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Before anybody ever thought of wanting their MTV, music was a staple on early television. Crossing over from radio was a natural, bringing music fans closer to a real at-home performance. The advantages to music on television were obvious; you could be there with out really "being there". You could finally visually enjoy an artist's complete performance without ever leaving your house. The artist came to you, you didn't have to dress up and it cost almost nothing.

Vintage "Soundies" (the real start of the music video) had been playing in theatres around the nation prior to television's home invasion. Yet nothing could match the ease and popularity of turning on your home set, with a flip of a dial being treated to the popular musical acts of the day.

Variety shows, music hall shows, comedy and drama, it really didn't matter what genre' of show you viewed, you usually got a musical number tossed in the mix.

As teen-agers started flexing their dollar might in the economy of the 50's, we start to find shows that cater to the youthful audience. Eventually those teen dollars became so strong that dance shows ended up replacing kiddie shows on TV.

Maybe the baby boom audience grew up and needed more teen fare, but the vibrations of that change are still felt today. Teen culture and marketing to that culture are stronger than ever. The roots of the youth explosion can be revisited in the numerous dance shows that permeated the airwaves from the 50's, 60's, 70's and early 80's, right before the Mtv generation became ultimately over-exposed and over-exploited.

On this page you'll find both music and dance shows from LA's past.

I'll be adding to the page from time to time and anyone with any information on a dance or music show from the Los Angeles area is strongly encouraged to contribute.

 

The Johnny Otis Show

Pioneer R&B Artists, simply the best show!

Western Ranch Party

The Collins Kids rock with a ton of country stars kickin' out the jams!

The Art Laboe Show

Kassels in the Air

...then the command "You're on!" from Show Director Ozzie Knudson. The pleasant voice of commentator Dana Marble pours through the thousands of TV speakers..."Mutual Savings of Pasadena proudly presents... Art Kassel and his KASSELS IN THE AIR." As video screens flashed the image of the great band leader and his musical men playing the Kassel-composed theme DOODLE DOO DO, viewers throughout Southern California thrilled to the realization that romantic, danceable music with the distinctive Kassel beat had returned to the airwaves...which the man and his music had dominated in the radio decades of the 20's, 30's and 40's.

The great ART KASSEL and the KASSELS IN THE AIR were back and the world was a brighter place to live in. "We knew almost instantly that the potent Kassel musical magic was the ingredient of which dreams are made" said Al Flanagan, managing vice president of KCOP, channel 13, Hollywood, where the program can be heard every Sunday night from 7 to 8. "Our telephone switchboards were swamped with congratulatory calls." A short few weeks later...LIMELIGHT, a show biz magazine of Hollywood, made the continuing Kassel sucess official. His one hour spectacular of all-time hits was given the Limelight award for the "Best New Musical Show of 1960".

-------liner notes from "Kassels in the Air" LP.

ClickHERE to listen.

 

The 1960's were a real high time in music (pun intended). There was so much good music out there, so much of it lasting classics to today. LA wakes up to a new rock n' roll era.

She-bang

She-Bang 2

Hollywood A Go Go

The Lloyd Thaxton Show

Part 2 and Part 3

Boss City

Boss City Interview Sam Riddle and The Association

Coming soon!

Early Bangles

Psychedelic Furs

Eddie Munster sings

BusBoys

The English Beat

Mv3

Mv3 was an off shoot of upstart radio station KROQ. It featured kids dancing to music (and music videos--) that would never make it to the national level on a show like American Bandstand.

Bandstand had to play catch up early on in the music department. The music that was charting wasn't necessarily what the kids were listening, dancing and most importantly--buying. Even Mtv stuck with popular chart favorites while ignoring (thankfully) the burgeoning local music scenes, allowing them to grow untouched. Mv3 showcased both local and overseas talent.