If you didn’t already know, much of my adult life centered around radio. Growing up in Southern California, I was exposed to some legendary ‘Disc Jockey’s’ on stations like KFWB, KHJ, KMPC and others. I remember getting my first ‘transistor’ radio, and would have that thing glued to my hand wherever I went.
The idea of being on the air remained with me through high school and after I served 4 years in the Air Force. When I received my honorable discharge in 1972, I somehow made my way to Roswell, New Mexico, beginning a short stint in television as a control room tech at KBIM-TV. That led to a position across town as News Director at KRSY, then hosting the morning show there, and after many stops along the way, I landed the role as the first Program Director and Morning Personality at KFRG, San Bernardino, California. (K-FROG), when it launched in late 1989.
I’m proud to have been there when our small staff of hard working pros made a huge splash in the market, becoming the top station in the Riverside-San Bernardino ratings, and remained so for my tenure, when our company sold the property.
So… What’s that got to do with ‘AMERICAN BANDSTAND’ ???
The Man who hosted that iconic TV show since it was launched nationally on August 5, 1957, the one and only Dick Clark, sent the station a letter that was proudly framed on the studio wall, let us know that he loved listening to our station. It was a thoughtful and complimentary letter that revealed his love for ‘Country Music’… Something we had heard before.
So when I came across the video on Youtube that presented the only full episode of American Bandstand from 1957, it sparked a wonderful memory for me, so I’ve included it here. As primitive as the medium was back then, I think in some ways, it was much more entertaining than the poor excuse for ‘entertaininment’ being peddled today.
If you think I’m being too critical of today’s TV programming… GET OFF MY LAWN….
