Arlene Sullivan

(1956-1960)
 Arlene Sullivan, a South Philadelphia native, was one of the most celebrated Regulars on American Bandstand from 1956 to 1960. Originally, Arlene went to the daily show to gain her mother's attention and approval. Fans would frequently spot her on television as she knew precisely where the cameras were.

Arlene Sullivan, eldest girl among five children, was raised in a rowhouse on Chester Avenue in a working-class neighborhood in Philadelphia. It is surmise from her writing that it was somewhere in Southwest Philadelphia (she attended John Bartram High School), although Sullivan doesn’t specify a home address. It is also surmised that her mother was an Italian immigrant (she refers to her “Italio mom”), and her father of Irish descent. Sullivan's father had two jobs. He worked during the day at the post office, 30th and Market, then he’d come home for dinner and then go to his other job and not get home until midnight. Sullivan transferred from John Bartram High School during her senior year to St. Monica’s High School in Philadelphia from where she graduated in 1960.

Photo courtesy Philadelphia Department of Records
Simon Singer’s drug store and luncheonette at the southeast corner of Market and Farragut streets was a hangout for American Bandstand Regulars. Singer adopted the moniker “Pop” to advertise his connection with the show. 

When she was in the seventh grade Sullivan  used to watch Bandstand with her mother in 1952 when it was just  local show – Philadelphia, Jersey, the Lehigh Valley [Pennsylvania]. As it happened, Arlene went to a party in the neighborhood and one of the regulars, Justine, was there and Arlene asked her if she thought there was any way for me to get on the show. Justine said, “Sure, come down tomorrow and I’ll get you in.” So Arlene  took the subway there and waited in the line and Justine walked right past her before she could get her attention. A disappointed Arlene met another girl who also didn’t get in and went over to Pop Singer’s drugstore where a lot of the Regulars hung out. After the show, one of the stars,.

Sulivan's first attempt to get on the show was the day Bob Horn was fired. A few more attempts followed before a chance meeting with Justine Carelli

osemary Fergione, turned out she lived in her neighborhood and was able to get Arlene in the next day. She introduced Arlene to all Regulars. Soon, Dick Clark gave her a “committee card,” which all Regulars had to have to get into the building without waiting in line. Sullivan was almost 14, the required age for the show, when she became a Regular.

On American Bandstand’s dance floor, Sullivan was first partnered famously with Kenny Rossi (1957-58), a multitalented Italian-American student at West Catholic Boys High School, and such was her national popularity that her fan mail eventually totaled some 500 letters weekly. Sullivan never felt like a superstar, even when the Regulars averaged 100 to 150 fan letters a day.

Well, I wasn’t a great dancer, I wasn’t a fashion plate, I wasn’t the prettiest girl there. I don’t really know what it was. I was actually pretty taken aback when I first started getting fan mail. It got me out of my shell, but I learned I was a regular teenager who happened to dance on a show that unexpectedly became very popular. I think [the show’s success] even surprised Dick Clark.”
Arlene Sullivan

Teaching Dick Clark a dance, "dancing wasn't his strong suit"

The letters kept coming in andwthen Dick Clark was getting letters about Sullivan he started to do interviews with her on the air, which allowed people to get to know her even better. Soon she was asked to do his first movie and, to generate buzz, he had a contest asking viewers which four girls should get to do a cameo in the movie and I Sullivan one of the four chosen.

Arlene didn’t realize how famous she and Kenny was were until celebrities came to the show. Paul Anka, Annette Funicello, Frankie Avalon… they told us that everywhere they go, they’re asked if they know us!

The “dark-complexioned, wavy-haired” Sullivan bolstered American Bandstand’s image as a show dominated by Italian-American teens. She was a Regular entailed holding a WFIL-TV Bandstand Club membership card and dancing every day on the show.  

Dancing came naturally to Sullivan, the way it did to all Regulars, she says. “My friends went to church dances every Friday and Saturday night. That’s all we did – dance – and every part of the city had its own style. West Philadelphia, North Philadelphia, Jersey – you learned the different styles of the same dances.” Her favorite dance was the Jitterbug .

Kids would send jewelry, charm bracelets and heart lockets, clothes, watches, and stuffed animals.  Sullivan never felt like a superstar, even when the Regulars averaged 100 to 150 fan letters a day. “It got me out of my shell, but I learned I was a regular teenager who happened to dance on a show that unexpectedly became very popular. I think [the show’s success] even surprised Dick Clark.”

Arlene Sullivan never trained as a dancer. The Southwest Philly native picked it up from watching Bandstand with her mom after school in seventh grade. At a neighborhood party, a Bandstand Regular, Justine Carrelli, offered to help Arlene and some girlfriends get onto the show. Arlene quickly became a regular and – with dance partner Kenny Rossi – a fan favorite. In 1958 Arlene won first prize in the Cha Cha Contest, each reciving a 300 Istta (Italian car).

From 1956-1959, she danced on Bandstand from 2:30-5pm every weekday. “After school ended at 2:15, we’d hop on a bus or trolley car to get there,” Arlene remembers. “Our parents always knew where we were. We were always home for dinner and did homework after dinner. Bandstand was an after school activity for us.”

Arlene never never understood why she got popular. Arlene says. “I wasn’t the best dancer or the best looking, but for some reason, I got famous with Kenny. We got a lot of letters. We didn’t realize how famous we were until celebrities came to the show. Paul Anka, Annette Funicello, Frankie Avalon… they told us that everywhere they go, they’re asked if they know us!

Sullivan had what she descibed as a "McCarthy-like experience" when Clark summon her and a group of fellow 17-year-olds into a room and told them that they were banned from the show for unspecfied reasons.

After graduating from St.Monica's Commercial School in South Philadelphia, Arlene worked for Dunn & Bradstreet in Philadelphia for four years, worked in the Warwick Hotel's sales office. When gambling became legal in Atlantic City she went to  dealer's school and became a blackjack dealer. She was also a supervisor in the casinos until I had some heart problems that sidelined her off and on. I opened up Harrah’s and then went over to the Trump Marina to supervise when that opened up. She remained in the casino business 31 years until retiring in 2011.

Arlen Sullivan - 2016