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User:GlennRay77/The Dick Clark Show

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The Dick Clark Show
Also known asDick Clark's Saturday Night
Beechnut Show
GenreMusical performance
Presented byDick Clark
Country of originUnited States
No. of seasonsThree
No. of episodes136 episodes
Production
Executive producerLouis M. Hayward
Charles Reeves
Production locationsLittle Theater (Manhattan)
New York, New York
Running time30 minutes
Production companyDick Clark Productions
American Broadcasting Company (ABC)
Original release
NetworkABC Network
ReleaseFebruary 15, 1958 (1958-02-15) –
September 10, 1960 (1960-09-10)

The Dick Clark Show (also known as Dick Clark's Saturday Night Beechnut Show) was a TV musical performance show produced by the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) and Dick Clark Productions. It was broadcast weekly in the United States on the ABC television network 7:30-8 PM (Eastern Standard Time) on Saturdays from February 15, 1958 through September 10, 1960, sponsored (except for the first two shows) by Beechnut Gum.

Summary

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Given that the show ran continually year-round for over two-and-a-half years, resulting in one-hundred-thirty-six episodes, there were no seasons as such — however, the "first season" of twenty-nine shows could be said to run from the premiere through August 30, 1958, the "second season" of fifty-three shows, September 6, 1958 through September 5, 1959, and the "third season" of fifty-four shows, September 12, 1959 through September 10, 1960.

Dick Clark, hosting throughout the entire series, introduced musical guests, who sang/performed (or, more often, lip-synced) their latest popular hit. Often, after a performance (and sometimes before), Dick interviewed the musician(s). Between performances on some shows, Dick also interviewed non-musical celebrity guests, usually a television or movie star — Bob Hope, Johnny Carson, Tony Randall, and Chuck Connors, among others.

The show was filmed in New York City at Manhattan's Little Theater, 240 West 44th Street (except for one set of three shows broadcast remotely from Hollywood, California, August 22, 1959 through September 5, 1959, and another set of five shows broadcast remotely from various locations across the country, June 11, 1960 through July 9, 1960). For the Manhattan broadcasts, the audience sat in theater seats, rather than standing and dancing as in Dick Clark's concurrent pop-music show, American Bandstand — this distinction is the best method to tell if a video recording of an artist's performance is from this show, or from American Bandstand. At the end of each show, Dick Clark would announce the ten most popular songs from the current Top 40 (most with a short soundclip), in reverse order from #10 on down to #1, as the "American Bandstand Top Ten".

First Show

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The first show was broadcast February 15, 1958[1] with no sponsor — Beechnut began sponsoring the show the third week.[2] Guests on the first show were:

Guests[4]

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Guests included almost every popular American singer of the 1950's. Jackie Wilson and Bobby Rydell were the most frequent guests, each appearing on fourteen different shows. Frankie Avalon and Paul Anka, each with ten appearances, were the next most frequent guests. Next was Jack Scott, on nine shows. Bobby Darin, and Dion and the Belmonts were next with eight appearances each; Johnny Maestro (both solo and as a member of The Crests), Annette Funicello, The Four Preps, Freddy Cannon, and Fabian were next at seven times each. At six times each were Neil Sedaka, Anita Bryant, Conway Twitty, Lloyd Price, Duane Eddy, and Jimmy Clanton.

Excluding the names listed above, at least seventy-five other singers and musicians appeared on two or more shows.[5] Among them, along with a sampling of the songs they sung (and when), were:

  • "A Lover's Question" on the November 15, 1958 show,
  • "Since You Been Gone" on the July 4, 1959 show.
  • "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.
  • "Let the Little Girl Dance" on the April 23, 1960 show,
  • "Pardon Me" on the August 6, 1960 show.
  • "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.
  • "Mama Don't Allow It" on the May 17, 1958 show,
  • "Little Bitty Pretty One" on the August 13, 1960 show.
  • "I Cried A Tear" on the January 10, 1959 show,
  • "I Waited Too Long" on the May 16, 1959 show.
  • "Pink Shoelaces" on the February 28, 1959 show,
  • "Miss Lonelyhearts" on the August 22, 1959 show.

Among the single-appearance guests were:

Shows of Note[4]

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  • February 22, 1958

    Dick Clark interviewed Johnny Carson.

  • March 8, 1958

    Dick Clark announced that viewers could receive in the mail an "autographed"[6] 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.[7] 48,000 requests were received.[8] 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.[9]

  • 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)" — eight days after Christmas.

  • 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").

  • 1960 summer-series of five consecutive remote shows
  • June 11, 1960 (broadcast from Pittsburg, 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 Safaris ("Image of a Girl"), The Hollywood Argyles (" Alley Oop"), 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 Base near 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")

  • August 6, 1960

    Chubby Checker introduced The Twist to America.

Last Show

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The last show was September 10, 1960.[1] Highlights of the series were shown from past shows[4]:

References

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  1. ^ a b Brooks, Tim and Marsh, Earle (Edition 7 — 1997), The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows: 1946—Present, Random House Inc., page 537, ISBN 0345455428
  2. ^ a b Sam's Television Appearances/The Dick Clark Saturday Night Show on the Sam Cooke Fan Clubwebsite
  3. ^ Clip of 1958 Jerry Lee Lewis performance on YouTube website
  4. ^ a b c Dick Clark Saturday Night Beechnut Show entry on WWW.TV.COM website
  5. ^ Full Credits for "The Dick Clark Show" at the Internet Movie Database website
  6. ^ "...autograph was done with a rubber stamp and green ink..." at the "Jerry Lee Lewis in the 1950's" website
  7. ^ Poore, Billy (1998) "Rockabilly: A Forty-Year Journey", Hal Leonard Publishing, page 11 ISBN 9780793591428
  8. ^ Bundy, June "Mail Pull Rates Clark a Topper in TV Promotions", Billboard Magazine, (November 10, 1958), page 46
  9. ^ Martin, Linda and Segrave, Terry (1993) "Anti-Rock: The Opposition to Rock 'n' Roll", Da Capo Press, p. 100, ISBN 0306805022
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The Dick Clark Show on the Internet Movie Database website