1960's television dance show

[saflyer]

In the 1960's ther was a regular weekday afternoon, I think, television dance show on a station in Joplin, Mo. or Pittsburgh, Ks. I assume is was syndicated around the country. I can't remember the name of the show or host but he regularly lipsynched songs. If they sounded like they were sung by a little boy he would stand on his knees with them in a pair of shoes to appear to be short.

Does anyone remember this show and have any more info?

Thanks

[pygmalion]

Hi saflyer! Welcome. 60's is a little before I'd remember. (Not too much LOL), but I'll ask my big sisters. We're from Philly, and had a local show which may have been syndicated -- played well into the seventies, which I remember. The Geator with the heater, Jerry Blavat. Ring any bells? If not, I'll ask my sisters. They were big dance show fans.

Welcome to the forums. :D

[Sagitta]

Welcome to df saflyer!! :) Have no idea about the dance show you are talking about. I wasn't even imagined yet at that time, and even when I came into this world I was in Africa! :) Just wanted to chime in with a welcome.

[Spitfire]

In the 1960's ther was a regular weekday afternoon, I think, television dance show on a station in Joplin, Mo. or Pittsburgh, Ks. I assume is was syndicated around the country. I can't remember the name of the show or host but he regularly lipsynched songs. If they sounded like they were sung by a little boy he would stand on his knees with them in a pair of shoes to appear to be short.

Does anyone remember this show and have any more info?

Thanks

My first guess is that it was Where The Action Is.

This was a rock and roll variety show that appeared on television in the afternoon and I believe it featured a lot of dancing. I didn't watch it very often, but I recall a cheerleader dance routine to the song Hooray For Hazel done by Tommy Roe.

Hmm, how many people here are old enough to remember that one?

[saflyer]

One more bit of information. This show was during the popularity of the the singer who sang "Lightning is Striking Again". Can't remember his name either but his songs were played on the show a lot.

Thanks

[pygmalion]

I'm glad you came back, saflyer. I'd forgotten to ask my sisters about this, but I will now. 8)

[pygmalion]

Guesses:

She-bang, Hollywood A Go Go, The Lloyd Thaxton Show.

More to come, after googling. LOL.

[pygmalion]

Soul of the City? The Dance Connection? Boss City? Dance Party TV?

[Spitfire]

One more bit of information. This show was during the popularity of the the singer who sang "Lightning is Striking Again". Can't remember his name either but his songs were played on the show a lot.

Thanks

I believe the singer was Lou Christie.

There were two other shows like this; Shindig and Hullabaloo, but it wouldn't have been Hullabaloo since that came on at primetime on NBC. I don't recall if Shindig was prime time or daytime.

[pygmalion]

Hmm. Shindig I've heard of. Don't ask me how, LOL. I don't remember. From all my googling, I've realized that there were tons of these dance shows in the sixties, some local, some syndicated. It's hard to tell what's what. But if anyone can find the right show for saflyer, I'm betting DF is it. 8)

[pygmalion]

Okay, saflyer. Do I need to keep googling? :wink: :lol:

[saflyer]

Lloyd Thaxton doesn't sound familiar but "The Dance Connection" or "Dance Party TV" might be it. If you know the name of the host it might shock my memory.

Lou Christie. That's him! Thanks

[pygmalion]

Does that mean we've got it?!? Yay! :banana:

[saflyer]

That's enough. Thanks for all the help. I'm going to try contacting the stations in Joplin and Pittsburgh, KS to see if they have any old hands from that era who remember the show. I'll keep you posted.

Thands again

[pygmalion]

Cool. I found Lou Christie, btw. His bio mentioned tons of performances but didn't mention specific shows. Hmm. Keep us posted. I may try another google or two.

[pygmalion]

A word to the wise. Never, ever tell Jenn to give up a google quest. LOL.

http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/M/htmlM/musicontele/musicontele.htm

Teen dance shows enjoyed a resurgence in 1965. Some of the most notable syndicated efforts were hosted by Lloyd Thaxton, Casey Kasem (Shebang, which originated from KTLA in Los Angeles), Sam Riddle (Hollywood A Go Go), Gene Weed (Shivaree) and Jerry "The Geater with the Heater" Blavat's The Discophonic Scene. The ubiquitous Dick Clark also started a weekday teen show, Where the Action Is, on ABC. In addition to records and dancing, these shows often featured filmed performances as well as short "concept" musical films triggered by the success of the Beatles' A Hard Day's Night. Mainstream pop music remained the province of variety shows and specials throughout the 1960s.


Getting closer. Was it Where the Action Is?

[pygmalion]

http://home.eznet.net/~gc/geator/

And here's a Jerry Blavat page. :D

[pygmalion]

btw. I think it's hard to recapture the feelings people had about these dance show hosts. This was in the era before cable TV or music videos, or even FM radio, in a lot of cases, and things got personal. I didn't even get acquainted with the concept until the seventies, when it was already passe. But the dance show hosts were like a member of the extended family, for my older siblings. Jerry Blavat (who was from Philly, my hometown) was the man. He could do no wrong. He compiled albums of songs by new up-and-coming artists, he launched careers, and he really mattered, on a local level. I don't think things will ever be that way again. Local doesn't matter, in the music business, these days. But back then, it really did.

And don't even let me get started on Soul Train. He he! That one started small, but has become a huge cultural icon, for African American people, and many others.

[Spitfire]

Where The Action Is is the only one of those that I remember, but I suppose it could have been any one of those if it came on weekday afternoons. Also, it was on Where The Action Is that I recall these teen dancers doing a conga type dance to The McCoy's Hang On Sloopy. At first it sounded like they were singing "hang on stupid".

[pygmalion]

I love that song. Hang on Sloopy. I learned it as a toddler, no kidding, and the lyrics were so simplistic that even I could get it. Wow! Memories. :D

And what was the one with Tommy James and the Shondells singing through a fan? I'll remember in the middle of the night, I'm sure. Hmm.

[Spitfire]

I love that song. Hang on Sloopy. I learned it as a toddler, no kidding, and the lyrics were so simplistic that even I could get it. Wow! Memories. :D

And what was the one with Tommy James and the Shondells singing through a fan? I'll remember in the middle of the night, I'm sure. Hmm.

Through a fan? got me on that one; they were on the Ed Sullivan Show singing Crimson and Clover. That one's a classic.

[pygmalion]

Yup. Crimson and Clover. At least, the rumor was that, at the end of the song, when they're going through the refrain, the musical special effect was achieved by singing through a fan. Haven't found anything via google, but you know me! I'll keep looking. 8)