American Bandstand 65th Anniversary of Premiere on ABC - 1957-1987

Happy 65th Anniversary American Bandstand!...you are now eligible for Medicare 😉

On Aug. 5, 1957, young Dick Clark’s American Bandstand began airing nationally on ABC. The show began broadcasting locally in Philadelphia in October 1952, so Dick often references the 2 anniversaries. The 70th Anniversary of the show will be on October, 2022.

Nothing really new here, but this is a mashup of clips from the 11th Anniversary show from 1968 celebrating 11 years on ABC and some dancing and a few performance clips from the 40th and 50th Anniversary shows which were celebrating the show‘s premier in Philadelphia in 1952.

I kept in a little extra 60’s stuff, but this has clips from almost every year that the show was broadcast on ABC except for those rare late 50’s and early 70’s shows. You can also see clips from Where the Action Is, Dick Clark's Beech Nut Show, and Happening. I spotted a lot of 60’s dancers like Don Sanuskar, Roni Menacker (and her cookie), June Strode, Lori Montgomery, Maureen Cohen, Famous Hooks, and John Pollard to name a few. Who did you spot?

For those of us of a certain age, Baby Boomers to Gen Xers, Saturday morning (and weekday afternoons until ‘63) meant checking in on the kids on Bandstand to see the latest fashions, music and dance moves. A young person (I assume) once commented on one of my posts “so this was an entire show with just people dancing?”. I guess it’s hard to imagine for the 20 second, TikTok video crowd of today, but that indeed was what it was and we loved it.

I hope you enjoyed this trip down memory lane. Thank you for watching!

[lauranathan]

Aaron you really are the keeper of the flame. My dad danced on Bob Horn's Bandstand in the early 50s. From early childhood, every Saturday our tv was tuned to WFIL Channel 6 here in Philadelphia. Dick Clark was the one who left us this lifetime of love letters of music and pop culture and I cannot express how important the work you are doing here is so important to preserve the best parts of American History and memories for 65 years of generations of music lovers and dancers....

[dancerdon]

This is great Aaron. American Bandstand made an indelible impact on the youth of the nation. And to think that comments posted over the years always reference the memories of “the good times” that watching and rewatching these episodes evoke. Priceless.

[judd]

Dick Clark must have loved his work. Anyone growing up in the 50s through the 90s would have been able to watch shows he brought to TV.

[thefirstMrsLankton]

Oh my goodness!! Aaron there is so much packed into this video!!! You certainly have tapped into my memory circuits. ABS really was a part of our culture way back then. It was one of the TV shows not to be missed like Maverick, Walt Disney, Ed Sullivan, Hollywood Palace, the Mickey Mouse Club, Captain Kangaroo, I Love Lucy...on and on and on. I love spotting my good buddy Don. Aaron it's been an old gray day and you sure have lifted my heart! Big hugs!!!

[bob]

Aaron, this is just fantastic!!! This spans four decades and should be shown to today’s kids to illustrate the roots of the music they listen to. Thank you for this little treasure!!!

[annahshoffner]

Awww Aaron THANKS A MILLION ❤️‼️ I could remember as far back as '58. I Love You for the Memories. It gives me chills, those were the "GOOD OLD DAYS" for Sure 😊. It brings tears to My Eyes 👀. And I ALWAYS LOVE SEEING FAMOUS HOOKS ❤️

[TomTech]

I was 4 when it all started. I lived it all. It has been a wonderful ride, . Thank you Dick Clark for entertaining all these years.

[amazingj]

I think there are so many people who wished the show was still on air.

[kbobdonahue]

Saturday mornings were about cartoons and American Bandstand. AB made a huge impact in my life. I miss those days. Thanks for sharing this video.

[GringoLoco]

Great work, Aaron -- MANY THANKS!

Hard to believe now but growing up in the San Diego area, we had the 3 network stations and two independents. AB (and DC) was my original "must see TV". What a long strange trip it's been...

[billritter]

Fantastic job on today's clip for AB's anniversary. I rediscovered it way back when VH1 aired the half-hour edited shows in the 90's. Thank goodness for you and others to keep the AB memories alive and enjoying a slice of pop Americana which AB will always be a part of.

[thruthealcove]

Aaron, this is just perfect the way you combined all the montages together from the 2 anniversary specials! I still have them both on VHS tapes! And you know you've watched them both to death when you can "sing" whole segments without missing a beat! Lol Happy Anniversary to American Bandstand and to all of the dancers that graced the set living & home to glory! Thanks so much Aaron, be well man!!!

[asan]

Thanks! I was born in -61, great memories from this show and Soul Train!

[miakialchemy]

I never imagined I'd be so nostalgic for the good times and great music. Very comforting in these times. Thank you!

[jthyme]

I never missed a single anniversary show, especially after I started collecting vintage videos. I always wanted to see the clips that survived and saying "I WANT THAT!" and all these years ended up getting about 95% of those clips.

[AmericanBandstandAgain]

Ah man, was this one fun to watch. You've outdone yourself Aron. A great montage. Thanks for all your hard work.

[RandyR]

I grew up with this spectacular show. Could hardly wait for the next show. Thanks for the memories. Music lives forever!

[sheilaklugman]

Loved this ty so Loved this so which they'd could do re-runs, I'd love to see it on TV again

[scottburton]

Still miss Dick Clark-He was the best!

[keithidota]

10:45 So sad. RIP Olivia, we honestly love you. You immediately have a companion in the Seekers' Judith Dunham. RIP Judith, they'll never find another you.