The Dick Clark Show (also known as Dick Clark's Saturday Night Beechnut Show) is an American musical variety show broadcast weekly in the United States on the ABC television network 7:30-8 p.m. (Eastern Time) on Saturdays from February 15, 1958, to September 10, 1960, sponsored (except for the first two shows) by Beechnut Gum.
Summary Dick Clark, hosting throughout the entire series, introduced musical guests, who sang/performed (or, more often, lip-synced) their latest popular hit. Often, after a performance (and sometimes before), Clark interviewed the musician(s). Between performances on some shows, he also interviewed non-musical celebrity guests, usually a television or movie star—Bob Hope, Johnny Carson, Tony Randall, and Chuck Connors, among others.
The show was typically staged live, in New York City, at Manhattan's Little Theater (now the Helen Hayes Theatre). For the Manhattan broadcasts, the audience sat in theater seats, rather than standing and dancing as in Clark's concurrent pop-music show, American Bandstand—this distinction is the best method to identify whether a video recording of an artist's performance is from this show, or from American Bandstand.
The show was occasionally broadcast from remote locations across the United States. The May 30, 1959, show was broadcast from the Sheraton Hotel in Binghamton, New York. Three shows, spanning from August 22, 1959, through September 5, 1959, were broadcast remotely from Hollywood, California. Another set of five shows were broadcast remotely from various locations across the country between June 11, 1960, and July 9, 1960.
Given that the show ran continually year-round for over two-and-a-half years, resulting in 136 episodes, there were no seasons as such. However, the "first season" of 29 shows could be said to have run from the premiere through August 30, 1958, the "second season" of 53 shows, September 6, 1958, through September 5, 1959, and the "third season" of 54 shows, September 12, 1959, through September 10, 1960.
Top Ten At the end of each show, Clark would announce the ten most popular songs from the current Top 40 in reverse order from number 10 on down to number 1, as the "American Bandstand Top Ten". On the first show, Clark played a brief soundclip from each top ten record as its title was announced. On each subsequent show, Clark played the soundclip only for those records which were "new" on the Top Ten that week.
First show The first show was broadcast February 15, 1958,Brooks, Tim and Marsh, Earle (Edition 7 – 1997), The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows: 1946–Present, Random House Inc., page 537, with no sponsor—Beechnut began sponsoring the show the third week. Sam's Television Appearances/The Dick Clark Saturday Night Show on the "Sam Cooke Fan Club" website Guests on the first show were: Pat Boone (interviewed, and singing "Wonderful Time Up There", "It's Too Soon To Know") Jerry Lee Lewis ("Breathless", "Great Balls of Fire" Clip of 1958 Jerry Lee Lewis performance on YouTube) Connie Francis ("Who's Sorry Now?") Johnnie Ray (interviewed and plugging his latest single "Strollin' Girl") Elaine Berman, President of a Jerry Lee Lewis Fan Club (interviewed) The Royal Teens ("Short Shorts") Chuck Willis ("Betty And Dupree")
Guests Guests included almost every popular American singer of the 1950s. Jackie Wilson and Bobby Rydell were the most frequent guests, each appearing on fourteen different shows. Frankie Avalon and Paul Anka, each with ten appearances, were the next most frequent guests. Next was Jack Scott, on nine shows. Bobby Darin and Dion and the Belmonts were next with eight appearances each; Johnny Maestro (both solo and as a member of the Crests), Annette Funicello, the Four Preps, Freddy Cannon, and Fabian were next at seven times each. At six times each were Neil Sedaka, Anita Bryant, Conway Twitty, Lloyd Price, Duane Eddy, and Jimmy Clanton.
