Classic mic performance show Amerin Bandstand hid that some of s teen stars were gay the 1950s and 60s, a new, self-published memoir om two former dancers on the show who are now openly gay alleg.
Contents:
- THE SECRET GAY LIV OF THE "AMERIN BANDSTAND" DANCERS"THOSE BOYS WHO WERE 14 AND 15 AND 16 WERE SLEEPG WH EACH OTHER.”{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}TVBY ADAM SALANDRAMARCH 14, 2017/3:20 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:574PX;WIDTH:1020PX;} ABC PHOTO ARCHIV/ABC VIA GETTY IMAGBY ADAM SALANDRAMARCH 14, 2017 / 3:20 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"THE SECRET GAY LIV OF THE \"AMERIN BANDSTAND\" DANCERS","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2017-03-14T19:20:10.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2017-03-14T19:20:10.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"ADAM SALANDRA","ARTICLESECTN":"TV"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE YOUNG DANCERS ON AMERIN BANDSTAND WERE THE REALY STARS OF THE 1950S AND '60S—KIDS NATNWI SHED HOME TO WATCH THEIR EVERY MOVE AND CHATTER ABOUT THEIR RELATNSHIPS AND {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT JT LIKE A LOT OF TODAY'S SHOWMANC ARE NCTED, MANY OF THE BANDSTAND BOPPERS WERE HARBORG A BIG SECRET: THEY WERE GAY.GETTY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“I KNEW I WAS DIFFERENT EARLY ON, BUT BEG WH ALL THE [BANDSTAND] IENDS, I ME TO TERMS WH MY FEELGS," BANDSTAND STAR ARLENE SULLIVAN WR HER MEMOIR, BANDSTAND DIARI. "I KISSED A GIRL, AND I LIKED !”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BANDSTAND BUTED PHILALPHIA 1950 AND TOOK ON S FAIAR FORMAT TWO YEARS LATER. IN ADDN TO APPEARANC BY BIG POP STARS OF THE DAY, SULLIVAN'S ON-SCREEN ROMANCE WH KENNY ROSSI WAS A HUGE DRAW FOR THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ROSSI WAS STRAIGHT—BUT SULLIVAN, MANY OF HER FEMALE -STARS, AND MOST OF THE YOUNG MALE DANCERS WERE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SULLIVAN, 74, WROTE DIARI WH RAY SMH, ANOTHER DANCER WHO WAS CLOSETED DURG HIS BANDSTAND {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“THE ONE THG THAT REALLY SHOCKED ME WAS THAT THOSE BOYS WHO WERE 14 AND 15 AND 16 WERE SLEEPG WH EACH OTHER," SMH TOLD THE NEW YORK {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AT THE TIME, BEG OPEN ABOUT THEIR SEXUALY WOULD HAVE MEANT THE END FOR THE YOUNG PERFORMERS WH STARS THEIR EY. SULLIVAN SAYS BANDSTAND HOST DICK CLARK KNEW MOST OF THE ST WAS GAY, BUT WAS TERMED TO KEEP UNR WRAPS FOR THE SAKE OF THE SHOW.GETTY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THERE WERE EVEN ALLEGATNS THAT CLARK NDUCTED WCH HUNTS, SENDG PRODUCTN STAFF TO RTENHOE SQUARE, AT THE CENTER OF PHILALPHIA'S GAYBORHOOD, TO SEE IF ANY OF THE YOUNG STARS WERE THERE. BUT OVERALL, THEIR MEET-UPS REMAED A {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“IN OTHER PARTS OF THE UNTRY, IF YOU WERE A GAY KID GROWG UP, YOU WERE PROBABLY THE ONLY ONE TOWN WHO WAS GAY,” SULLIVAN SAYS. “BUT... WE WERE LIKE A LTLE FAY TOGETHER, AND WE ALL HAD SOMETHG MON, AND WE ALL STUCK TOGETHER, AND THAT MA EASIER FOR .”MICHAEL OCHS ARCHIV/GETTY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}DPE THAT SENSE OF MUNY, THE SHOW'S STARS—GAY AND STRAIGHT ALIKE—WERE TARGETED PHILALPHIA, AND EVEN PHYSILLY ATTACKED SOME S, JT FOR BEG {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“WHEN I ED TO WALK DOWN THE STREETS OF PHILALPHIA AND BE REGNIZED, I’D BE LLED A ‘BANDSTAND F*GGOT,’” DANCER FRANK BRANCC TOLD THE NATNAL ENQUIRER {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ONCE WHEN SULLIVAN AND ROSSI VISED ANOTHER SHOW REGULAR NORTH PHILALPHIA, "WE WERE LEAVG HER APARTMENT AND WERE HEAD TO THE EL, AND I HEARD R DOORS SLAMMG, AND I LOOKED BACK, AND ALL