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Author Topic: American Bandstand kept secret that teenage stars were gay despite many of the young dancers sleeping together  (Read 1392 times)

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Online mystery-ak

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American Bandstand kept secret that teenage stars were gay despite many of the young dancers sleeping together
« on: March 13, 2017, 01:31:39 am »
American Bandstand kept secret that teenage stars were gay despite many of the young dancers sleeping together

    American Bandstand aired between 1956 and 1963 on ABC in Philadelphia
    Its teenage stars danced in pairs and some formed on-screen partnerships
    Many, including Arlene Sullivan, were gay but hid their sexuality from audiences
    Young male dancers were also gay and sleeping together from the age of 14 
    Host Dick Clark was 'determined' to keep quiet how many of the stars were gay

By Jennifer Smith For Dailymail.com

Published: 10:03 EDT, 12 March 2017 | Updated: 10:39 EDT, 12 March 2017


American Bandstand hid the fact that many of its teenage dancers were gay, former stars of the show claim.

Arlene Sullivan, now 74, is among them. Despite forming an on-screen partnership with Kenny Rossi, Sullivan knew she was a lesbian and 'came to terms' with it with the support of co-stars.

Many of the male dancers, some of whom were just 14, were also sleeping with each other but producers including Dick Clark were 'determined' to keep it a secret.

The dance hall show was a household favorite in the 1950s and 60s. Sullivan appeared on it between 1956 and 1963 when it was broadcast live in Philadelphia.

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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4306112/American-Bandstand-kept-secret-teenage-stars-gay.html
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Offline jmyrlefuller

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Re: American Bandstand kept secret that teenage stars were gay despite many of the young dancers sleeping together
« Reply #1 on: March 13, 2017, 01:35:44 am »
That's hardly the most scandalous thing about the Philadelphia music scene of the late 1950s.
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Offline goatprairie

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Re: American Bandstand kept secret that teenage stars were gay despite many of the young dancers sleeping together
« Reply #2 on: March 14, 2017, 12:55:09 pm »
Gee whiz......some  hired male dancers were homosexuals.....shocking. Next thing they'll be telling us some male figure skaters are homosexuals.
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Offline RetBobbyMI

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Re: American Bandstand kept secret that teenage stars were gay despite many of the young dancers sleeping together
« Reply #3 on: March 14, 2017, 01:00:54 pm »
Hmmm...maybe that's why my grandpa told me to roll up the windows and lock the doors when he would take me across the river into Philly back in those days.
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Re: American Bandstand kept secret that teenage stars were gay despite many of the young dancers sleeping together
« Reply #4 on: March 14, 2017, 01:03:09 pm »
Quote from: goatprairie on March 14, 2017, 12:55:09 pm
Gee whiz......some  hired male dancers were homosexuals.....shocking. Next thing they'll be telling us some male figure skaters are homosexuals.

If they Prance, dance, or work on the uneven parallel bars it a good bet.
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Offline Cripplecreek

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Re: American Bandstand kept secret that teenage stars were gay despite many of the young dancers sleeping together
« Reply #5 on: March 14, 2017, 01:05:59 pm »
They were dancers. Duh.

They were young male dancers. Double Duh.
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Offline skeeter

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Re: American Bandstand kept secret that teenage stars were gay despite many of the young dancers sleeping together
« Reply #6 on: March 14, 2017, 01:08:06 pm »
Dick Clark refused to highlight his dancers' personal sexual preferences. 

He must've thought he was hosting a dance show.
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Offline Lando Lincoln

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Re: American Bandstand kept secret that teenage stars were gay despite many of the young dancers sleeping together
« Reply #7 on: March 14, 2017, 01:08:19 pm »
And Buffalo Bob secretly fondled Howdy Doody with his hidden hand...  Those were tough times.
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Offline DCPatriot

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Re: American Bandstand kept secret that teenage stars were gay despite many of the young dancers sleeping together
« Reply #8 on: March 14, 2017, 01:18:33 pm »
http://www.facebook.com/patmolittieri/?ref=page_internal

Had a teenage crush on Pat Molittieri.

Best dancer on the show.
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Re: American Bandstand kept secret that teenage stars were gay despite many of the young dancers sleeping together
« Reply #9 on: March 14, 2017, 01:23:28 pm »
Quote from: Lando Lincoln on March 14, 2017, 01:08:19 pm
And Buffalo Bob secretly fondled Howdy Doody with his hidden hand...  Those were tough times.

Maybe that was why Clarabell the Clown never spoke?
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Offline Cripplecreek

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Re: American Bandstand kept secret that teenage stars were gay despite many of the young dancers sleeping together
« Reply #10 on: March 14, 2017, 01:27:45 pm »
Quote from: Wingnut on March 14, 2017, 01:03:09 pm
If they Prance, dance, or work on the uneven parallel bars it a good bet.

Sometimes they surprise you. Meryl Davis and Charlie white were the record breaking Ice Dancing pair from the winter Olympics in Russia. White may look all "festive" but he just married a hot female figure skater.

Meryl Davis is built right but I'm not sure she's completely human.



Charlie White's wife Tanin (Belbin) White is most definitely human and Charlie is most definitely not gay.

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Offline EC

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Re: American Bandstand kept secret that teenage stars were gay despite many of the young dancers sleeping together
« Reply #11 on: March 14, 2017, 01:30:07 pm »
Duh? They were teenagers? Screw a tree stump if it looked at them just right.
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Offline musiclady

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Re: American Bandstand kept secret that teenage stars were gay despite many of the young dancers sleeping together
« Reply #12 on: March 14, 2017, 01:31:31 pm »
If Dick Clark announced it, he would have lost a large percentage of his viewers.

The show was on when people knew the difference between right and wrong, and didn't like wrong.

Clark was a showman, and showmen don't kill off their audiences.
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