The big teenybopper magazines of the era Sixteen and Teen plastered Bandstand dancers on their covers and wrote glowing, gossipy stories about their lives in Philadelphia, where Dick Clark produced the show. The parents of one kid on the show found out that he was gay . I figured I had no chance in hell, but I was smitten by her the same way I was smitten by Marilyn Monroe and actresses like that. It featured teenagers dancing to Top 40 music introduced by Clark; at least one popular musical actover the decades, running the gamut from Jerry Lee Lewis to RunD.M.C.usually appeared in person to lip-sync one of their latest singles. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Justine said yes. Who were the most popular dancers on American Bandstand? Hey, our thanks to Laura Branigan for joining us here on American Bandstand today. That was the start of our romance, Jim said. Justine got in, and along with her dance partner and soon-to-be-boyfriend, Bob Clayton, became one of the shows most popular couples. WUSF 89.7 depends on donors for the funding it takes to provide you the most trusted source of news and information here in town, across our state, and around the world. Your email address will not be published. They wrote thousands of The whole thing was like a grand party, she said. Millions of kids from Brooklyn to Beverly Hills ran home from school every weekday to watch them dance, imitate their styles and fantasize about their lives. I was SO mixed up., Today, Arlene Sullivan lives with a partner and, despite having suffered strokes, still loves to dance. Watch American Bandstand 1950s: Justine Carrelli and Bob Cayton highlighted on American Bandstand. Kenny loved to sing. I didnt know what I was doing and decided I cant do this, and I called my dad and asked him to come get me, she says. They won the first jitterbug contest when the show went . It also was a prototype for musical television properties including cable channel MTV and Fox's reality-competition show American Idol. American Bandstand, abbreviated AB, is an American music-performance and dance television program that aired in various versions that aired regularly from 1952 to 1989, and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as the program's producer.It featured teenagers dancing to Top 40 music introduced by Clark; at least one popular musical actover the decades . 1960s. But Molittieri eventually returned to her Philadelphia roots, where she married and had two daughters before dying at age 32 of either a heart attack or a stroke. Jim Miller was in junior high, living on Long Island, New York, when Bandstand became a national hit. After school in the late 1950s, millions of American teenagers raced home to watch the gyrations of fellow teens on their parents tiny black-and-white televisions in the living room. The use of videotape allowed Clark to produce and host a series of concert tours around the success of American Bandstand and to pursue other broadcast interests. The followed the trend of solo ("open") dancing started by Chubby Checker and "The Twist.". I was trying to hit them over their heads with my pocketbook, but they just wouldnt give up. American Bandstand played a crucial role in introducing Americans to such famous artists as Prince, Jackson 5, Sonny and Cher, Aerosmith, and John Lydon's PiLall of whom made their American TV debuts on the show. The lunch was a success. They werent playing basketball. [2] Freddy Cannon holds the record for most appearances, at 110. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. In other parts of the country, if you were a gay kid growing up, you were probably the only one in town who was gay, Sullivan said. [36] Clark remained as executive producer. Acts debuting on Bandstand appeared on Deane's program, but were asked to not mention their previous appearance with Clark while on the Baltimore show. If this is what 50 is like, who cares?, Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Thanks for contacting us. She is a Marco Polo member of the Society of American Travel Writers, a past president of Virginia Professional Communicators and a member of the Virginia Communications Hall of Fame. Who are some famous people from American Bandstand? While Bandstand fans across the country imagined a true romantic relationship between Sullivan, who secretly liked girls, and her on-screen companion, Rossi, who was straight, she says it was little more than made-for-TV puppy love. We were the first reality show, she adds. Years later, when Clark was asked whether any of the dancers had died of AIDS, he . (1957), Kenny Rogers and Arlene Sullivan were my favorites on American Bandstand. He found her selling real estate in Dolan Springs, Arizona, population 1,989. One couple on the show was a couple in real life; Justine Carrelli and Bob Clayton dated for three years. Kenny and Arlene met up again in the late 70s and to this day remain close friends. We regret any confusion this caused.] And in her early 20s, she actually tied the knot with a young man. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. American Bandstand will be back someday, I assure you. Taking center stage each week was superstar Bandstand couple Justine Carrelli and Bob Clayton, two of the show's most popular dancers. wordlist = ['!', '$.027', '$.03', '$.054/mbf', '$.07', '$.07/cwt', '$.076', '$.09', '$.10-a-minute', '$.105', '$.12', '$.30', '$.30/mbf', '$.50', '$.65', '$.75', '$. She tracked them down for the new coffee-table book, Bandstand Diaries: The Philadelphia Years, 1956-1963. I kissed a girl, and I liked it! Sullivan, now 74 and long out of the closet, reveals in a fascinating self-published book, Bandstand Diaries billed as The Book Youve Waited Over 50 Years to Read!. He liked the "kids" and enjoyed giving someone their start in the music business. Once the program went national upon its move to Los Angeles, new host Dick Clark decided that integration was the most responsible move. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Arlene Sullivan, a star on Bandstand, is now 74. Tom Ridge and Mayor Edward G. Rendell helped unveil a state historical marker outside the studio after dancing ``The Twist with Checker. "[5] In one humorous segment broadcast for years on retrospective shows, comedians Cheech and Chong appeared as the record raters. As a teenager in the late 1970s I always enjoyed watching American Bandstand on Saturday afternoons. On Bandstand, she became lifelong friends with one of the celebrity guests, straight Annette Funicello, of Mickey Mouse Club and Beach Party fame. The guy who had been in charge of the show before he took over was the subject of a scandal a DUI, I think so Clark wanted to be the clean-cut guy, and he was. She wasnt immediately successful, but with the help of a new southwest Philly friend, she eventually got in. After being told by Dick Clark that as a recording artist a professional he could no longer dance on American Bandstand. Five-foot-two, brown-eyed, brown-haired Arlene and handsome Kenny, a year younger, were among the TV music shows elite, its stars, the vaunted regulars along with another couple often on camera pert, blond Justine Carrelli and suave Bob Clayton. It was horrible., Smith says he was lucky to have escaped a beating. . Bob had his last get-together with Justine at a Christmas party in his Delaware home in 2013. In fact, it was dangerous. Dick Clark was a wonderful man who enjoyed his work. Sometimes, he would come home from school and turn on the show. Dick Clark, the Rock & Roll Icon and. Artie Shaw These teenagers became the nation's first reality-TV stars--they received thousands of fan letters and were mobbed everywhere they went. Dick Clark never played either song on American Bandstand. We use cookies to give you the best experience. Television host Dick Clark presides over the set of his show American Bandstand in 1957. They will always be my favorite couple. He thought she was at least a couple of years older. The short Snader and Official music films continued in the short term to fill gaps when dancers were changed during the showa necessity, because the studio could not fit more than 200 teenagers. Dick Clark He was an ace professional with a kind and sincere manner. 3. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". But . I was surprised how short she was, he said. Copyright 2022 WGCU. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Some solo dances had animal names, for example, "The Pony" and "The Monkey"; others were named for . Arlene learned that Kenny had a particular fondness for parties as he liked the attention when he was dancing. Bill Before Florida Senate Would Put Local Ordinances on Hold if Challenged, Legislation would make it illegal for doctors to provide gender-affirming care to transgender youths, Florida Republicans are taking on the media. If it wasnt assaults from outside haters, some of the Bandstand kids suffered in their own homes. The Del-Vikings also known as The Dell-Vikings were an American doo-wop group that recorded several hit singles in the 1950s and continued to record and tour with various lineups in later decades. If she was on I watched it, if not I would do something else.. Thats why Elvis Presley and Ricky Nelson would never appear on the show, but movie stars Jeff Chandler, Tab Hunter, Sal Mineo came., Dancing came naturally to Sullivan, the way it did to all Regulars, she says. First called Bandstand, the program premiered October 6, 1952, hosted by Philadelphia radio DJ Bob Horn (1916-66). Movies Showing. Watch American Bandstand 1950s: Justine Carrelli and Bob Cayton highlighted on American Bandstand. And now we have computers. Q: What happened to my favorite American Bandstand couple, Justine Carrelli and Bob Clayton? by Sharon Sultan Cutler | Jan 7, 2019 | American Bandstand, Philadelphia, Regulars | 8 comments. It got me out of my shell, but I learned I was a regular teenager who happened to dance on a show that unexpectedly became very popular. American Bandstand, abbreviated AB, is an American music-performance and dance television program that aired in various versions that aired regularly from 1952 to 1989, and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as the program's producer.It featured teenagers dancing to Top 40 music introduced by Clark; at least one popular musical actover the decades . On September 13, 1969, the Bandstand set was given a complete overhaul and Les Elgart's big band version of "Bandstand Boogie" was replaced by the Mike Curb theme. How old is Arlene Sullivan from American Bandstand? American Bandstand, abbreviated AB, is an American music-performance and dance television program that aired in various versions that aired regularly from 1952 to 1989,[1] and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as the program's producer. This is a love story 55 years in the making, and you can thank the teen dance program American Bandstand for it. She saw the hang up and returned the call, thinking it might be an interested buyer. . ", "Forty years after 'Bandstand' debut, Clark and dancers celebrate", "ORIGINAL DANCERS WILL GRANDSTAND AT 'BANDSTAND' REUNION", "American Bandstand, Season 30, Episode 38: Laura Brannigan (Final ABC show)", "Dick Clark's On a Roll: He Tunes In to TV Trends", "Dick Clark celebrates American Bandstand's 35th", "RETRO: Fairbanks, Alaska (October 24, 1987)", "Retro: Northern Wisconsin, Sat. Then Dick Clark died in 2012. and they put a drinking cup in front of him and said, This is your cup, and youre the only one who will use this cup. One friend of mine was kicked out of the house.. Soul Unlimited was not well-received among its target audience of African-Americans, ostensibly due to its being created by a white man (Clark), and because of its alleged usage of deliberately racial overtones despite this fact. But he feared that if the shows secret ever came out, Middle America would change the channel. Jim didnt know that Justine lied about her age when introduced for the spotlight dances. They werent playing baseball they were DANCING. Who were the most popular dancers on American Bandstand? best known for his love of music and dancing on American . Bob 'Showboat' Hall . The increase in competition hurt Bandstand and the variety of options for music on TV decreased its relevance. From 1974 to 1977, there was a newer, orchestral disco version of "Bandstand Boogie", arranged and performed by Joe Porter, played during the opening and closing credits. John Lithgow filmed a mockumentary episode before it was c Canadian teacher with size-Z prosthetic breasts placed on paid leave, What's next for Buster Murdaugh after dad's murder conviction, life sentence, Murdaugh son collapsed outside court after sitting stone-faced through dad's 6-week murder trial: source, Madonna watches new boyfriend Joshua Poppers fight in New York City, Saving Private Ryan actor Tom Sizemore dead at 61 after brain aneurysm, How Ariana Madix discovered Tom Sandoval was cheating on her with Raquel Leviss, Chris Rock Jokes About Watching Emancipation to See Will Smith Getting Whipped In Advance of Netflix Special: Report, Kellyanne Conway and George Conway to divorce. Instead of shortening or moving Bandstand, ABC opted to just begin Bandstand at 3pm, cut away to Who Do You Trust? Themselves 1 episode, 1962 The Surfsiders . He sometimes wondered what happened to Justine, especially around New Years Eve when he would watch Dick Clark host his special. Self - Singer 1 episode, 1962 The Boopers . Clark regularly asked teenagers their opinions of the songs being played, through the "Rate-a-Record" segment. Picture indicates this was in the 1970s. Arlene Sullivan and Bunny Gibson went on to write memoirs about their time spent on Bandstand and growing up as members of the Baby Boom generation. No other dancers or couples even came close to comparing to them!!! We are a nonprofit public service, and your support is more critical than ever. "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. But it was not easy on the mean streets of Philadelphia to be a Bandstand regular suspected of being gay. But back in the Bandstand days, Smith was one of the shows secretly gay dancers. Prior to the move, Bandstand had sourced many of its up-and-coming acts from Philadelphia's Cameo-Parkway Records. Bandstand Dairies has made my golden years even better to remember the SOLID GOLD DAYS. I hope more people of the past can enjoy their past by checking Bandstand Dairies,looking things up on the computer and contact your old fiends. American Bandstand didn't just introduce the country to the latest rock-and-roll musicians, it had the nation on its feet with the latest dance crazes, such as the Pony, the Jitterbug, and the . He was adorable.". Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero (born December 12, 1937), [2] known professionally as Connie Francis, is an American pop singer, actress, and top-charting female vocalist of the late 1950s and early 1960s. ``I just hit 50 and I feel like Im 14 today. At just 13 and 16, respectively, the twosome became regulars on the Dick Clark-hosted show, dancing as a couple for almost three years before they parted ways. Absolutely! For a time, she dated a neighborhood boy, Danny Rapp, lead singer of Danny & the Juniors, who had the hit song At the Hop., I was so afraid that I started trying to talk myself into being straight, Sullivan says. My parents were always there for me. share their memories of the late Dick Clark and more. Arlene and Kenny first danced to "Why Don't You Understand" by George Hamilton IV. ``Bandstand first aired for a national audience on ABC on Aug. 5, 1957. We didnt say anything about meeting again, Justine said. [The knowledge about the dancers] would have destroyed himand the . Her sister, Ivette Jimenez, recalled the thrill of having an admirer from Seattle send her a check for a car. When cute young teenagers Arlene Sullivan and Kenny Rossi slow danced together on American Bandstand back in the late 50s and early 60s, kids across the country swooned. Bobby Rydell and Fabian, two other rock n roll celebrities with Philadelphia and ``Bandstand roots, recalled how a gig on the nationally broadcast show meant enormous exposure that led to movie contracts and other TV appearances. Local radio disc jockey Buddy Deane was chosen as the host of The Buddy Deane Show on Channel 13, and began a daily two hour broadcast on September 9, 1957. Watch American Bandstand 1950s: Justine Carrelli and Bob Cayton highlighted . They werent playing football. Attempts continue to launch a successful game show or sitcom", "Final American Bandstand: The Cover Girls", http://nicestkids.com/nehvectors/nicest-kids/bandstands-backyard, "Remembering American Bandstand's 50th [Photos]", Son of Svengoolie - 'Good Morning, Sven' (Opening,Show #218) (verse occurs at the 1:35 mark), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=American_Bandstand&oldid=1140855641, American Bandstand's 20th Anniversary (1973), American Bandstand's 25th Anniversary (1977), American Bandstand's 30th Anniversary (1982), American Bandstand's 33 1/3 Celebration (1985), American Bandstand's 40th Anniversary (1992), American Bandstand's 50th Anniversary (2002), The show was featured prominently in the 20022005, This page was last edited on 22 February 2023, at 03:03. He thought she was at least a couple of years older. Kenny was approached by a record company they wanted him to record and released Problem Child, his first of many to follow. Bob retired after being in the shoe business and the chemical business, where he often worked 18 hour days. ``You knew when you were on `American Bandstand something good was going to happen, Rydell said. History goes back and forth with the timing and motives of the integration, but nevertheless, American Bandstand socially impacted teenagers' opinions regarding race. I did get to know Annette Funicello [a Mouseketeer on the original Mickey Mouse Club], who came to the show. such material remains the copyrig. American Bandstand Dancers Justine Carrelli Miller and Bob Clayton Thank you Arlene for given us a second turn of theGold Yeaysand new meaning of my Old Years. The segment gave rise to the catchphrase "It's got a good beat and you can dance to it. We ended up spending weekends together when she came to New York and D.C. to perform We went to lunch together and had fun, but Annette had to rest and perform, so we didnt have time for anything else., Sullivan never felt like a superstar, even when the Regulars averaged 100 to 150 fan letters a day. The BBC's. Particularly during the show's prime Philadelphia years (1952-63), Philadelphia youth culture became American culture through American Bandstand. In another format shift, it was shot outdoors at Universal Studios Hollywood. I said, In that case, Im staying. I was shocked. [42] American Bandstand was a daily ritual for many teenagers throughout the nation. Your email address will not be published. He would dance on the show until early 1960. Justines friends, who were the same age, got into the show one day, but she was turned away. The other reason was that American Bandstand was pre-empted on many occasions by televised college football games (which expanded greatly in number in the wake of a court-ordered deregulation in 1984) which were becoming huge ratings successes, as well as