Bandstand 1957

American Bandstand 1957

American Bandstand joined the ABC-TV Network on August 5th, 1957 and thus opened it’s studio doors to every teenager and pre-teen (and many more) in America.  It was an instant smash hit program.  Starting with the first show the dancers would no longer identify their school when introduced – only present their name and age – because it was now a “national show”.

American Bandstand – August, 1957

August 5th 1957 – Billy Williams – The Chordettes

From Country Paul Payton:

“Interesting story about Billy Williams – “Sit Right Down” was his only top ten hit, but he was a frequent low-charter. I confess I knew nothing more about him other than his big hit until I did a little research. Sad ending to his career: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Williams_(singer)

“People forget, because of their young sound, that The Chordettes had a significant career on The Arthur Godfrey Show overlapping with becoming the huge hitmakers of the late ’50s. (By this time, a lot of people forget The Arthur Godfrey Show, too, despite the fact that he was a major star of his time; Godfrey, as I both read and recall, was not the most pleasant person!) They weren’t kids when they started out, either, and actually began as a barbershop-harmony group, which accounts in parts for their unusual arrangements and excellent blend.

Indeed, Craig, at least in the early years Bleyer produced everything on the label; it was why he started it.

The Julius La Rosa firing was a huge scandal at the time; Godfrey would “get a hair across his butt” and fire anyone at any time; that “hair” came out in full force and was the beginning of Godfrey’s public turning against him. Ultimately, he fired virtually everybody, including Bleyer and all his “little Godfreys”: The Chordettes (one of whom was married to Bleyer), Marion Marlowe and The Mariners (a mixed-race barbershop quartet, very unusual for the era) most prominent among them.

I was just a little kid when Godfrey was on, but I remember having an inherent distaste for him. Nothing I’ve seen on YouTube or read about him has warmed that up at all. On the other hand, The Chordettes were amazing; they could handle sweet and earnest music with a sense of honesty that was rare. Among my favorites: “”No Other Arms, No Other Lips,” “Born to Be with You” and the regrettably obscure (and later – 1960) “A Broken Vow.” And of course Bleyer gave the world some of the best pop and rock to come out of that era, including The Everly Brothers and to a lesser extent Johnny Tillotson as well as The Chordettes.”

August 6th 1957  – Dale Hawkins – Don Rondo

August 7th 1957 – Paul Anka – The Tassels

August 8th 1957 – Kitty Kallen – Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers
(Songs performed unknown)

August 9th 1957 – Lee Andrews & The Hearts

August 12th 1957 – The Four Coins – Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps

August 13th 1957 – Sal Mineo – Jodi Sands

August 14th 1957 – Rusty & Doug Kershaw
(Songs performed unknown)

Debbie Reynolds is interviewed remote live on the show via telephone but not performing

August 15th 1957 – Lee Kane

August 16th – 1957 – Ted Newman

August 19th 1957 – Jimmy Bowen & The Rhythm Orchids – Jerry Lee Lewis
(Rhythm Orchids included Buddy Knox, Don Lanier and David Alldred who would become Dickey Doo)

August 20th 1957 – David Hill – Terry Stevens

August 21st 1957 – Randy Starr

August 22nd, 1957 – The Dubs

August 23rd, 1957 – Steve Karmen

August 26th, 1957 – Doc Bagby – Buddy Holly & The Crickets

August 27th, 1957 – Johnny Nash – Fats Domino

August 28th, 1957 – Eileen Barton – The Matys Brothers

August 29th, 1957 – Malcolm Dodds & The Tunedrops

August 30th, 1957 – The Virtues
(Song performed unknown)

American Bandstand – September, 1957

Dress Codes

The rules and dress code were strict on American Bandstand.  For the boys coats and or sweaters and ties were required.  Girls had to wear skirts.  The show would start at 2:30 PM each afternoon Philadelphia time and so the students from nearby West Catholic High School would be the first to arrive since school let out at 2:30.  In the beginning the West Catholic girls wore their school uniforms into Bandstand.  In short order the nuns put a prompt end to that requiring them to cover up their dresses with sweaters.  White collars would protrude from their tops and soon young girls across the nation were imitating the “Bandbox Philadelphia Collar” style.

