Dick Clark
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Embeddable interview clip: Dick Clark on Dick Clark's Rockin New Year's Eve
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from the Museum of Broadcast Communications Encyclopedia of Television
With a career spanning fifty years, Dick Clark is one of television's most successful entrepreneurs of program production. Often acknowledged more for his youthful appearance than for his business acumen, Clark nevertheless has built an impressive production record since the 1950s with teen dance shows, prime-time programming, television specials, daytime game shows, made-for-television movies, and feature films.
As a teenager, Clark began his career in broadcasting in 1945 in the mailroom of station WRUN in Utica, New York, working his way up to weatherman and then newsman. After graduating from Syracuse University in 1951, Clark moved from radio into television broadcasting at station WKTV in Utica. Here, Clark hosted Cactus Dick and the Santa Fe Riders, a country music program which became the training ground for his later television hosting persona. In 1952, Clark moved to Philadelphia and radio station WFIL as a disc jockey for Dick Clark's Caravan of Music. At that time, WFIL was affiliated with a television station which carried Bandstand, an afternoon teen dance show. Clark often substituted for Bob Horn, the show's regular host. When Horn was jailed for drunken driving in 1956, Clark took over as permanent host, boosting Bandstand into Philadelphia's best-known afternoon show. From that point on, he became a fixture in the American television broadcasting arena.
In 1957, the American Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) picked up the program for its daytime schedule, changing the name to American Bandstand. As a cornerstone of the afternoon lineup through 1963, the program was a boon for ABC, an inexpensively produced success for the network's target audience of youthful demographics. From 1963 through 1987, American Bandstand ran on a weekly basis to become one of the longest running shows in broadcast television.
In addition to Clark's hosting and producing duties for American Bandstand, he began to diversify in the 1950s by moving into the music publishing and recording industries. However, by the end of 1959, the federal government began to scrutinize Clark for a possible conflict between his broadcasting interests and his publishing and recording interests. At that time, payola, the practice of music industry companies paying radio personalities to play new records, was widespread throughout radio broadcasting. Clark, with the cultural scope of his network television program, became the prime target of the Congressional investigation into this illegal activity. Pressured by ABC to make a choice between broadcast and music industry interests, Clark opted for the former, divesting himself of his publishing and recording companies. Even though Clark was cleared of any illegal behavior, he had to testify before the Congressional Committee on payola practices in 1960.
Given the present state of cross-corporate links among the recording, broadcasting, cable and film industries, Clark's persecution would be highly unlikely now. Indeed, even at the time of the payola scandals, the networks and film studios, such as ABC and Disney, were already inextricably connected with program production, broadcasting and profits. In retrospect, Clark's problems stemmed as much from his embrace of a somewhat raucous, interracial youth culture and his involvement in the conflict between ASCAP, representing the old guard of the music publishing business, and BMI, representing the new breed of rock and roll songwriters.
A somewhat tarnished reputation did not hinder Clark's further success in the area of broadcast programming and film production with Dick Clark Productions. DCP produced Where the Action Is, another daily teenage music show, during the late 1960s, as well as feature exploitation films such Psych-Out, The Savage Seven and Killers Three. At this time, Clark also moved into the game show arena with Missing Links and The Object Is, culminating in the late 1970s with The $25,000 Pyramid.
In addition, DCP produced Elvis, Murder in Texas, and The Woman Who Willed a Miracle, made-for-television movies which garnered impressive audience ratings. The latter won an Emmy Award. On a more low-brow level, DCP also introduced Bloopers and Practical Jokes, another inexpensive, but extremely popular recurring television special to American audiences. Clark also produces award shows, the American Awards and The Golden Globe Awards.
Often criticized for the lack of quality in DCP programs, Clark points to the networks and the audiences as the index of that quality. He gives them what they want. In an interview in Newsweek magazine in 1986, Clark points out, "If I were given the assignment of doing a classical-music hour for PBS, it would be exquisite and beautifully done." Despite the boyish good looks and charm that are the identifying characteristics of this American icon, it is Clark's economically efficient business savvy and his uncanny ability to measure the American public's cultural mood that have been his most important assets in television broadcasting.
