Richard Augustus Wagstaff Clark, Jr. was an American radio and television personality, television producer and film actor as well as a cultural icon who remains best known for hosting American Bandstand from 1957 to 1989. He was born November 30, 1929 in Mount Vernon NY and died on April 18, 2012 at the age of 82 in Santa Monica CA.
American Bandstand helped advanced the careers of countless artists which included singers such as Paul Anka, Barry Manilow and Madonna. Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, the long-running special broadcast that aired on December 31 each year began in 1972.
Clark created numerous other shows over the years such as The $25,000 Pyramid, TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes.
Born the son of a sales manager for radio stations Clark eventually decided he wanted to pursue a career in radio in his early teens. While in high school, he suffered a great personal loss. His older brother Bradley was killed in World War II. As the war ended, he began his career in show business. The teenager landed a job in the mailroom of radio station WRUN in 1945. Located in Utica, New York, the station was owned by his uncle and managed by this father. The young Clark was soon promoted to weatherman and news announcer.
After graduating from A.B. Davis High School in 1947, Clark went to Syracuse University. There he majored in business administration and landed a part-time job as a disc jockey at the student-radio station on campus. He also worked at radio and television stations in Syracuse and Utica before moving to WFIL radio in Philadelphia in 1952.
WFIL had an affiliated television station (now WPVI) which began broadcasting a show called Bob Horn's Bandstand in 1952. Clark was a regular substitute host on the popular afternoon program which had teenagers dancing to popular music. When Horn left the show, Clark became the full-time host on July 9, 1956. Editor's note: This would have been 5 days prior to my 10th birthday so I truly grew up with American Bandstand after school each afternoon. Through Teen magazine I came to feel like I actually knew many of the dancers such as dance partners, Kenny Rossi and Arlene Sullivan; Pat Molittieri and another popular dance couple, Bob and Justine (Bob Clayton and Justine Carrelli). At the time, Bob was 16 and Justine was 13. To this day, Kenny and Arlene remain close friends.
Some of the dancers in 1992 had a 40th reunion. "We danced and it was like we had never stopped", says Clayton, 70 at the time, owned a gift boutique in Delaware. Carrelli, 68 at the time, sold real estate in Arizona.
Largely through Clark's initiative, Bandstand was picked up by ABC as American Bandstand for nationwide distribution beginning on August 5, 1957. The program's mix of lip-synched performances, interviews and its famous "Rate-a-Record" segment captivated teenagers with these often repeated comments .. "I liked the beat and it was easy to dance to". Overnight, Clark became one of pop music's most important tastemakers. His exposure on American Bandstand generated countless hits.
Clark required a formal dress code of dresses or skirts for girls and coats and ties for boys that helped establish the show's wholesome appearance. The move was an early indication of Clark's innate ability to read the public's mindset and mute potential criticism. Eventually the show moved from Philly to Los Angeles, the center of the entertainment industry allowing Clark to diversify his involvement in television production.
Among the many award programs the company produced was the American Music Awards which Clark created as a rival to the Grammy Awards. The special has often surpassed viewership of the Grammys, presumably because it presents performers more closely attuned to young audiences' tastes. Clark's production company also produced a number of movies and made-for-TV movies which included Elvis (1979), Birth of the Beatles (1979), Elvis and the Colonel: The Untold Story (1993), and Copacabana in 1985.
In 1972, Clark produced and hosted Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve. Clark made his last apearance on the annual event on its New Year's Eve 2012 program which was celebrating its 40th anniversary that night. Around this time, he spoke with the Los Angeles Times about the show. Clark noted that two of the most memorable moments for him were the millennium broadcast and Jennifer Lopez's performance in 2009.
"The most amazing thing to me about doing the show for 40 years is how quickly it all went."
Dick Clark
While Clark's behind-the-scenes business acumen had much to do with the fortune he amassed, he was better known for the charming on-air personality and ageless looks that allowed him to remain one of television's most popular hosts and pitchmen, even long after American Bandstand went off the air. During this time the show became a national sensation!
For more than five decades, Dick Clark shaped the viewing and listening habits of music fans. A true pioneer in both music and television, he will be remembered for his lasting impact on popular culture.
Clark ended most appearances with the catchphrase, "For now, Dick Clark .. so long," punctuating the line with a military salute.
I hope you have enjoyed this music-inspired Bandstand trip down memory lane as much as I have enjoyed reminiscing about music being the soundtrack of our lives. For the 20 years the Pops was in Bemus Point, it became the continuing soundtrack of my life.
Btw, guess who holds the record for the most American Bandstand appearances at 110?
Freddy Cannon .. known for hits such as Tallahassee Lassie, Way Down Yonder in New Orleans and Palisades Park.
Pat Locke
Maestro Muse
