The Dick Clark Show
The Dick Clark Show | |
---|---|
Also known as | Dick Clark's Saturday Night Beechnut Show |
Genre | Little Theater (Manhattan) New York |
Camera setup | Multi-camera |
Running time | 22–24 minutes |
Production company | Dick Clark Productions |
Original release | |
Network | ABC |
Release | February 15, 1958 September 10, 1960 | –
The Dick Clark Show (also known as Dick Clark's Saturday Night Beechnut Show) was an American musical variety show broadcast weekly in the United States on the ABC television network 7:30-8 p.m. (Eastern Time) on Saturdays from February 15, 1958, through September 10, 1960, sponsored (except for the first two shows) by Beechnut Gum.
Summary
Given that the show ran continually year-round for over two-and-a-half years, resulting in 136 episodes, there were no seasons as such. However, the "first season" of 29 shows could be said to have run from the premiere through August 30, 1958, the "second season" of 53 shows, September 6, 1958, through September 5, 1959, and the "third season" of 54 shows, September 12, 1959, through September 10, 1960.
The show was typically staged live, in New York City, at Manhattan's Little Theater (now the
The show was occasionally broadcast from remote locations across the United States. The May 30, 1959 show was broadcast from the Sheraton Hotel in
Top Ten
At the end of each show, Clark would announce the ten most popular songs from the current Top 40 in reverse order from #10 on down to #1, as the "American Bandstand Top Ten". On the first show, Clark played a brief soundclip from each top ten record as its title was announced. On each subsequent show, Clark played the soundclip only for those records which were "new" on the Top Ten that week.
First show
The first show was broadcast February 15, 1958,[3] with no sponsor — Beechnut began sponsoring the show the third week.[4] Guests on the first show were:
- It's Too Soon To Know")
- Jerry Lee Lewis ("Breathless", "Great Balls of Fire"[5])
- Connie Francis ("Who's Sorry Now?")
- Johnnie Ray (interviewed and plugging his latest single "Strollin' Girl")
- Elaine Berman, President of a Jerry Lee Lewis Fan Club (interviewed)
- The Royal Teens ("Short Shorts")
- Chuck Willis ("Betty And Dupree")
Guests
Guests included almost every popular American singer of the 1950s.
Excluding the names listed above, at least seventy-five other singers and musicians appeared on two or more shows.[6] Among them, along with a sampling of the songs they sang (and when), were:
- Johnny Cash sang:
- "Guess Things Happen That Way" on the July 5, 1958, show
- "It's Just About Time" on the December 20, 1958, show
- "The Rebel — Johnny Yuma" on the March 26, 1960, show
- Danny and the Juniorssang:
- "Rock and Roll Is Here to Stay" on the February 22, 1958, show
- "At the Hop" and "Dottie" on the June 21, 1958, show
- "Twistin' U.S.A." on the September 3, 1960, show
- Clyde McPhatter sang:
- "A Lover's Question" on the November 15, 1958, show
- "Since You Been Gone" on the July 4, 1959, show
- Shake, Rattle, and Roll", and "Tamami" on the February 20, 1960, show
- Little Anthony & the Imperialssang
- "Tears on My Pillow" on the August 23, 1958, show
- "So Much" on the November 29, 1958, show
- "Shimmy, Shimmy Ko-Ko Bop" on the January 2, 1960, show
- Billy Bland sang
- "Let the Little Girl Dance" on the April 23, 1960, show
- "Pardon Me" on the August 6, 1960, show
- The Chordettes sang:
- "Lollipop" and "Mr. Sandman" on the February 22, 1958, show
- "Lollipop" and "Zorro" on the April 26, 1958, show
- "No Other Arms, No Other Lips" on the March 28, 1959, show
- Everly Brotherssang:
- "All I Have to Do Is Dream" and "Wake Up Little Susie" on the April 5, 1958, show
- "Cathy's Clown", "When Will I Be Loved?" and "So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad)" on the July 9, 1960, Hollywood show
- Frankie Lymon sang:
- "Mama Don't Allow It" on the May 17, 1958, show
- "Little Bitty Pretty One" on the August 13, 1960, show
- Chubby Checker sang:
- "The Class" on the May 23, 1959, show
- "The Twist" on the August 6, 1960, show
- Jimmie Rodgers sang "Honeycomb" on the May 3, 1958, show
- Eddie Cochran sang:
- "Summertime Blues" on the August 30, 1958, show