-Rodney Buxton
Highlights
Dick Clark on the origins of American Bandstand
Clip begins at: 16:10, Duration: 00m 36s
Dick Clark on the genesis of New Years Rockin' Eve
Clip begins at: 24:51, Duration: 03m 01s
Dick Clark on similarities between American Bandstand and MTV
Clip begins at: 14:33, Duration: 01m 11s
Dick Clark on being targeted in the music "payola" investigation
Clip begins at: 00:42, Duration: 03m 22s
Dick Clark on forming Dick Clark Productions
Clip begins at: 05:41, Duration: 01m 22s
Dick Clark on his legacy
Clip begins at: 26:31, Duration: 00m 44s
Interview
- Part 1
- On his childhood interest in radio; on his first job in the mailroom of a radio station in New York; on working as a DJ in college at Syracuse University; on being a news anchor; on getting a job in radio in Philadelphia and the state of television in 1952; on his first time seeing television - at the 1939 World's Fair; on comparisons between television and the Internet as forms of once-new media; on his one professional regret
Clip begins at: 0:52 - On his first television job in Utica, NY; on salvaging old films of American Bandstand; on Dick Clark's Caravan of Music, later renamed American Bandstand; on the origins of American Bandstand; on moving from doing the radio to television version of Bandstand, which had already been on air with a different host; on the music on the show; on the diversity of American Bandstand; on touring with musicians
Clip begins at: 12:27 - On taking over the televised version of American Bandstand; on taking the show from a local Philadelphia show to a national program on ABC; on first realizing he was famous
Clip begins at: 24:28 - Part 2
- On the success of American Bandstand and being targeted in the music "payola" investigation; on the many decades of American Bandstand; on Dick Clark Productions; on the lessons about staying "young, not old" from Leonard Goldenson; on connecting with teenagers over the many decades of American Bandstand; on learning from mistakes
Clip begins at: 0:28 - On his entrepreneurship; on his path in life; on working on the Pyramid game show with producer Bob Stewart; on producing Bloopers and Practical Jokes with Johnny Carson; on Merv Griffin; on producing television movies; on dealing with critics
Clip begins at: 11:08 - On the challenges of being Dick Clark; on the genesis of New Years Rockin' Eve; on simplicity; on still getting stage fright
Clip begins at: 23:49 - Part 3
- On producing awards shows; on getting fired for overshadowing MTV Awards Shows when he was the producer; on producing the American Music Awards; on producing The Emmys; on the secret of producing live television shows
Clip begins at: 0:35 - On game shows; on how he selects projects and seems to be in multiple places at one time; on being a producer; on doing stand-up comedy; on acting; on similarities between American Bandstand and MTV; on the ingredients for a successful TV show
Clip begins at: 06:51 - On the future of television; on television distribution methods today; on historical moments for which he was present; on producing features; on his legacy; on the projects of which he's proudest
Clip begins at: 18:18


Dick Clark's passing has given me a chance to remember how much of an impact he has had on my life. I first saw "American Bandstand" as a child, back when it still came from Philadelphia--and long before I appreciated popular music--and, ironically, I watched it a lot in the last years it was on the air. I also have avidly watched "Pyramid", "Bloopers"--even his short-lived prime-time variety shows--and, of course, "New Year's Rockin' Eve". I even visited some of his restaurants.
Dick used to say, "Music is the soundtrack of your life". Very true, but he helped write that soundtrack, and with Dick Clark gone, Casey Kasem retired, and many others who played those songs passing from the scene, a part of broadcasting history is passing as well.
I have been in broadcasting myself nearly 35 years, and have worked to keep the legacy alive. I am pleased that Dick Clark's appeal transcended generations...but there are few like him around today, and I'm afraid there will be fewer like him in the future.
Thanks for the memories, Dick Clark.
He presented the best in rock music..he allowed kids,teens and adults to dance to and listen to pop music.And he created,produced and hosted tributes to many aspects of the entertainment industry on his tv specials.Mr.Clark was a creative,talented and a unique showman..he will be missed(Crying)Goodbye Dick.
It wasn't just that he brought pop music front and center on television in the 60's and beyond, it was how he literally became part of every facet of television from then on. From game shows to award events that still bear his name, Dick Clark transcended TV and to many of us he WAS television. I just hope that what he did will never be forgotten, and speaking really personally, wouldn't it be great if the American Bandstand videos finally made it to DVD? Dick Clark...you will ALWAYS be with us..the ones who truly love television and the artistry you brought to it...and to us all.
Thanks for all the memories Dick :(
Rest in Peace
RIP Dick Clark. Thank you for doing this historic interview so that you're always in our hearts and minds.
His Full name is Richard Wagstaff Clark.
This was 6 years before Ken Jennings' run on Jeopardy.
I wish he would have said something about Soul Train,maybe he did,they just deleted it.
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