(1959 to 1961)
Ed was the son of a housewfe and a policeman. His father worked three different shifta and was hardly around in Ed's youth. Ed first watched Bandstand when Bob Horn was the host.
At about 14 years old after school Ed used to watch Bandstand when Bob Horn was the host and got to know the names of many of the dancers. His favorite regular wa Roasalie "Big Ro" Beltranti. Scared at first Ed asked his neighbor Barbara Veneziale to accompany him to the the show. They both sat in the bleachers the whole time and too intimidated to dance. Barbara never wanted to go back. Ed couldn't wait to go back. One day while sitting in the bleachers Arlene Sullivan called him down to dance with Mary Ann Cuff. Ed suspected it was because of his height. Ed was one of the tallest guys and Mary Ann was tall too.
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Ed is best remembered for his dancing with Kathleen (Bunny) Gibson. He also danced with Carmen and Ivette Jimenez.
Ed was interviewed by Dick Clark after a viewer wrote a letter received by Grace Gifford from Muskego,WI that I looked like her son Ron who was stationed in Pakistan as an Air Force Recruit. From that moment Ed's popularity grew to receiving fan mail, teen magazine interview such as Teen, 16, Dig, Teen Screen, Photoplay, newspapers, books, AB Anniversary Shows, fan clubs, Oprah Winfrey Show, Today Show, Town Hall, Documentaries, including many social media interviews up until to this day.
Being on American Bandstand became an obstacle for Ed who went to a Catholic High School from 59-60. He was called in by the Principal and told I could not stay at the school if I continued on American Bandstand. His parents took out and enrolled Ed in a Business School. This became a problem because the school wasn't credited with American Bandstand, thus ended his time dancing on the show.
After American Bandstand. Ed spent years working in the Music Industry, Big 3, MGM/20th Century Fox music catalogues in the Copyright Departments. It was then by working in the Legal Profession starting as a Records clerk and advancing to Records Supervisor and Record Manager for a total of about 30 years. During this time he was promoted to Assistant Office Manager and Office Administrator. Ed never had to apply for positions to further my career. His skills were recognized, pushing him forward. Ed is currently retired and Volunteer at the Information Desk at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center a hospital in Burbank, CA . He is currently enjoying retirement with his Partner Tony Paradis.
Ed found Dick Clark to be a cold person, "He never said hello to me. He say say hello to some of the regulars, but not many. I was the only regular to be barred two or three weeks at a time. The reason being I was tall and he would tell me to move to the back. As I was dancing in the back the cameras would come back and he said ‘go home for three weeks.’ That’s how he spoke to me. I was not one of his favorites."
Even though Ed's relationship with Clark to be rocky during his Bandstand years, but things mellowed after that, with Kelly frequently appearing on reunion shows and other post-Bandstand occasions. Like many other regulars on the show, Kelly drew much attention from the show's television viewers, most of it positive.
Above current as 2016