THE GUYS WERE G UP THE STEPS, AND THEY STARTED BEATG UP ON KENNY,” SHE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“I WAS TRYG TO H THEM OVER THEIR HEADS WH MY POCKETBOOK, BUT THEY JT WOULDN’T GIVE UP. FALLY, WE GOT AWAY AND JUMPED OVER THE TURNSTILE. THEY WERE HURTG HIM. IT WAS HORRIBLE.”MICHAEL OCHS ARCHIV/GETTY IMAGLOS ANGELES - APRIL 1960: HOST OF THE TELEVISN SHOW 'AMERIN BANDSTAND' DICK CLARK APPEARS A SCENE WH MICHAEL CALLAN OM THE MOVIE 'BEE THEY'RE YOUNG' WHICH WAS RELEASED APRIL 1960. (PHOTO BY MICHAEL OCHS ARCHIV/GETTY IMAG){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ANOTHER TIME, A DANCER WAS THROWN ONTO THE SUBWAY TRACKS. ONE YOUNG PERFORMER WAS DANGLED DOWN AN ELEVATOR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT FOR THE GAY KIDS, THE ABE AT HOME WAS WORSE: WHEN ONE DANCER'S PARENTS LEARNED HE WAS GAY, SHE TOLD THE POST, "THEY PUT A DRKG CUP ONT OF HIM AND SAID, ‘THIS IS YOUR CUP, AND YOU’RE THE ONLY ONE WHO WILL E THIS CUP.’" ANOTHER WAS THROWN OUT OF THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THANKFULLY WE'VE E A LONG WAY SCE THOSE SAD DAYS. AND WHILE MORE OPENLY GAY PERFORMERS ARE FORTABLE TAKG THE STAGE THE DAYS, 'S GOOD TO KNOW WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN THERE—EVEN IF {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
- ‘AMERIN BANDSTAND’ KEPT SECRET THAT TEEN STARS WERE GAY
- DICK CLARK’S SECRET: ‘BANDSTAND’ DANCERS WERE HAVG A GAY OLD TIME
- GAYS BEHD THE AMERIN BANDSTAND
- SURPRISE: A LOT OF THE TEENS ON AMERIN BANDSTAND WERE GAY
- THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985
- DICK CLARK REPORTEDLY COMBED PHILLY GAY CLUBS TO MAKE SURE “AMERIN BANDSTAND” DANCERS WEREN’T HOMOSEXUAL
- INTERTG HISTORY: AMERIN BANDSTAND’S ANTI-GAY PAST
- ‘AMERIN BANDSTAND’ HID THAT SOME TEEN STARS WERE GAY, MEMOIR CLAIMS
THE SECRET GAY LIV OF THE "AMERIN BANDSTAND" DANCERS"THOSE BOYS WHO WERE 14 AND 15 AND 16 WERE SLEEPG WH EACH OTHER.”{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}TVBY ADAM SALANDRAMARCH 14, 2017/3:20 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:574PX;WIDTH:1020PX;} ABC PHOTO ARCHIV/ABC VIA GETTY IMAGBY ADAM SALANDRAMARCH 14, 2017 / 3:20 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"THE SECRET GAY LIV OF THE \"AMERIN BANDSTAND\" DANCERS","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2017-03-14T19:20:10.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2017-03-14T19:20:10.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"ADAM SALANDRA","ARTICLESECTN":"TV"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE YOUNG DANCERS ON AMERIN BANDSTAND WERE THE REALY STARS OF THE 1950S AND '60S—KIDS NATNWI SHED HOME TO WATCH THEIR EVERY MOVE AND CHATTER ABOUT THEIR RELATNSHIPS AND {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT JT LIKE A LOT OF TODAY'S SHOWMANC ARE NCTED, MANY OF THE BANDSTAND BOPPERS WERE HARBORG A BIG SECRET: THEY WERE GAY.GETTY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“I KNEW I WAS DIFFERENT EARLY ON, BUT BEG WH ALL THE [BANDSTAND] IENDS, I ME TO TERMS WH MY FEELGS," BANDSTAND STAR ARLENE SULLIVAN WR HER MEMOIR, BANDSTAND DIARI. "I KISSED A GIRL, AND I LIKED !”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BANDSTAND BUTED PHILALPHIA 1950 AND TOOK ON S FAIAR FORMAT TWO YEARS LATER. IN ADDN TO APPEARANC BY BIG POP STARS OF THE DAY, SULLIVAN'S ON-SCREEN ROMANCE WH KENNY ROSSI WAS A HUGE DRAW FOR THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ROSSI WAS STRAIGHT—BUT SULLIVAN, MANY OF HER FEMALE -STARS, AND MOST OF THE YOUNG MALE DANCERS WERE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SULLIVAN, 74, WROTE DIARI WH RAY SMH, ANOTHER DANCER WHO WAS CLOSETED DURG HIS BANDSTAND {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“THE ONE THG THAT REALLY