- “Somethin' Else” on the October 10, 1959, show
- "C'mon Everybody" on the November 29, 1959, show
- Sam Cooke sang:
- "Lonely Island" on the March 22, 1958, show
- "Win Your Love For Me" on the October 11, 1958, show
- "Everybody Likes To Cha Cha Cha" and "You Send Me" on the March 14, 1959, show
- "Only Sixteen" on the June 20, 1959, show[4]
- " on the March 29, 1958, show
- La Vern Bakersang:
- "I Cried a Tear" on the January 10, 1959, show
- "I Waited Too Long" on the May 16, 1959, show
- The Big Bopper sang "Chantilly Lace" on the September 20, 1958, and the November 22, 1958, shows
- Chuck Berry sang:
- "Sweet Little Sixteen" on the February 22, 1958, show (second of the series)
- "Johnny B. Goode" on the May 17, 1958, show
- "Back in the U.S.A." on the July 18, 1959, show
- Jan and Dean sang:
- "Baby Talk" on the September 5, 1959, show
- "White Tennis Sneakers" on the April 16, 1960, show
- Baby Talk" and "We Go Together" on the June 25, 1960, show
- "
- The Coasters sang:
- "Yakety Yak" on the May 31, 1958, and August 16, 1958, shows
- "Charlie Brown" on the March 7, 1959, show
- Johnny Horton sang:
- "The Battle of New Orleans" on the August 29, 1959, Hollywood show
- "Sink the Bismarck" on the April 2, 1960, Manhattan show
- Sandy Nelson performed "Teen Beat" on the October 3, 1959, show
- Johnny Tillotson sang "Why Do I Love You So?" on the February 20, 1960, show
- Dorsey Burnette sang:
- "There Was a Tall Oak Tree" on the March 19, 1960, show
- "Hey Little One" on the June 25, 1960, show
- Dodie Stevens sang:
- "Pink Shoe Laces" on the February 28, 1959, show
- "Miss Lonelyhearts" on the August 22, 1959, show
Among the single-appearance guests were:
- Buddy Holly sang "It's So Easy" on the October 25, 1958, show
- Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" at the July 16, 1960, show
- The Cadillacs sang "Peek a Boo" on the November 22, 1958, show
- Roy Orbison sang "Only the Lonely" and "Uptown" at the July 23, 1960, show
- The Ventures performed "Walk, Don't Run" on the August 27, 1960, show
- Shout" on the October 10, 1959, show
- The Olympics sang "Western Movies" on either the July 26, 1958, show, or the August 2, 1958, show
- The Teddy Bears sang "To Know Him Is to Love Him" on the November 15, 1958, show
- The Shirelles sang "I Met Him On a Sunday" on the April 5, 1958, show
- Bill Justis performed "College Man" and "Raunchy" on the February 22, 1958, show
- The Chantels sang "Maybe" on the March 1, 1958, show
- Teresa Brewer sang "There's Nothing As Lonesome As Saturday Night" and "Whirlpool" on the March 1, 1958, show
- Ritchie Valens sang "Donna" on the December 27, 1958, show
- Andy Williams sang "Canadian Sunset" and "Are You Sincere?" on the March 15, 1958, show
- The Diamonds sang "Little Darlin'" on February 21, 1959, show
Notable episodes[7]
- February 22, 1958
- Dick Clark interviewed Johnny Carson.
- March 8, 1958
- Dick Clark announced that viewers could receive in the mail an "autographed"[8] 45 RPM single of Jerry Lee Lewis's latest hit Breathless by sending in five Beechnut Gum wrappers and fifty cents for shipping and handling.[9] 48,000 requests were received.[10] Sun Records sent out the promotional records, the song moved further up the Top 40, and sales of Beechnut Gum increased — the deal made between Dick Clark and Sam Phillips of Sun Records for this promotion drew some criticism and accusations of payola, but resulted in no scandal and no indictments.[11]
- May 10, 1958
- Dick Clark interviewed Bob Hope — together, they lip-synced the Hope/Crosby song "Paris Holiday".
- November 29, 1958
- Because the show was being filmed the day before Dick Clark's birthday, Bobby Darin and other singers wished Dick Clark a happy birthday (but did not sing the "Happy Birthday To You" song).
- January 3, 1959
- David Seville and The Chipmunks performed "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)" — on the eighth day of Christmas.
- May 3, 1959
- A Western-themed show, with Dick Clark and guests in cowboy attire. Paul Anka ("Lonely Boy"), Jesse Belvin ("Guess Who?"), Ronnie Hawkins & The Hawks (featuring drummer Levon Helm) ("Forty Days"), Johnny Horton ("The Battle of New Orleans"), The Skyliners ("Since I Don't Have You" and "This I Swear").
