Bandstand Time: Don Flanagan

Don Flanagan said he and the girls managed to keep things orderly by distributing color coded entry tickets, each assigned for a different day of the week. Broadcast Pioneers member Jerry Blavat also played an important part in the Horn days of Bandstand.

Bob Horn poster cover LP

It was Bob Horn who Flanagan credits with establishing much of the basic format of the later incarnation of “American Bandstand,” the name the show used when on network. Local segments (which preceded the network show were still called “Bandstand”).

For a few months, Bob took over hosting an afternoon TV music show called “Parade of Stars” which ran filmed songs, the first so-called music videos. WFIL-TV wanted to capitalize on Horn’s very popular radio program called, Bandstand. They thought of just changing the name of “Parade of Stars” to “Bandstand,” but that idea was nixed.

Lee Stewart - The Original Bandstand Set - WFIL-TV, Philadelphia - 1952

Bandstand teen dance program on WFIL-TV with Bob Horn as co-host with Lee Stewart.

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Disc Jockey Play Chart Top 10 in USA

- November 8, 1952

1 I Went To Your Wedding-Patti Page
2 You Belong To Me-Jo Stafford

3 The Glow-Worm-Mills Brothers

4 It's In The Book-Johnny Standley & Horace Heidt

5 Jambalaya-Jo Stafford

6 You Belong To Me-Patti Page

7 Wish You Were Here-Eddie Fisher & Hugo Winterhalter

8 Lady Of Spain-Eddie Fisher & Hugo Winterhalter

9 Why Don't You Believe Me-Joni James

10 Trying-Hilltoppers

10 Because You're Mine-Mario Lanza

Juke Box Charts Top 10 in USA

- November 8, 1952

1 I Went To Your Wedding-Patti Page

2 You Belong To Me-Jo Stafford

3 The Glow-Worm-Mills Brothers

4 Jambalaya-Jo Stafford

5 You Belong To Me-Patti Page

6 Wish You Were Here-Eddie Fisher & Hugo Winterhalter

6 Why Don't You Believe Me-Joni James

8 Lady Of Spain-Eddie Fisher & Hugo Winterhalter

9 Trying-Hilltoppers

9 Outside Of Heaven-Eddie Fisher & Hugo Winterhalter

In 1952, a 16-year-old West Catholic High School junior Don Flanagan can tell you he was the first record runner for the TV show that became the forerunner to American Bandstand. It was called, “Bandstand.”

He signed up to show up Monday through Fridays at the “new” home of WFIL-TV and Radio at 46th and Market Streets in West Philly, near several major high schools.

Don Flanagan, tall, a string bean of a kid, was given the assignment to run records from the station’s afternoon teen record hop with Bob Horn and Lee Stewart across the hall to the AM radio station. He deposited them into the hands of a young 26 year-old guy from upstate New York. His name was Dick Clark.

broadcastpioneers.com

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Disc Jockey Play Chart Top 10 in USA

- October 25, 1952