SHOCKED ME WAS THAT THOSE BOYS WHO WERE 14 AND 15 AND 16 WERE SLEEPG WH EACH OTHER," SMH TOLD THE NEW YORK {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AT THE TIME, BEG OPEN ABOUT THEIR SEXUALY WOULD HAVE MEANT THE END FOR THE YOUNG PERFORMERS WH STARS THEIR EY. SULLIVAN SAYS BANDSTAND HOST DICK CLARK KNEW MOST OF THE ST WAS GAY, BUT WAS TERMED TO KEEP UNR WRAPS FOR THE SAKE OF THE SHOW.GETTY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THERE WERE EVEN ALLEGATNS THAT CLARK NDUCTED WCH HUNTS, SENDG PRODUCTN STAFF TO RTENHOE SQUARE, AT THE CENTER OF PHILALPHIA'S GAYBORHOOD, TO SEE IF ANY OF THE YOUNG STARS WERE THERE. BUT OVERALL, THEIR MEET-UPS REMAED A {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“IN OTHER PARTS OF THE UNTRY, IF YOU WERE A GAY KID GROWG UP, YOU WERE PROBABLY THE ONLY ONE TOWN WHO WAS GAY,” SULLIVAN SAYS. “BUT... WE WERE LIKE A LTLE FAY TOGETHER, AND WE ALL HAD SOMETHG MON, AND WE ALL STUCK TOGETHER, AND THAT MA EASIER FOR .”MICHAEL OCHS ARCHIV/GETTY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}DPE THAT SENSE OF MUNY, THE SHOW'S STARS—GAY AND STRAIGHT ALIKE—WERE TARGETED PHILALPHIA, AND EVEN PHYSILLY ATTACKED SOME S, JT FOR BEG {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“WHEN I ED TO WALK DOWN THE STREETS OF PHILALPHIA AND BE REGNIZED, I’D BE LLED A ‘BANDSTAND F*GGOT,’” DANCER FRANK BRANCC TOLD THE NATNAL ENQUIRER {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ONCE WHEN SULLIVAN AND ROSSI VISED ANOTHER SHOW REGULAR NORTH PHILALPHIA, "WE WERE LEAVG HER APARTMENT AND WERE HEAD TO THE EL, AND I HEARD R DOORS SLAMMG, AND I LOOKED BACK, AND ALL THE GUYS WERE G UP THE STEPS, AND THEY STARTED BEATG UP ON KENNY,” SHE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“I WAS TRYG TO H THEM OVER THEIR HEADS WH MY POCKETBOOK, BUT THEY JT WOULDN’T GIVE UP. FALLY, WE GOT AWAY AND JUMPED OVER THE TURNSTILE. THEY WERE HURTG HIM. IT WAS HORRIBLE.”MICHAEL OCHS ARCHIV/GETTY IMAGLOS ANGELES - APRIL 1960: HOST OF THE TELEVISN SHOW 'AMERIN BANDSTAND' DICK CLARK APPEARS A SCENE WH MICHAEL CALLAN OM THE MOVIE 'BEE THEY'RE YOUNG' WHICH WAS RELEASED APRIL 1960. (PHOTO BY MICHAEL OCHS ARCHIV/GETTY IMAG){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ANOTHER TIME, A DANCER WAS THROWN ONTO THE SUBWAY TRACKS. ONE YOUNG PERFORMER WAS DANGLED DOWN AN ELEVATOR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT FOR THE GAY KIDS, THE ABE AT HOME WAS WORSE: WHEN ONE DANCER'S PARENTS LEARNED HE WAS GAY, SHE TOLD THE POST, "THEY PUT A DRKG CUP ONT OF HIM AND SAID, ‘THIS IS YOUR CUP, AND YOU’RE THE ONLY ONE WHO WILL E THIS CUP.’" ANOTHER WAS THROWN OUT OF THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THANKFULLY WE'VE E A LONG WAY SCE THOSE SAD DAYS. AND WHILE MORE OPENLY GAY PERFORMERS ARE FORTABLE TAKG THE STAGE THE DAYS, 'S GOOD TO KNOW WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN THERE—EVEN IF {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
"Amerin Bandstand" was the first realy show craze for high schoolers the '50s and '60s who would sh home to watch their favore upl dance on screen. Although all the pairgs were heterosexual the tth was the when the meras swched off the dancers, both male and female, were livg gay double liv. Arlene Sullivan, one-half of the popular Arlene and Kenny dance uple, and Ray Smh have wrten a tell-all memoir "Bandstand Diari" about their days as the veted "Bandstand" dancers. Sullivan and Smh say that most of the dancers were gay. * american bandstand gay dancers *
The young dancers on Amerin Bandstand were the realy stars of the 1950s and '60s—kids natnwi shed home to watch their every move and chatter about their relatnships and jt like a lot of today's showmanc are ncted, many of the Bandstand boppers were harborg a big secret: They were gay.