- May 30, 1959
- Remote broadcast from Binghamton, New York, filmed outdoors. Duane Eddy ("Rebel Rouser", "Forty Miles of Bad Road"), Annette Funicello ("Lonely Guitar", "Wild Party"), The Four Preps, Billy Storm
- 1959 summer-series of three consecutive remote shows broadcast from Hollywood, California
- August 22, 1959
Fabian ("Got the Feeling", "Come on and Get Me"), Bobby Darin ("Mack the Knife", "Dream Lover"), Dodie Stevens ("Miss Lonelyhearts"), and Mitchell Torok ("Caribbean"). - August 29, 1959
Johnny Horton ("Johnny Reb", "Battle Of New Orleans"), The Four Preps ("I Ain't Never"), Connie Stevens ("Why Do I Cry For Joey?"), Paul Petersen and Shelley Fabares (interviewed), The Diamonds ("Young In Years"), and Tab Hunter ("Our Love", "Waiting For Fall"). - September 5, 1959
Duane Eddy, Jan & Dean ("Baby Talk"), Frankie Avalon ("Just Ask Your Heart"), and Anita Bryant ("Til There Was You").
- August 22, 1959
- December 31, 1959
- Dick Clark hosted a special edition of the show on New Year's Rockin' Eveto the network; Clark remained in that role until his death, and the show still bears his name.
- 1960 summer-series of five consecutive remote shows
- June 11, 1960 (broadcast from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
Bobby Darin ("Bill Bailey, Won't You Please Come Home", "I'll Be There"), The Crests ("Trouble in Paradise"), The Fendermen ("Mule Skinner Blues"), Paul Evans ("Happy-Go-Lucky Me"), and The Skyliners("Pennies from Heaven") - June 18, 1960 (broadcast from Hollywood, California)The Crosby Brothers("The Green Grass Grows"), and Jimmie Rodgers ("Just a Little Closer Walk With Thee")
- June 25, 1960 (broadcast from Treasure Island Naval Basenear San Francisco, California)
The Olympics (Big Boy Pete), Jan and Dean ("Baby Talk", "We Go Together"), Dorsey Burnette ("Hey Little One"), and The Four Preps ("Got a Girl") - July 2, 1960 (broadcast from Chicago, Illinois)
Brenda Lee ("I'm Sorry", "That's All You Gotta Do"), Freddy Cannon ("Jump Over"), Tommy Edwards ("I Really Don't Want to Know"), and Jack Scott ("Burning Bridges") - July 9, 1960 (broadcast from Hollywood, California)
The Everly Brothers ("Cathy's Clown", "When Will I Be Loved?", "So Sad"), Jeanne Black ("He'll Have to Stay", "Lisa"), Deane Hawley ("Look for a Star"), and Larry Bright ("Mo-Jo Workout")
- June 11, 1960 (broadcast from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
- August 6, 1960
- Chubby Checker introduced "The Twist" to America.
Final show
The last show was September 10, 1960.[3] Highlights of the series were shown from past shows:[7]
- Bobby Darin ("Splish Splash", "Mack the Knife")
- Connie Francis ("Lipstick on Your Collar")
- Frankie Avalon ("DeDe Dinah")
- Fabian ("Turn Me Loose")
- Bobby Rydell ("Kissin' Time")
- Annette Funicello and Paul Anka (Medley of hits)
- Duane Eddy and The Rebels ("Rebel Rouser", "Forty Miles of Bad Road")
References
- The Sunday Press. 31 May 1959.
- ^ "Media Reports" (PDF). Broadcasting. 25 May 1959. pp. 78–79. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
- ^ ISBN 0-345-45542-8
- ^ a b Sam's Television Appearances/The Dick Clark Saturday Night Show Archived 2016-04-08 at the Wayback Machine on the "Sam Cooke Fan Club" website
- ^ Clip of 1958 Jerry Lee Lewis performance on YouTube
- Internet Movie Database
- ^ a b Dick Clark Saturday Night Beechnut Show entry on TV.com
- ^ "...autograph was done with a rubber stamp and green ink..." Archived 2010-08-24 at the Wayback Machine, on the "Jerry Lee Lewis in the 1950s" website
- ISBN 978-0-7935-9142-8
- ^ Bundy, June "Mail Pull Rates Clark a Topper in TV Promotions", Billboard Magazine, (November 10, 1958), page 46
- ISBN 0-306-80502-2
External links
- The Dick Clark Show at IMDb