It’s the summer of 1956 and a teenager by the name of Ray Smith is waiting in a long line at Philadelphia's WFIL Studio B. Little does he know, but he’s about to become one of just a handful of lucky youngsters given the opportunity to dance live for a show called Bandstand. In an interview, Smith explained that there weren't any auditions to be part of the show. After long hours of waiting for your turn, the panel would just look at you, and if you were lucky, you got the nod!
Smith was obsessed with the show and so was prepared to do anything to be part of it. This is why he endured standing in the long line under the blistering summer sun, even getting drenched in rain for part of the agonizing wait. Smith recalled feeling a growing sense of dread as he watched hundreds of fellow hopefuls being turned away. In the end, this only served to make his acceptance feel like a miracle.
Ray Smith said that being accepted to the show meant you were part of an elite and exclusive group. He remembers the first time he ever got into Studio B and said that he felt like he stepped out of black-and-white Kansas and right into colorful Oz.
Many changes happened during the summer Smith got accepted. The show's DJ, who was also doing live commercials, took over the full-time host position. His name was Dick Clark. A year after that (August 5, 1957), Bandstand aired on ABC under its new name: American Bandstand. From that point on, it became a nationwide sensation.
Throughout the show's run, it produced several superstars by inviting them on as guests and introducing them to viewers across the country. Bandstand became so famous it established ABC Daytime Television as an American institution. Smith stayed with the show until January of 1960.
Today, Smith is known for being an Emmy Award-winning writer who built a successful career in TV News. For 30 years, he has been doing an excellent job working for The Today Show. Still, he claims his experience dancing for American Bandstand was the highlight of his career.
Ray recalls loving the fact that they danced to the latest songs and performed with the newest singers/musicians. He also met iconic stars from the '50s like Frankie Avalon, Dion, Bobby Rydell, Fabian, Connie Francis, Joni James, Chubby Checker, and Charlie Gracie.
American Bandstand is a show that captured the hearts and interest of viewers. Proof that it remains relevant to this day can be seen in the success of Bandstand Diaries: The Philadelphia Years, 1956 to 1963. Written by Ray Smith, fellow bandstand regular, Arene Sullivan, and die-hard fan, Sharon Sultan Cutler, the book is a '50s tell-all of what went down behind the scenes of the iconic show.
From detailed stories of Smith and Sullivan's personal experiences to interviews of more than 40 Bandstand regulars, the book is such a treasure trove of inside information it makes a valuable contribution to our understanding of the history of ‘50s TV. Plus, it also reveals the backstory of Dick Clark, with every bit of detail you could ask for, all made complete by the addition of nearly 700 photographs!
According to Smith, The Bandstand Diaries was a reminder of who they were in their youth. It was a reflection of what they wanted to do and become during those times. For him, getting on the show meant having more confidence and doing what made him happy. He started to think he was as good as all the other show regulars, and that confidence made him a much better person and performer.
During his interview, Smith shared eight nostalgic facts about American Bandstand. Read on to learn more and see photos of that glorious part of our history.
In this photo, you see a young Ray Smith with his fellow show regulars. That’s Dick Clark holding the mic. Smith sits in the third row from the bottom, third from the left.
Music in the studio was quite loud, but that never stopped Dick's voice from being heard through the booming speakers. He would typically use his mic when ordering someone away from the camera or telling the kids to wrap it up.
Just like any other school or organization, the people involved in making American Bandstand such a crowd favorite received an annual yearbook. Regulars and backstage staff would have their photos taken and printed in this piece of memorabilia. We're pretty sure everyone involved kept theirs around to remind them of the best days of their lives.
After taking over the show in 1956, Dick Clark strictly imposed dress codes. Girls were required to wear dresses or skirts with blouses, while the boys were asked to don sport coats, suits, and ties. Ray claims that Dick wanted his kids to look respectable. This was an essential part of dispelling the notion that they were a bunch of juvenile delinquents who would be a bad influence with their newfangled music.
Pictured here are some famous artists from the '50s – Fabian, Dick Clark, Connie Francis, Chubby Checker, and Bobby Rydell – hanging out in the studio. Everyone saw how celebrities regularly graced the show, but many didn't know that Bandstand didn't pay any of their dancers a single cent. Regulars received dozens of commercial offers, but they risked being thrown off the show if they accepted.
Arlene and Kenny were two of the most famous regulars on the show. They were admired and idolized by viewers across the country, except Philadelphians. For some reason, American Bandstand regulars were often beaten up and bullied by locals.
Those performers who knew someone on the inside or received a lot of fan mail got the opportunity to be regulars on the show. This title meant you got to dance a minimum of three times a week. The most famous regulars, Justine Carrelli and Bob Clayton, used to receive 500 letters a day. The photo above shows the two in their golden years.
Singers were required to do a lip-sync performance. However, an exception was made for Jerry Lee Lewis. Dick Clark insisted on the lip-sync routines because he knew viewers wanted to hear the exact record they would buy. For him, performing live always results in some changes to the song. The photo above shows Ray Smith and Arlene Sullivan doing the Jitterbug in Paris.
The producers didn't have a set prepared for the singers of American Bandstand. If ever you see a video of Johnny Mathis singing on a set, then it was for Dick's Saturday Night show.