Sullivan says Bandstand host Dick Clark knew most of the st was gay, but was termed to keep unr wraps for the sake of the were even allegatns that Clark nducted wch hunts, sendg productn staff to Rtenhoe Square, at the center of Philalphia's gayborhood, to see if any of the young stars were there.
‘AMERIN BANDSTAND’ KEPT SECRET THAT TEEN STARS WERE GAY
Wdy Cy Tim News - When The New York Post published a story that a new ffeetable book, Bandstand Diari, revealed stori about the secret gay liv of some of the dancers, sal of the book went through the roof. Begng * american bandstand gay dancers *
“In other parts of the untry, if you were a gay kid growg up, you were probably the only one town who was gay, ” Sullivan says. ”Dpe that sense of muny, the show's stars—gay and straight alike—were targeted Philalphia, and even physilly attacked some s, jt for beg dancers.
DICK CLARK’S SECRET: ‘BANDSTAND’ DANCERS WERE HAVG A GAY OLD TIME
Two former dancers om Philly open up about the host's attempts to b lol gay bars to make sure his teen dancers weren't homosexuals. * american bandstand gay dancers *
One young performer was dangled down an elevator for the gay kids, the abe at home was worse: When one dancer's parents learned he was gay, she told the Post, "they put a drkg cup ont of him and said, ‘This is your cup, and you’re the only one who will e this cup. And while more openly gay performers are fortable takg the stage the days, 's good to know we've always been there—even if silence. What they didn’t know was that Arlene and several of the other female dancers, and most of the handsome teen boys, were gay.
GAYS BEHD THE AMERIN BANDSTAND
But back the “Bandstand” days, Smh was one of the show’s secretly gay dancers.
Ray Smh was one of the show’s secretly gay Chevrtt.
And while Smh knew he was gay, he was “shocked” to learn that “most of the guys on ‘Bandstand, ’ so many of them, were gay, ” he told The Post. Clark was “termed” to keep the homosexualy of popular “Bandstand” regulars a secret, Smh said. Sullivan and the other dancers often ngregated Rtenhoe Square, the historic epicenter of what is known as the Cy of Brotherly Love’s “Gayborhood.
SURPRISE: A LOT OF THE TEENS ON AMERIN BANDSTAND WERE GAY
” There even was chatter and fear that Clark, who died at 82 2012, sent members of his productn staff to spy on them and report back the nam of the spected gay regulars.
THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985
“In other parts of the untry, if you were a gay kid growg up, you were probably the only one town who was gay, ” Sullivan said.
But was not easy on the mean streets of Philalphia to be a “Bandstand” regular spected of beg gay. The bashg of “Bandstand” regulars, gay and straight, happened all the time, Sullivan and Smh reveal. But he vividly rells that one of his fellow gay dancers “was thrown onto the El tracks” outsi the stud, and another popular regular who was gay and often danced wh Sullivan “was dangled over an elevator shaft.
DICK CLARK REPORTEDLY COMBED PHILLY GAY CLUBS TO MAKE SURE “AMERIN BANDSTAND” DANCERS WEREN’T HOMOSEXUAL
“The parents of one kid on the show found out that he was gay...
Sullivan and most of the young men and women on the show were fact gay.
Sullivan recently teamed up wh fellow gay Bandstand alumn, Ray Smh to wre a tell-all about the show's secretly queer st. Bandstand Diari reveals a portra of growg up gay before the Stonewall rts.
INTERTG HISTORY: AMERIN BANDSTAND’S ANTI-GAY PAST
"In other parts of the untry, if you were a gay kid growg up, you were probably the only one town who was gay, " Sullivan said. "They would often ngregate Rtenhoe Square, the gayborhood of Philalphia, where the show was filmed. But that was jt part of their streets of Philalphia were dangero for male members of the st, straight or gay.
‘AMERIN BANDSTAND’ HID THAT SOME TEEN STARS WERE GAY, MEMOIR CLAIMS
That at least is the word om a former “Amerin Bandstand” dancer who claims a recently published book that Clark knew that a signifint number of the teens who appeared on his Philly-based afternoon dance-party program--known natnwi as the “Regulars”--were gay.