The Dick Clark Show

Did You Know?

• At the end of each show, Clark announced the ten most popular songs from the current Top 40 in reverse order as the 'American Bandstand Top Ten'.
• On the first show, Clark played a brief soundclip from each top ten record; on subsequent shows, he played clips only for records new to the Top Ten that week.

Summary

The show featured musical guests who typically lip-synced their latest hits, with Clark often interviewing them before or after performances. Some episodes also included interviews with non-musical celebrities such as Bob Hope, Johnny Carson, Tony Randall, and Chuck Connors. Most broadcasts were staged live at Manhattan's Little Theater (now the Helen Hayes Theatre), where the audience sat in theater seats—a key visual difference from Clark's concurrent show American Bandstand. Occasional remote broadcasts took place, including a May 30, 1959, show from the Sheraton Hotel in Binghamton, New York, three shows from Hollywood, California, between August 22 and September 5, 1959, and five shows from various U.S. locations between June 11 and July 9, 1960. The series ran year-round for 136 episodes, with no formal seasons; however, the first 29 episodes (through August 30, 1958) can be considered a first season, followed by a second season of 53 shows (September 6, 1958, through September 5, 1959), and a third season of 54 shows (September 12, 1959, through September 10, 1960).

Guests

Almost every popular American singer of the 1950s appeared on the show. Jackie Wilson and Bobby Rydell were the most frequent guests, each appearing fourteen times. Frankie Avalon and Paul Anka each appeared ten times, followed by Jack Scott with nine appearances. Bobby Darin and Dion and the Belmonts each appeared eight times; Johnny Maestro (both solo and with the Crests), Annette Funicello, the Four Preps, Freddy Cannon, and Fabian each appeared seven times. Neil Sedaka, Anita Bryant, Conway Twitty, Lloyd Price, Duane Eddy, and Jimmy Clanton each appeared six times. At least seventy-five other singers and musicians appeared two or more times. Among them, Johnny Cash sang "Guess Things Happen That Way" on July 5, 1958; "It's Just About Time" on December 20, 1958; and "The Rebel – Johnny Yuma" on March 26, 1960. Danny and the Juniors sang "Rock and Roll Is Here to Stay" on February 22, 1958; "At the Hop" and "Dottie" on June 21, 1958; and "Twistin' U.S.A." on September 3, 1960. Clyde McPhatter sang "A Lover's Question" on November 15, 1958, and "Since You Been Gone" on July 4, 1959. Bill Haley and the Comets sang "Rock Around the Clock", "Shake, Rattle, and Roll", and "Tamiami" on February 20, 1960. Little Anthony & the Imperials sang "Tears on My Pillow" on August 23, 1958; "So Much" on November 29, 1958; and "Shimmy, Shimmy Ko-Ko Bop" on January 2, 1960. Billy Bland sang "Let the Little Girl Dance" on April 23, 1960, and "Pardon Me" on August 6, 1960. The Chordettes sang "Lollipop" and "Mr. Sandman" on February 22, 1958; "Lollipop" and "Zorro" on April 26, 1958; and "No Other Arms, No Other Lips" on March 28, 1959. The Everly Brothers sang "All I Have to Do Is Dream" and "Wake Up Little Susie" on April 5, 1958, and "Cathy's Clown", "When Will I Be Loved?", and "So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad)" on the July 9, 1960, Hollywood show. Frankie Lymon sang "Mama Don't Allow It" on May 17, 1958, and "Little Bitty Pretty One" on August 13, 1960. Chubby Checker sang "The Class" on May 23, 1959, and "The Twist" on August 6, 1960. Jimmie Rodgers sang "Honeycomb" on May 3, 1958. Eddie Cochran sang "Summertime Blues" on August 30, 1958, and "Somethin' Else" on October 10, 1959.

Notable episodes

On February 22, 1958, Dick Clark interviewed Johnny Carson. The March 8, 1958, episode featured an offer for viewers to receive an autographed 45 RPM single of Jerry Lee Lewis's "Breathless" by mailing five Beechnut Gum wrappers and fifty cents for shipping; 48,000 requests came in, and the promotion drew criticism and accusations of payola but resulted in no scandal or indictments. On May 10, 1958, Clark interviewed Bob Hope, and together they lip-synced the Hope/Crosby song "Paris Holiday". The November 29, 1958, show was filmed the day before Clark's birthday, and Bobby Darin and other singers wished him a happy birthday without singing the song. On January 3, 1959, David Seville and The Chipmunks performed "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)" on the eighth day of Christmas. The May 3, 1959, episode was Western-themed, with Clark and guests in cowboy attire; performers included Paul Anka, Jesse Belvin, Ronnie Hawkins & The Hawks (featuring drummer Levon Helm), Johnny Horton, and The Skyliners. The May 30, 1959, remote broadcast from Binghamton, New York, was filmed outdoors and featured Duane Eddy, Annette Funicello, The Four Preps, and Billy Storm. Three consecutive remote shows from Hollywood, California, aired in summer 1959: on August 22, Fabian, Bobby Darin, Dodie Stevens, and Mitchell Torok performed; on August 29, Johnny Horton, The Four Preps, Connie Stevens, Paul Petersen and Shelley Fabares (interviewed), The Diamonds, and Tab Hunter appeared; on September 5, Duane Eddy, Jan & Dean, Frankie Avalon, and Anita Bryant performed.