Excluding the names listed above, at least seventy-five other singers and musicians appeared on two or more shows.Full Credits for "The Dick Clark Show" at the Internet Movie Database Among them, along with a sampling of the songs they sang (and when), were: Johnny Cash sang: "Guess Things Happen That Way" on the July 5, 1958, show "It's Just About Time" on the December 20, 1958, show "The Rebel – Johnny Yuma" on the March 26, 1960, show Danny and the Juniors sang: "Rock and Roll Is Here to Stay" on the February 22, 1958, show "At the Hop" and "Dottie" on the June 21, 1958, show "Twistin' U.S.A." on the September 3, 1960, show Clyde McPhatter sang: "A Lover's Question" on the November 15, 1958, show "Since You Been Gone" on the July 4, 1959, show Bill Haley and the Comets sang "Rock Around the Clock", "Shake, Rattle, and Roll", and "Tamiami" on the February 20, 1960, show Little Anthony & the Imperials sang "Tears on My Pillow" on the August 23, 1958, show "So Much" on the November 29, 1958, show "Shimmy, Shimmy Ko-Ko Bop" on the January 2, 1960, show Billy Bland sang "Let the Little Girl Dance" on the April 23, 1960, show "Pardon Me" on the August 6, 1960, show The Chordettes sang: "Lollipop" and "Mr. Sandman" on the February 22, 1958, show "Lollipop" and "Zorro" on the April 26, 1958, show "No Other Arms, No Other Lips" on the March 28, 1959, show Everly Brothers sang: "All I Have to Do Is Dream" and "Wake Up Little Susie" on the April 5, 1958, show "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 the May 17, 1958, show "Little Bitty Pretty One" on the August 13, 1960, show Chubby Checker sang: "The Class" on the May 23, 1959, show "The Twist" on the August 6, 1960, show Jimmie Rodgers sang "Honeycomb" on the May 3, 1958, show Eddie Cochran sang: "Summertime Blues" on the August 30, 1958, show “Somethin' Else” on the October 10, 1959, show "Sittin' in the Balcony" on the October 10, 1959, show "C'mon Everybody" on the November 29, 1959, show Sam Cooke sang: "Lonely Island" on the March 22, 1958, show "Win Your Love For Me" on the October 11, 1958, show "Everybody Likes to Cha Cha Cha" and "You Send Me" on the March 14, 1959, show "Only Sixteen" on the June 20, 1959, show Fats Domino sang a medley of "I'm In Love Again", "Blueberry Hill", "I Want You To Know", "Ain't That a Shame", "Blue Monday", and "I'm Walkin'" on the March 29, 1958, show La Vern Baker sang: "I Cried a Tear" on the January 10, 1959, show "I Waited Too Long" on the May 16, 1959, show The Big Bopper sang "Chantilly Lace" on the September 20, 1958, and the November 22, 1958, shows Chuck Berry sang: "Sweet Little Sixteen" on the February 22, 1958, show (second of the series) "Johnny B. Goode" on the May 17, 1958, show "Back in the U.S.A." on the July 18, 1959, show Jan and Dean sang: "Baby Talk" on the September 5, 1959, show "White Tennis Sneakers" on the April 16, 1960, show Baby Talk" and "We Go Together" on the June 25, 1960, show The Coasters sang: "Yakety Yak" on the May 31, 1958, and August 16, 1958, shows "Charlie Brown" on the March 7, 1959, show Johnny Horton sang: "The Battle of New Orleans" on the August 29, 1959, Hollywood show "Sink the Bismarck" on the April 2, 1960, Manhattan show Sandy Nelson performed "Teen Beat" on the October 3, 1959, show Johnny Tillotson sang "Why Do I Love You So?" on the February 20, 1960, show Dorsey Burnette sang: "There Was a Tall Oak Tree" on the March 19, 1960, show "Hey Little One" on the June 25, 1960, show Dodie Stevens sang: "Pink Shoe Laces" on the February 28, 1959, show "Miss Lonelyhearts" on the August 22, 1959, show Among the single-appearance guests were: Buddy Holly sang "It's So Easy" on the October 25, 1958, show Brian Hyland sang "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" at