It all happened at 46th and Market Streets in Philadelphia. American Bandstand and its famous “Studio B” – measuring 80 by 80 by 24 feet but appearing smaller due to the number of props and television cameras – was the epicenter of a rock and roll phase that immortalized the “Philadelphia Sound.”
American Bandstand premiered locally in late March 1952 as Bandstand on Philadelphia television station WFIL-TV. Hosted by Joe Horn – until he was replaced by Dick Clark in 1956 – change came in late spring of 1957 when the ABC television network asked their affiliates for programming suggestions to fill their 3:30 p.m. (ET) time slot. Clark decided to pitch the show to ABC president Thomas W. Moore, and after some negotiations the show was picked up nationally, becoming American Bandstand on August 5, 1957.
When WFIL-TV moved to a new facility (one that did not have a studio that could accommodate the show), ABC moved production of Bandstand to the ABC Television Center in Los Angeles on February 8, 1964, which coincidentally was the day before the Beatles first appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show.
Prior to the move, Bandstand had sourced many of its up-and-coming acts from Philadelphia’s Cameo-Parkway Records. The combined impact of the move to California and the Beatles’ arrival inflicted permanent damage to the artists signed to one label in particular.
A surprising percentage of the “clear victims” recorded for one company, Cameo-Parkway, which had strings of hits from the Dovells, Dee Dee Sharp, the Orlons, Bobby Rydell, and the big gun, Chubby Checker. Their 1964 departures, en masse, from the higher regions of the chart were so abrupt that it seemed implausible not to blame the British Invasion.
The rising Motown explosion from Detroit also made the Cameo-Parkway artists sound quaint, supplying danceable records that weren’t as dependent on dance fads as Checker and his labelmates.
But for a short while, the Philadelphia artists below put their city on the pop record-making map.
Memories … That’s What We’re All About
Play buttons are on the left … Volume sliders are on the right
The Sound of Philadelphia
Frankie Avalon – Danny & The Juniors
Bobby Rydell – Dee Dee Sharp – Chubby Checker
Orlons – Jimmy Darren – Dovells
Fabian – Bobby Rydell & Chubby Checker
Great medley .. they had some bopping, toe tapping, dancing songs out of Philly…… Lets go to the hop!!
Have a great day my friend!
Thanks, Penny 🥰
It certainly was a much simpler time, that’s for sure … and in my opinion, Fabian couldn’t carry a tune!
Rock The Day!
Well, if that doesn’t wake you up with smile nothing will.I love that music, thanks for keeping it going for us. Love you❣️
Thanks, Linda. A lot of music memories for you in this medley, I’ll bet.
Love you, too! ❣️
Loved this Ray so perfect to listen to as I struggle with Wordle! Great music!
Thanks, Susan 🥰
I am so glad you enjoyed it!
I give it a 10 because I can dance to it
Thanks for the “Rate-A-Record” memory, Mary Helen 🥰
Loved it!! I guess my most favorite of all still has to be Danny and the juniors. The very first record that I ever bought was At The Hop! I almost wore it out and drove my parents nuts it was probably the best $.89 I ever spent. Lol of course I also loved Venus, and chubby Checker. This was a wonderful trip back in time, and I’m going to reserve this to listen to again. Thanks Ray you’re the best! ❤️
Thanks, Sandy 🥰
The Philadelphia Sound may have been short-lived, but it sure left people with great memories!
Well, you can swing it you can groove it
You can really start to move it at the hop
Where the jockey is the smoothest
And the music is the coolest at the hop
All the cats and chicks can get their kicks at the hop
You actually sang that didn’t you Ray? So you know all the words too. I sure do! I can hear you singing. We could do some harmonizing! L O L love you! ❤️
Sandy, I really did sing it! I’m afraid adding my voice to yours would diminish your efforts. Besides, I enjoy listening to you so, so much!
Love you right back! ❤️
Ray did we ever meet Venus?? Oh Venus will you make my wish come true! I’d really like to go to the hop!! Let’s go to the hop!! Oh baby!! And after the hop!! We’ll see if we can find the wild one!! Someday Ray it’ll be you!! But I think she’s wild about me!! Ray I said let’s go get some Mashed Potatoes not go see if everybody fine so will you wait a minute? Besides it’s Pony time and any way you do it you’ll look fine!! I love the way you add the sax in!! So get with it I get lost after turning right!! Now we got to go to South Street so meet me there!! There you go with that sax again!! So now we’re off to join the circus Ray what are you thinking?? Well the jokes on me it seems I’m of to the circus!! Goodbye cruel world!! Wait Mr. Farnum I don’ t have to be a crying clown!! Ha ha I can go to the Bristol Stomp and it’s really somethin..Ray when they start a jumpkin whoa whoa they are doing the Bristol Stomp! Sharp as a pistol we’ll spin every friday night!! Maybe better go back to the circus Ray I feel like a tiger and I just want to growl!! Wow Ray I just don’t have enough in me to do the twist!! Great tunes love ya!!
Fred, I am ALWAYS impressed with how much thought you put into these! Your creation of stories that fit the songs in the medley brightens my day, and I’m sure you must realize how much others enjoy it, too. Your sense of humor always shines through!
Love Ya!
Loved this, Fred. Maybe you can Stomp right up to Bristol, and I can meet you on South St.!!
That was excellent, Pat! 🥰
Great medley, great memories. I used to rush home from school to watch American Bandstand. I knew all the regular dancers on the show (Pat Mollitary is the only name I remember now). The rate the record response was always, as Mary Helen said, “I liked it because I could dance to it”.
Oh, I forgot to say, I quit watching when They moved to L.A. It just wasn’t the same anymore.
It became too “hip”
Thanks, Pat 🥰
I’m glad the memories are pleasant for you!