The Committee

Hundred’s of teenagers would line up outside the studio for admittance each day – but a select group – who came to be known as “The Committee” (and by viewers as “The Regulars”) would be permitted automatic entry into the program each afternoon.  Selection of Committee members was determined by fan mail which would run heavy for certain couples on the show.  Once in a while a new couple would attract attention of the viewers and they would be added to the ranks of the chosen.

September 2nd, 1957 – The Bobbettes – Andy Williams

September 3rd, 1957 – The Mellokings

September 4th 1957 – Libby Dean

September 5th 1957 – Brian Fischer

September 6th 1957 – Mike Pedicin Quartet

September 9th, 1957 – The Diamonds

September 10th 1957 – Jimmie Rodgers

September 11th 1957 – Webb Pierce

September 12 1957 – Nick Noble – The Tuneweavers

September 13 1957 – The Everly Brothers

September 16th 1957 – Ted Newman – The Crew Cuts

September 17th 1957 – Bobby Charles – Tommy Leonetti

September 18th 1957 – Frankie Avalon – Rod Willis

September 19th 1957 – Dale Hawkins – Bob Jaxon

September 20th 1957 – Don Rondo – The Poni Tails

September 23rd 1957 – The Playmates (Song Unknown)

September 24th 1957 – Dick Lindy (Song Unknown)

September 25th 1957 – Eileen Rodgers

September 26th 1957 – The Rays

September 27th 1957 – Bob Crewe

September 30th, 1957 – Sonny James

American Bandstand – October, 1957

October 1st 1957 – Cathy Carr (Song performed unknown)

October 2nd 1957 – Bobby Brooks (Song performed unknown)

October 3rd 1957 – Marvin Rainwater

October 4th 1957 – Jackie Wilson

October 7th, 1957 – The Shepherd Sisters – Evening Prime Time: Chordettes

October 8th, 1957 – The Chordettes – Chuck Reed

October 9th 1957 – Johnny Mathis – Andy Williams

October 10th 1957 – Thurston Harris – Jerry Lee Lewis

October 11th 1957 – The Dell-Vikings – Teddy Randazzo

October 14th 1957 – The Four Coins

October 15th 1957 – Carol Jarvis

October 16th 1957 American Bandstand

The Mellow Kings & Lou Connettie – Songs performed unknown

October 17th 1957 – Artie Wayne

October 18th 1957 – Russ Hamilton

October 21st 1957 – The Five Satans – The Rover Boys

October 21st, 1957 Prime Time – Billy Williams

October 22nd 1957 – Romain Brown – Robin Hood were the two artists (Songs performed unknown)

October 23rd 1957  – Georgia Gibbs

October 24th, 1957 – Cathy Carr – Vernon Taylor (Songs performed unknown)

October 25th 1957 – Hugh O’Brien – Interview

October 28th 1957 – Unknown Artists

October 28th, 1957 Prime Time – Songs Performed Unknown

October 29th 1957 – Bonnie Guitar – The DeJohn Sisters (DeJohn song performed unknown)

October 30th 1957 – Billy Miles – Jill Whitney (Songs performed unknown)

October 31st 1957 – The Four Top Hatters – Bob Grabeau (Songs performed unknown)

November 1st, 1957 – The Four Esquires

November 3rd, 1957 – Jerry Lee Lewis – The Bachelors

The Bachelors (an American group from New Haven) perform “From Your Heart” – Images not available

November 4th, 1957 – The Shepherd Sisters
(Song performed unknown)

November 5th, 1957 – Joe Bennett & The Sparkletones – Mitzi Mason

November 6th, 1957 – Jerry Reed

November 7th, 1957 – American Bandstand – Tommy Prisco

November 8th, 1957 – American Bandstand – Chuck Berry – Lu Ann Simms

Lu Ann Simms performs “Cha-Lypso” and “I Remember Marcellino” – 45 images not available

