Patti From Boston Meets Kenny and Norman
By: Patricia Perkins Edited for content and clarity Seeing Kenny Perform I was a Boston Chapter Fan Club president for Kenny. I kept up with him even after he left American Bandstand. I knew he was touring with his band and I wrote him a letter asking that if he ever...
Ray Smith’s Philly Pops Weekend
By : Ray Smith Ray Smith, Jerry Blavat, and Arlene Smith Arlene Sullivan and I were in Philadelphia last weekend to take part in the Philly Pops’ celebration of American Bandstand and its decades’ long association with Philadelphia at the dawn of rock ‘n’ roll....
Dick Clark- Behind the Scenes with America’s Oldest Teenager
a By Ray Smith An excerpt from Bandstand Diaries: The Philadelphia Years 1956-1963 Dick Clark fascinated me. I can't explain it. he just did. I saw him all the time on TV pitching jewelry for Barr's Jewelers, the place where most high school seniors bought their class...
Arlene Sullivan Interview with Ron Carson
Click here to go to interview audio. Starts at about 40 second mark.
When Kenny Met Arlene
Bandstand Diaries co-author Arlene Sullivan wrote about meeting Kenny in script. Here is a short recap of her recollections. "When I first met Kenny Rossi he was sitting way up in the stands I noticed his curly black hair, blue suit, beautiful brown eyes. He was...
“Mickey Bandstand” Describes Fascinating Early Days of Bandstand
Now, here’s my own story on being on the first show of Bandstand with Bob Horn, and how it changed my life.
SURPRISING DICK CLARK ON THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW!
By Eddie Kelly Let's all go back to November of 1985. Thirty-three years ago... Has it really been that long? At that time, it felt like the entire city of Chicago and suburbs watched the Oprah Winfrey Show. All the excitement started when Arlene Sullivan was...
Confessions of a Camera Hog
Edited for content and clarity Confessions of a Camera Hog By: Ed Kelly Camera Hog per Urban Dictionary: A person that likes to be in "the center" of pictures always "wanting" to be in pictures. I was an absolute camera hog. I think most of the American Bandstand...
Meeting Bobby Rydell
Edited for content and reading purposes. Shirley Baney Meets Bobby Rydell By Shirley Baney The Biggest Show of Stars came to Pittsburgh I was 12 years old in 1960. I begged, prayed, and pleaded to be able to go see my biggest teen crush! My Step-Dad said he would try...
WHERE CAN I SEE AMERICAN BANDSTAND RERUNS?
THE MYSTERY OF THE MISSING BANDSTAND RERUNS George Yates As told to Sharon Sultan Cutler The question on Bandstand fans’ minds is how and when will they be able to see reruns of American Bandstand, especially from the early years 1956 through 1964. The answer...
A Bandstand Diaries Exclusive: My Friend Myrna Horowitz
Edited for content and reading purposes A Bandstand Diaries Exclusive My Friend Myrna Horowitz By: Ed Kelly Most people remember Myrna as the girl with the brace due to her fight with polio. But she was also an inspiring, resilient, kind, loving, personable...
American Bandstand Essay by Albert Koch
By: Albert Koch of Dyer, Indiana Excerpted from: BANDSTAND DIARIES: The Philadelphia Years 1956-1963 AMERICAN BANDSTAND American Bandstand made its ABC Television network debut on August 5, 1957. This five-day-a-week sock...
The A,B,C,’s of American Bandstand: Part 3
(edited for clarity and reading purposes) By Eddie Kelly "C" GROUP (1961 - 1964): I was not around for this group, therefore I do not have much to say. These Regulars went on to receive mail, have fan clubs, feature magazine articles and dancer contests just like...
The A, B, C’s of American Bandstand: Part 2
Edited for reading and clarity By Eddie Kelly "B" GROUP (1959 - 1961): There were so many Regulars during this time and too many to mention. Forgive me! Frani and Carole really came into their own during this time. Carmen & Ivette came on the scene like a...
The A,B,C’s of American Bandstand: Part 1
Edited for reading and clarity By Eddie Kelly "A' GROUP (1956 - 1959): Justine, Bob, Arlene, Kenny. If you need to know their last names you never watched American Bandstand. I call them the "Fab Four" a/k/a The "Phenomenon". They put American Bandstand on the map...