occasional special presentations (i.e. Where Are the American Bandstand Regulars Now? They split their time between Dolan Springs and Venice. Taking center stage each week was superstar Bandstand couple Justine Carrelli and Bob Clayton, two of the show's most popular dancers.At just 13 and 16, respectively, the twosome became regulars on the Dick Clark-hosted show, dancing as a couple for almost three years before they parted ways. The show was American Bandstand, and Dick Clarks clean-cut style meant the program had parents stamp of approval. It turns out she was only 10 months older. In particular, Arlene remembers him singing Because of You by Tony Bennett. . The kids of today missed out. We only had three channels in those days. This incarnation was an early version of the music video shows that became popular in the 1980s, featuring films that were the ancestors of music videos. from CBS in November 1957, they renamed the program as Who Do You Trust? They lost touch over the years. We didnt say anything about meeting again, Justine said. She blurted out count me in., So, I guess that was the part when I knew that it wasnt going to be a one-time meeting., She visited Jim in Venice that Thanksgiving. we were like a little family together, and we all had something in common, and we all stuck together, and that made it easier for us.. Dick Clark hosts a daily to weekly dance show that features the latest hit music for the attending teens to dance to. With its new young host, Dick Clark, the show aired every day at 3 p.m. for an hour-and-a-half. Cookie Policy INSIDE EDITION caught up with a man and woman who met on Dick Clark's show American Bandstand 50 years ago, and have remained friends ever since. Unfortunately, that was the beginning of their separation. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. . Later, in hindsight, I guessed that made me the first white Rosa Parks. Besides launching singers, ``Bandstand propelled its regulars from obscure adolescents into trendsetters. Connie Francis. In late spring of 1957, the ABC television network asked their O&O's and affiliates for programming suggestions to fill their 3:30p.m. (ET) time slot (WFIL had been pre-empting the ABC programming with Bandstand). He had no idea if she was married. The group is notable for the hit songs 'Come Go with Me' and 'Whispering Bells', and for having been a successful. Who wrote the theme song to American Bandstand? . In August 1957, American Bandstand, a new television show broadcast out of Philadelphia, PA, featured local teenagers dancing to the new rock 'n roll music. After that, management at WFIL-TV/Channel 6 (46th & Market) in Philadelphia installed the clean-cut Dick Clark to take over the teen dance party show and renamed it "American Bandstand." His latest book, The Kardashians: An American Drama, will be published in September. ``It was like having a New Years party every day, and when it was over I missed it _ the camaraderie, the dancing _ there was a void.. The Twist the first dance to come out where people danced separately and the Monkey and Jerk came out after Id left.. The "ab" logo was replaced with the iconic stylized "AB" logo (shown at the top of this page) used for the remainder of the show's run. Bandstand Diaries: The Philadelphia Years, 1956-1963 shares the fascinating story of how Dick Clark's American Bandstand and its millions of viewers catapulted its teenage dancers (called "the Regulars") to fame. She said to go to Hawaii. Justine got in, and along with her dance partner and soon-to-be-boyfriend, Bob Clayton, became one of the show's most popular couples. Dick Clark later stated that he knew the prime-time edition would fail because its core audience teenagers and housewives was occupied with other interests in the evenings. God bless friendships !!! Lers. What characteristics allow plants to survive in the desert? Dick Clark Productions is credited as the show's co-producer, and longtime employee Allen Shapiro serves as co-executive producer. "With Bandstand, WFIL resolved this tension by drawing on Philadelphia's interracial music scene to create an entertaining and profitable television show, while refusing to allow the city's black teenagers into the studio audience for fear of alienating viewers and advertisers. It was great to be young and having fun like all normal kids in the 50s and 60s. But just like a lot of today's showmances are concocted, many of the Bandstand boppers were harboring a big secret: They . We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. I was smitten by her. With 37 continuous years on the air, this was the longest-running weekly popular music showcase TV program in the world. Well, there's a proper place for "American Bandstand" in the American scheme of things, too. They were a beautiful couple, I named my daughter Arlene in 1958, I enjoyed watching them so much, would hurry up and come home from school to watch AB. The shows were usually produced in either Stage 54 or Stage 55 at ABC Television Center. She said to go to Hawaii. She never saw much of Clark outside of the studio. For now, Dick Clark on ABC, so long. Who are the couples on Bandstand in real life? Justine was the one who caught my eye, he said. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Personal life. It's now a Guinness World Record, Collier County issues burn ban; Fire fought on Wilson Boulevard. I never had a crush on her. Loved the show at 15 I learned to dance also copied dress and hair style. Kenny left. Throughout the rest of the 1950s, American Bandstand featured a number of famous acts including the debut of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel (November 22, 1957), Jerry Lee Lewis (March 18, 1958), and Dion and the Belmonts (August 7, 1958). Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe gestures. Justine turns 80 next year and Jim 79. 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. Due to the size of the studio, the need to have as much dance space as possible, and the size of the cumbersome color camera compared to the black-and-white models, it was only possible to have one RCA TK-41 where three RCA TK-10s[4] had been used before. Finally, we got away and jumped over the turnstile. Arelene, whose mother was a devoted fan, claims she danced on the show "to get my mother's attention." Within three months, Arlene was a regular appearing five days a . July 9th, 1988", "Retro Request: Sat 10/31 & 11/7 and Sun 11/1, 1987", "AB now in syndication: Jody Watley, Dan Hill, David Spade", "Clark ends long-playing spin on bandstand", "On 'Bandstand,' Dick Clark Says Goodbye", "AGELESS CLARK STILL STANDS FOR THE 'AMERICAN' BAND", "Hits Prove Hard to Find at Dick Clark Productions: Entertainment: Performance has been mediocre since the company went public in 1987. Some of the stories I heard are heartbreaking, Sullivan recalls. Bob and Justine share their memories of the late Dick Clark and more A: Though they split in 1960 after three-plus years of jitterbugging on the Dick Clark-hosted show, they were happy to see . This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Oldies. New museum exhibits are now on view across Tampa Bay, John Sims, prominent Sarasota artist and former Ringling instructor, dies at 54, Already a star in the Keys, Fred the Tree is now going to Hollywood, Locally made film 'Home for Thanksgiving' conjures hope after loss. Tuesday, Justine Carrelli and Bob Clayton took another spin in the same studio, where they joined more than two dozen other middle-aged teen dancers from ``American Bandstand. Host Dick Clark and former teen idols such as Chubby Checker and Connie Francis also made it to the 40th anniversary celebration. This version introduced lyrics written by Manilow and Bruce Sussman, referencing elements of the series. During the segment, two audience members each ranked two records on a scale of 35 to 98, after which their two opinions were averaged by Clark, who then asked the chosen members to justify their scores. Although the Regulars didnt perform in the South, Sullivans memory of a personal visit to Fort Worth, Texas, stuck with her: My friend Barbara [a fellow Regular] and I were visiting Barbaras friend there. Tony Mammarella was the original producer with Ed Yates as director. Like the white homeowners associations' concerns about property values, WFIL's version of defensive localism built on a belief that integration would hurt the station's investment in Bandstand. PHILADELPHIA (AP) _ Justine and Bob were a popular teen couple from Philadelphia who flickered on black-and-white TV screens in the late 50s, wearing the latest clothes, doing the latest dance steps, listening to the latest rock `n roll. Other performers including Brandy, members of KISS, Dennis Quaid and his band The Sharks, Cher, and Stevie Wonder also performed to remember the iconic program.[41]. That really annoyed me because quite a few of the Philadelphia dancers on Bandstand died of AIDS, Smith said. He had no idea if she was married. What a Beautiful love story..Kenny and Arlene were my favorite couple on Bandstand.. On their drive to lunch, Jim asked what was on her bucket list. If she was on I watched it, if not I would do something else.. But I would still be his girl.. Created by black deejay Don Cornelius as a black dance show, Soul Train started in Chicago in 1970 before being picked up by stations across the country the following year. PublishedDecember 28, 2022 at 7:00 AM EST, See stories by Sheldon Zoldan/Special to WGCU, Some California mountain residents could be snowed in for another week, Tom Sizemore, 'Saving Private Ryan' actor, has died at 61, He visited Disneyland 2,995 days in a row.