On Aug, 5, 1957, television after school got cool...nationwide.

[elleng]

It was on this day in '57 that ABC television network did the first national broadcast of "American Bandstand". The show was very popular on WFIL-TV in Philadelphia.

But the first show was interrupted for half an hour in the middle by The Mickey Mouse Club.
Host Dick Clark's first guests were the Chordettes and the first record danced to on the show was Buddy Holly's "That'll Be the Day."

AB ran It for thirty years straight until MTV came along in 1981. We all know what happened after that.
Happy 65th 'National' Birthday to "American Bandstand". Remember how cool that show was?
We were so lucky to have AB.

https://www.facebook.com/TheCollegeOfRockAndRollKnowledge/

[Glorfindel]

1. I hardly ever got to watch it.

The ABC stations were on the high end of the dial (Ch. 9 from Chattanooga, Ch. 11 from Atlanta), and reception was poor here in the southern Appalachians. However, I did enjoy watching AB when visiting other people. I was just turning 12 in August 1957.

[elleng]

2. SAME AGE!

'45 was a 'good' year, eh?

Had AB in NY, city and suburbs.

[Glorfindel]

4. A very good year indeed, my dear elleng!

My cousin, two years younger than I, made a pact with me that when we got old enough, we'd live in New York City. She made it; moved there right after college. I never did, but I do usually spend Christmas with her and her family.

[elleng]

6. Glad you spend some time together!

Grew up there, was either the City or suburb 'til college; didn't return thereafter. My cousin too lived there, 10 years older than I.

Dad was also born in NYC, and fortunately returned from his 'station' sometime in '45 (I think.) Lucky guy, was stationed in Hawaii! (AFTER Pearl.)

[Fiendish Thingy]

3. AB ran well into the 80's for sure

By the 60’s it wasn’t on weekday afternoons anymore, but moved to Saturday around noon (at least on the West Coast, where I watched it after Saturday morning cartoons).

[cornball 24]

5. Went to high school around the corner from "Bandstand" from '55 - '59. If you weren't one

of the "regulars", you had to stand outside and wait until a guy would come outside and choose those that could go in. On the few occasions that I got in line, I did get to attend. As we wore uniforms in Catholic school and the nuns forbid us to go to Bandstand in uniform, we had to alter our appearance with crew neck sweaters and collars tucked in. Yikes! Actually, that made it more fun!

[elleng]

7. YIKES, I know a 'stander!'

[cornball 24]

9. BTW, I love your pics of southern Maryland. How great to be close to the water. Had a house

in Cape May until 2020. Unfortunately, we had to sell due to my husband's illness and his passing

[Effete Snob]

8. Thank you for sharing that

Different world.

I only made it into the Mike Douglas show. Lol.

[cornball 24]

10. You are most welcome!

[snowybirdie]

11. Woah, blast from the past

Rushed home every day to watch Kenny and Arlene's romance! Fun and innocent times.