Yesterday we all read about the passing of American Bandstand legend Dick Clark. The show began when I was just a small child, but I still watched it everyday...right after The Mickey Mouse Club! Two staples on our black and white television. I can remember watching the dancers and imitating them. As I grew up American Bandstand was a part of my afternoon every weekday and through it I got to see my favorite performers of the times. It was the one place you could see soul singers and rock and roll artists in one place. My dream was to grow up and become a regular on American Bandstand! Lofty goal to be sure, but I was in love with the boys and wanted to be just like the girls. I had the moves down by then and the look with my flip hairstyle! When they would do "The Stroll" I would do it right along with them in my living room and if I was lucky I could talk my mama into dancing with me. We would jitterbug and stroll as if we were right in the studio. My brother never wanted to dance so he would fold his arms and say no. Mom quit dancing with me when the sixties hit and the music changed! Now it was The British Invasion or the Motown Sound and the groups ruled the airwaves. The dances had names like The Jerk, The Waitusi, The Frug, Bosa Nova, Mashed Potato and The Swim. Good grief!
I will say she liked The Twist and if Chubby Checker was a guest on AB then she would watch and even my brother wasn't so stubborn about dancing because he sure liked to twist! We loved the "Rate a Record" segment because that is when we got to listen to a new song and give it a grade. It was always fun to see if we agreed with the panel who was listening and giving their own grade.
So, leaving Mr. Clark and American Bandstand behind I fast forward to 1966 and the premiere of Dark Shadows. I just read that Jonathan Frid, better known as the vampire Barnabus Collins passed away on April 13. He is the other person I spoke about and when I read about his passing my first reaction was that I had lost a link to my grandmother and that is what prompted me to write this. I would beat a path home from school everyday to watch this program with her. We loved it and never missed it! She and I would stop everything for those thirty minutes everyday. So for all the Vampire Diaries and Twilight fans out there who think you are the first and that your vampire stories are something new... you are so wrong. It all started when Willy Lumas went into the Collins family crypt that contained the coffin of Barnabus Collins and opened it! I was hooked. I remember the episodes like it was yesterday. The characters are so fresh in my memory. Angelique, Quentin, Roger, Carolyn, Maggie, Dr. Hoffman, Elizabeth, Victoria, Josette and of course Barnabus.
It was campy and filmed in black and white and I loved every single minute. If you did not watch it then, this old series is worth a look on DVD. I even read that four of the actors (Mr. Frid included) were given cameos in the upcoming Dark Shadows movie. It was to be his last role and seems fitting.It is sad when you read about the passing of a childhood idol, but these two coming within days really made me think about the role they both played in my life. It is because of their shows and characters that I have these wonderful memories.
I suppose that is the best tribute anyone could offer them. So, thank you for the laughter, the music, the drama and the memories. RIP Dick Clark and Jonathan Frid.
