August 5, 1957 ~ American Bandstand Premiers on ABC

August 5, 1957 – Dick Clark and his American Bandstand, a show dedicated to the hip music and popular dances of the teenage “baby-boomers” went national on August 5, 1957 beginning its 30-year run on ABC.

Before MTV, YouTube, or iTunes, there was Dick Clark’s American Bandstand

When the song-and-dance show premiered nationwide, a 27-year-old Clark charmed audiences with his light-hearted on-camera personality and his ability to spot the era’s future superstars.

The show became a cultural phenomenon, bringing popular rock-n-roll and Motown music to generations of American living rooms.

By the time the show came to an end in 1989, Dick Clark was one of the most recognizable faces in the U.S.. He remained a media titan until his death in 2012.

Today, the teens that loved the show are America’s baby boomers and many of the acts Clark helped catapult to stardom are still going strong.

So here’s to the house that Clark built, Happy Birthday, American Bandstand.