November 11th, 1957 – American Bandstand – Paul Carr – Fran Lori
(Need artist photo)

November 12th, 1957 – American Bandstand – Joni James
(Joni performs “I Give You My Word” – Image not available)

November 13th, 1957 – American Bandstand – Janice Harper

November 14th, 1957 – American Bandstand – Jim Lowe – The Wilburn Brothers

November 15th, 1957 – American Bandstand – Dick Duane – Gary Trexler

November 19th, 1957 – American Bandstand – Marty Robbins – SONG PERFORMED NOT KNOWN

November 20th, 1957 – American Bandstand – Rusty Draper
(Song performed not known)

November 21st, 1957 – American Bandstand – The Crickets were scheduled by according to TV DOT COM probably cancelled

November 22nd, 1957 – American Bandstand – Tom & Jerry

November 25th, 1957 – American Bandstand – Guy Pastor

November 25th, 1957 – American Bandstand Prime Time Show – Mickey & Sylvia

November 26th, 1957 – American Bandstand – Sunny Gale

November 27th, 1957 – American Bandstand – Billy Haley & The Comets

November 28th, 1957 – American Bandstand – Paul Hampton

November 29th, 1957 – American Bandstand – Ronnie Self

American Bandstand – December, 1957

December 2nd, 1957 – Bill Craddock – Sam Cooke
(Craddock song unknown)

December 3rd, 1957 – The Rays – Johnny Nash – Bob Crewe
(Bob Crewe song unknown)

December 4th, 1957 – Danny & The Juniors – Jimmy Dee & the Offbeats
(Dick Clark had a small role in the creation of “At the Hop” suggesting a different title than the original “Do the Bop”)

December 5th, 1957 – The Diamonds – Helen Curtis

December 6th, 1957 – Terry Noland

December 9th, 1957 – The Sprouts

December 9th, 1957 – Prime Time – Bill Justis & His Combo

December 10th, 1957 – Kay Armen

December 11th, 1957 – Randy Starr

December 12th, 1957 – Frankie Avalon
(Frankie performs “Shy Guy” – Need image)

December 13th, 1957 – Gene Nash

December 16th, 1957 – Gene Vincent & The Blue Caps

December 17th, 1957 – Bobby Darin

December 17th, 1957 – Prime Time – Sonny James

December 18th, 1957 –  Georgia Gibbs
(Song performed unknown)

December 19th, 1957 – Jerry Vale – The Dubs
(Jerry Vale song performed unknown)

December 20th, 1957 – The Twin-Tones
(Need a 45 single release for “Jo-Ann” if there is one)

December 23rd, 1957 – The Four Esquires – Johnny Crawford
(Can’t verify that Johnny Crawford did appear at this early date – His television series “The Rifleman” didn’t start up until the following year when he was 12 and he didn’t hit the record charts until the early 1960’s.  He was however an original Mouseketeer for one season so who knows?)

December 23rd, 1957 – Prime Time – The Everly Brothers

December 24th, 1957 – The Mellow Kings

December 25th, 1957 – The Mike Pedicin Quartet – Dickey Do & The Don’ts
(Dickey Doo was Gerry Granaham who earlier performed with Jimmy Bowen’s Rhythm Orchids as “David Alldred” – He later produced for The Angels, Jay & The Americans, The Fireflies, Patty Duke and The Wild Ones)

December 26th, 1957 – The Four Esquires – Patti Page

December 27th, 1957 – Will Glahe & His Orchestra – The Techniques

December 30th, 1957 – Bob Jaxon – Lee Allen
(Allen was a great session musician – also fronting his own band – and often backing Fats Domino in his band – TV Dot Com sites that Noble “Thin Man” Watts may have appeared on this program)

December 31st, 1957 – The Fontaine Sisters – Tina Robin
(Songs performed not known)