5 On Friday - American Bandstand

Five on Friday is the creation of Trav's Thoughts To take part, drop by his web site to sign in and then create your own five selections to share with others.

On this day in history, August 5, 1957 (54 years ago my GOD!!!).  American Bandstand went national.  To this day, it is the show everyone remembers where people watched other people dance.  Over the years, there have been many references on TV, Movies and Broadway.  Here are just a few.  Kicking it off, Barry Manilow with the Bandstand Boogie.



Born To Hand Jive Baby!!! GREASE



You Can't Stop The Beat - Hairspray



Where Bandstand really started: Steal Your Rock and Roll - Memphis



And the Ultimate rock and roll line dance: The Stroll

The dance was born before the song, and had it not been for an idea of American Bandstand's Dick Clark, the song may never have been. Dick noticed the kids were "line dancing" to a song by Chuck Willis called "C.C. Rider", and he needed more musical material than just the one song and ultimately a few others for the kids to do this dance. He enlisted the aid of singer Brook Benton who put pen to Dick's idea, and "The Stroll" was born. The Diamonds were given the opportunity to record this not long after their hit of "Little Darlin", and the song shot to #4 in January of 1958.



And a bonus just for Travis - A show where people watch other people dance complete with legses and one of the original Bandstand hits: Great Balls of Fire

5 On Friday - Dance, Dance, Dance

Turn on the way back machine Travis ... We are going dancing for this addition of 5 on Friday.  Everyone can join in by visiting Travis for the rules and to sign in for this fun meme.

First up the dance that made them stars and the song that won the first Academy Award given out for Best Song:  The Continental from "The Gay Divorcee" with dancing courtesy of Astaire and Rogers.



First heard in "Gold Diggers of 1935", The Lullaby of Broadway" won the Academy Award for 1935 for best song. It has since been recycled into just about every video and vocal format there is. Here it is sung by the incomparable Jerry Orbach and the dancers of "42 Street" on Broadway.



Those who only knew him from Law and Order maybe surprised to know Jerry Orbach had his greatest fame on Broadway. One role, as the original Billy Flynn in "Chicago" was a particular standout even though the ladies tried there darnedest to steal the show. So if you are going to murder your husband ... do it in style with Bob Fosse choreography. Here are the ladies of Murderers' Row with the Cell Block Tango - You know he had it coming.



Now absolute proof that man was truly meant to fly:  Mikhail Baryshnikov in the Cups Variation from Don Quixote



Fall has officially arrived and we are on our way to winter.  Let's take a sunny time out for "Summer Loving" from Grease.  Bleachers never looked so good.