On October 13, 1952, Bob Horn, a popular local disc jockey, began broadcasting a program from Studio B called Bandstand, recognized as the first record and dance party program on television. Dick Clark became the program's host in 1956, and because of the show's immense local popularity, convinced ABC network executives to give it a trial nationally. On August 5, 1957 Bandstand became American Bandstand when it was broadcast live across the country for the first time. The show was an immediate success with an initial viewing audience of 20 million and weekly fan mail in excess of 15,000 letters; after one year, those figures had doubled. Nearly every major performer in that time period appeared on the show, and the teenage dancing regulars became young idols in their own right, exporting Philadelphia hair, dance, and clothing styles to the rest of the nation. From 1957 to 1964, when Bandstand aired nationally from Philadelphia, 4548 Market Street was the center of the nation's attention, as local teenagers flocked to the studio for their chance to appear on national television, while youth across the country tuned into Bandstand on ABC to follow the latest styles, tunes, and moves.

MY HIGH SCHOOL

REMEMBER THIS ONE

AH! THE OLD DRIVE-IN MOVIES


ACADEMY AWARDS....
1950...All about Eve
1951...An American In Paris
1952...The Greatest Show on Earth
1953...From Here To Eternity
1954...On The Water Front
1955...Marty
1956...Around The World In 80 Days
1957...The Bridge On The River Kwai
1958...Gigi
1959...Ben-Hur
1960...The Apartment

In 1955 James Dean is killed while driving his new Porsche Spyder at high speed, his movie; "Rebel Without A Cause", staring James Dean, Natalie Wood, and Sal Mineo has just been released and he becomes an instant icon for teens.

1950...Peanuts comic stip debuts and the first credit card is issued by Diners Club.
1951...The FBI issues the first Ten Most Wanted.
1952...Marilyn Monroe's tight sweaters inspire the sweater girl look.
1953...The first issue of Playboy magazine is published and 3-D thriller movies.
1954...Marilyn Monroe marries Joe DiMaggio.
1955...Ann Landers appears in newspapers, Disneyland opens for business in California and Marilyn Monroe shows a lot of leg in The Seven-Year Itch.
1956...Mental patients occupy more hospital beds than all other illnesses combined.
I graduated from the 8th grade.
1957...Michael Landon is in I Was A Teenage Werewolf, Elvis appears in his first motion picture, Love Me Tender.
1958...Elvis is drafted into the Army.
The sack dress becomes the fashion rage.
1959...Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper are killed in a plane crash in Iowa.
Liz Taylor marries Eddie Fisher.
Ricky Nelson making his movie debut in Rio Bravo.
My husband graduated from High School. His first car was a 1952 Buick Road Master.
1960...Playboy Club opens.Pantyhose are introduced.
The movie Psycho debuts.
I graduated from High School.
1961...President John F. Kennedy is inaugurated...November 22, 1963 he is assassinated.....
THE END OF AN ERA!

The Mickey Mouse Club premeired on October 3, 1955 till 1959. The Mousketeers made their first appearance on July 17, 1955 on the ABC broadcast special celebrating the opening of Disneyland.

Before there was Playboy, Penthouse
and Pantyhose there were Pin-ups

Some of our recording idols:
Theresa Brewer, Bill Haley & his Comets, The Platters, Chuck Berry, Johnnie Ray, Fats Domino, Johnnie Mathis, Paul Anka, Buddy Hollly, Sam Cooke, Danny & The Juniors, Tommy Edwards, The Silhouettes, Jerry Lee Lewis, Rickey Nelson, Bobby Darin, Frankie Avalon, The Fleetwoods, Ritchie Valins, Connie Francis, The Big Bopper, Bobby Rydell, Little Anthony & The Imperials, The Flamingoes, The Moonglows, Fankie Lymon & the Teenagers, Lee Andrews and The Hearts, Tommy Edwards, Johnny Ray, Johnny Mathis...And these are just a few.

Grace Kelly, Actess & Princess...In 1956 it was announced that Grace Kelly was engaged to Prince Rainie of Monaco.
Her wedding was dubbed "The Wedding of the Century"! On April 18, 1956 in the throne room of the palace of Monaco, Grace went through the first part of her marriage, the civil ceremony, which was required by Monegasque law. On April 19, 1956 the wedding took place in the St. Nicholas Church.
On September 13, 1982 Princess Grace and Princess Stephanie were involved in a terrible car accident when their car careened off the winding roads of France leading to Monaco. Unfortunatly, Princess Grace had suffered a very mild stroke which caused her to lose control of her vehicule. Princess Stephanie was able to get out of the car when it finally stopped rolling but, she suffered a few injuries and Princess Grace was found unconscious. The next day, on September 14, 1982 Princess Grace of Monaco, Grace Kelly, had died. She is never to be forgotten.

Mario Lanza was the most dazzling tenor in Hollywood history. Of his seven films, MGM's "The Great Caruso" was his biggest and was the first Classical artist to have a million-selling single with 1951's "Be My Love" which became the theme song of his top rated "Coca-Cola" radio show in 1951-52.

I hope you enjoyed remembering the 1950's.

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