Bandstand Dancers, Committee and Rules

The Regulars

From the show's beginning, it was apparent that the kids were every bit as important to Bandstand's success as were the host and music played. Bob Horn knew it; so did Dick Clark.

Bob Horn's Bandstand

Bandstand and America Bandstand

American Bandstand 1956 to 1959

American Bandstand 1960 to 1963

 

The concept of the Regular took off when bandstand dancer, Tom DeNoble, appeared at a local dance and more than a thousand kids showed up to see him. No one expected so many people, and it was immediately clear to the producers that Regulars drew a huge viewing audience, as well as a dependable studio audience. The primary purpose of the "Regulars" on "Bandstand" and later "American Bandstand" was to serve as the show's core dancers, showcasing new dance moves and acting as a bridge between black-inspired dances and white society They were also prominent faces on the show, achieving a level of celebrity that extended to teen magazines and fan mail, essentially becoming reality television stars before the term existed .

  • Fostering a Clean-Cut Image: The show's producers, like Dick Clark, sought to present a positive image of rock and roll to viewers. Regulars were expected to adhere to a dress code (ties for boys, "good taste" for girls) and were chosen based on their perceived "niceness" and ability to represent the show's image.
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  • Building a Following: The frequent appearances of the regulars on camera, along with profiles in teen magazines, cultivated a celebrity following They became known for their dance steps, personal lives, and even their fashion choices.
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  • Setting Trends:The regulars' attire and hairstyles often influenced teen fashion, with some trends, like the Peter Pan collar, even becoming national sensations.
  • Role Models: Especially for teen viewers outside of Philadelphia, the Regulars served as role models, influencing their fashion, hair styles, and dance moves.
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  • Driving Popularity: WFIL-TV management recognized that the teenagers dancing on the show were the primary drivers of Bandstand's popularity, more so than the host or the music itself.
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  • Trendsetters: The Regulars helped to popularize new dances, even creating some themselves, like the "Bunny Hop" and "The Stroll".
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  • Fan Connection: Viewers felt a personal connection with the regulars, following their lives and sending them letters.
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  • Basis for the Show's Format: The concept of teenagers dancing to popular music was a core element of Bandstand from its inception.
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    In essence, the Regulars on "Bandstand" served as both the show's talent and its face, contributing to its popularity and influence on popular culture

    For teen viewers, especially outside Philadelphia, the regulars were role models. Girls copied hair-dos and make-up; boys copied dance steps and clothing styles. By the time the show moved to Los Angeles in 1964, where multiple episodes were taped in one day, the regulars were less important to the dynamic of the show.

    The Committee

    Horn had wisely engaged the services of Jerry Blavat, to serve as something of an ombudsman for the kids that danced on the show. Blavat was one of Bandstand's earliest stars, gaining a following with the dance skills that alowed him to win just about every dance contest he entered. Horn saw Blavat's value to the show and hired him at $15 a week to oversee the Committee and offer advice from a teenager's point of view.

    The Committee enforced the rules and helped monitor dress codes and adnissions. The Committee was a a select group that was permitted automatic entry to the show eac afternoon. Selection of Committee members were determind by fan mail which could run heavy for certain couples on the show. Once in awhile a new couple a new couple would attract attention and they would be added to the ranks of the chosen. At any given time there were 30 Committee members that held special membership cards guaranteeing them entry into the daily program and it would ensure that viewers would see familiar faces. Ho

     

    		 

    A group of teens, initially run by Jerry Blavat, that enforced the rules and help monitor dress and admissions. The Committee was a select group that was permitted automatic entry to the show each afternoon. Selection of Commmittee members was determined by fan mail which could run heavy for certain dancers omn the show. Once in awhile a new dancer would attract attention and they would be added to the ranks of the chosen, At any given time there 20-30 members that held special membership cards guaranteeing them entry into the daily program. It would ensure that viewers would see familiar faces.

    In 1958, Dick Clark disbanded it, replacing it with the Bandstand Chapter of the Dick Clark Fan Club,

    Rules

    1. Boys were required to wear a suit jacket, neck tie and shirt.

    2. Girls could not wear tight sweaters, low cut dresses or pants.

    3 No gum chewing allowed.

    4. No smoking in the building.

    5. Obscene or profane talking was not alowed.

    6. Coats, hats, pocketbooks and schoolbooks mst be checked in at the door.

    7. No one under 14 or older than 18 admitted.

    Dick Clark believed that the rules boosted the perceptions of rock 'n' roll a controversial genre at the time.