| Bandstand | |
|---|---|
 Patsy Ann Noble and Brian Henderson on Bandstand in 1960. | |
| Also known as | Brian Henderson's National Bandstand |
| Genre | Music television |
| Created by |
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| Based on | American Bandstand byWFIL-TV |
| Presented by | Brian Henderson |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 15 |
| Production | |
| Producers |
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| Production location | Sydney |
| Running time | 55 minutes |
| Production company | TCN Productions |
| Original release | |
| Network |
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| Release | 15 November 1958 (1958-11-15) – 17 June 1972 (1972-06-17) |
| Related | |
Bandstand is an Australian live pop music, variety television program screened from November 1958 to June 1972.Featuring both local and international music artists, and produced in-house at the studios of theNine Network inWilloughby, New South Wales, it was originally broadcast only in New South Wales, It became a national program in the early 1960s as the network expanded into other Australian states. The host ofBandstand for its entire existence was radio presenter and television newsreaderBrian Henderson.
Although unrelated, the program was based on the concept of the American pop music showAmerican Bandstand.[1]
Bandstand was created in November 1958 by television executiveBruce Gyngell in consultation with Mayfield B. Anthony. The host for virtually the entire run was Brian Henderson, who was also a local newsreader from January 1957.[1][2] From 1960 it developed a national profile as the Nine Network was created to link affiliate stations in other Australian cities.[3]
The network previously broadcast a pop music television program,TV Disc Jockey, from June 1957 to February 1958.[2][4] Its host was John Godson, with each episode filmed in front of about 40 teenagers, who "listen to the records, rock-'n-roll, drink vast quantities ofCoke, and generally have fun under the eye of the TV camera."[4]In March 1958TV Disc Jockey was replaced byAccent on Youth,[2] with Henderson as its host, and by May 1958 he was the most popular local identity with the station's viewers.[5]The program was renamed asBandstand and Henderson continued as its host until its last episode on 17 June 1972.[1][2] By then he was chief news reader and remained in that position until retirement in November 2002.[6]
Bandstand is closely associated with a core group of pop performers, who regularly appeared on the program, which became known as the Bandstand Family.[1] Over the years they includedCol Joye,Little Pattie, Warren Williams,Lucky Starr,Sandy Scott,Bryan Davies,Dinah Lee,Johnny Devlin,Laurel Lea,Judy Stone,[7]the De Kroo Brothers,Digby Richards,Robyn Alvarez, theBee Gees,the Allen Brothers (a duo of the unrelated,Peter Allen and Chris Bell),Helen Reddy,Lana Cantrell,Cathy Wayne, The Delltones,[7]Pat Carroll andOlivia Newton-John.[1] The Bandstand Family toured Australia and were recorded on albums. Most of the artists were signed withFestival Records – Gyngell's old employers.[1]
The musical director was Bob Young; all the band tracks and vocal performances were pre-recorded at Natec Sound Studios in Bligh Street Sydney. Its Audio Director was Max Alexander who also worked for Channel Nine.
Bandstand had three producer-directors over its timespan. The original was Warwick Freeman who was responsible for its development and building its image. Second was Ray Newell who carried on the tradition. Brian C. Morelli took over in 1969 he returned the programme to live vocals and successfully produced the program on location including theAustraliana Pioneer Village, Wilberforce NSW and in Singapore and Malaya, the Sidney Myer Music Bowl Melbourne for the King of the Pops Award night. He also instigated the Bandstand Awards. The categories were voted on by all of the Network stations, Australia wide, who transmitted Bandstand. As well, under Morelli's leadership, he continued the Junior Bandstand annual series and introduced a teenage series entitled Midi-Bandstand. The program continued until the final broadcast, with Henderson, on 17 June 1972.[1][2]
An attempt was made in 1976, by the Nine Network, to revive the program with a new host,Daryl Somers asBandstand '76. Its format was based on the BBC production,Top of the Pops, and ran for two years. The change in music tastes however gave this type of format a limited life. Morelli was engaged again for the 1976–1978 series, it was produced by the Reg Grundy group and featured popular music groups and soloists including formerSix O'Clock Rock host,Johnny O'Keefe, as well as original Bandstand family membersLaurel Lea andLittle Pattie now known asPattie Keith.Normie Rowe even performed on the 1970s modern version having returned from his service in Vietnam war that Daryl Somers was now the host for. New release international artists' promotional films were also integrated.
The Swedish quartetABBA, who were first introduced to Australia in 1975 byMolly Meldrum onCountdown, appeared onBandstand in 1976 as part of the initial revival ofBandstand, ABBA were brought to Australia to film theBandstand specialThe Best of ABBA. They also appeared on an episode of the program which was shown the week before the special went to air. This appearance included a short interview with Daryl Somers and a performance of "Mamma Mia".
In 2019,TV Week listedBandstand at #101 in its list of the 101 greatest Australian television programs of all time, which appeared in its monthlyTV Week Close Up publication.[8] The magazine cited Brian Henderson as a major reason as to why the program became a "Saturday staple".[8]
Umbrella Entertainment has released, in conjunction withNine Network, a series of "The Best ofBandstand" DVD packs, each with selections from two years' programs.
