U.S. chart. Starting two weeks later and for the next 16 weeks,
The Beatles topped the U.S. chart with their refreshingly new and
different sounding recordings. The era of rock bands had begun,
rendering American teen idols obsolete. The times, they were
a changin'. There, I've said it again.
"There! I've Said It Again" - Bobby Vinton
(Dec. 1963/Jan. 1964, highest chart pos. #1 Hot 100 & Cash Box,
dancers on Jan. 11, 1964 ep. of American Bandstand)
dancers on Jan. 11, 1964 ep. of American Bandstand)
Can it be that it was all so simple then
Or has time rewritten every line?
If we had the chance to do it all again
Tell me, would we? Could we?
Submitted for your approval - exhibits A through G - seven scenes of
young people having good clean fun... unbridled joy... fresh faced
exuberance. Simply put - it was great to be alive in the 60s!
If you ever wondered why Boomers say they wouldn't
trade places with kids of any other generation, the
magic moments on these videos are all
the evidence you'll ever need.
young people having good clean fun... unbridled joy... fresh faced
exuberance. Simply put - it was great to be alive in the 60s!
If you ever wondered why Boomers say they wouldn't
trade places with kids of any other generation, the
magic moments on these videos are all
the evidence you'll ever need.
If I could turn back time
If I could find a way...
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