the July 16, 1960, show The Cadillacs sang "Peek a Boo" on the November 22, 1958, show Roy Orbison sang "Only the Lonely" and "Uptown" at the July 23, 1960, show The Ventures performed "Walk, Don't Run" on the August 27, 1960, show The Isley Brothers sang the first two minutes of "Shout" on the October 10, 1959, show The Olympics sang "Western Movies" on either the July 26, 1958, show, or the August 2, 1958, show The Teddy Bears sang "To Know Him Is to Love Him" on the November 15, 1958, show The Shirelles sang "I Met Him On a Sunday" on the April 5, 1958, show Bill Justis performed "College Man" and "Raunchy" on the February 22, 1958, show The Chantels sang "Maybe" on the March 1, 1958, show Teresa Brewer sang "There's Nothing As Lonesome As Saturday Night" and "Whirlpool" on the March 1, 1958, show Ritchie Valens sang "Donna" on the December 27, 1958, show Andy Williams sang "Canadian Sunset" and "Are You Sincere?" on the March 15, 1958, show The Diamonds sang "Little Darlin'" on February 21, 1959, show
Notable episodes Source: February 22, 1958 Dick Clark interviewed Johnny Carson. March 8, 1958 Dick Clark announced that viewers could receive in the mail an "autographed" "...autograph was done with a rubber stamp and green ink..." , on the "Jerry Lee Lewis in the 1950s" website 45 RPM single of Jerry Lee Lewis's latest hit Breathless by sending in five Beechnut Gum wrappers and fifty cents for shipping and handling.Poore, Billy (1998) "Rockabilly: A Forty-Year Journey", Hal Leonard Publishing, page 11 48,000 requests were received.Bundy, June "Mail Pull Rates Clark a Topper in TV Promotions", Billboard Magazine, (November 10, 1958), page 46 Sun Records sent out the promotional records, the song moved further up the Top 40, and sales of Beechnut Gum increased—the deal made between Dick Clark and Sam Phillips of Sun Records for this promotion drew some criticism and accusations of payola, but resulted in no scandal and no indictments.Martin, Linda and Segrave, Terry (1993) "Anti-Rock: The Opposition to Rock 'n' Roll", Da Capo Press, p. 100, May 10, 1958 Dick Clark interviewed Bob Hope; together, they lip-synced the Hope/Crosby song "Paris Holiday". November 29, 1958 Because the show was being filmed the day before Dick Clark's birthday, Bobby Darin and other singers wished Dick Clark a happy birthday (but did not sing the "Happy Birthday To You" song). January 3, 1959 David Seville and The Chipmunks performed "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)" on the eighth day of Christmas. May 3, 1959 A Western-themed show, with Dick Clark and guests in cowboy attire. Paul Anka ("Lonely Boy"), Jesse Belvin ("Guess Who?"), Ronnie Hawkins & The Hawks (featuring drummer Levon Helm) ("Forty Days"), Johnny Horton ("The Battle of New Orleans"), The Skyliners ("Since I Don't Have You" and "This I Swear"). May 30, 1959 Remote broadcast from Binghamton, New York, filmed outdoors. Duane Eddy ("Rebel Rouser", "Forty Miles of Bad Road"), Annette Funicello ("Lonely Guitar", "Wild Party"), The Four Preps, Billy Storm 1959 summer-series of three consecutive remote shows broadcast from Hollywood, California August 22, 1959Fabian ("Got the Feeling", "Come on and Get Me"), Bobby Darin ("Mack the Knife", "Dream Lover"), Dodie Stevens ("Miss Lonelyhearts"), and Mitchell Torok ("Caribbean"). August 29, 1959 Johnny Horton ("Johnny Reb", "Battle Of New Orleans"), The Four Preps ("I Ain't Never"), Connie Stevens ("Why Do I Cry For Joey?"), Paul Petersen and Shelley Fabares (interviewed), The Diamonds ("Young In Years"), and Tab Hunter ("Our Love", "Waiting For Fall"). September 5, 1959 Duane Eddy, Jan & Dean ("Baby Talk"), Frankie Avalon ("Just Ask Your Heart"), and Anita Bryant ("Til There Was You"). December 31, 1959