Dick Clark on 50 years of 'Bandstand'

Dick Clark

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(CNN) -- "American Bandstand" started out as a local dance party show in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1952. Four years later, Dick Clark became the host, and in 1957 it went national on ABC. On Friday, the show that made a catchphrase of "It's got a good beat and you can dance to it" celebrates its 50th anniversary with a special.

Clark was on CNN Tuesday to talk about the history of the program.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: If you grew up watching "American Bandstand" in the '50s, there's a good chance you have grandchildren. Social Security might be in your near future. Ouch! It's been 50 years since the dance show hit the airwaves way back in 1952. ABC "American Bandstand's 50th" (is) a celebration airing Friday night. And (here's) longtime "Bandstand" host Dick Clark joining us from Los Angeles.

Dick, good morning. A pleasure to get to talk to you.

CNN NewsPass VIDEO Host Dick Clark has a look back at some of the memorable moments of 'American Bandstand.' (May 1) Play video   MORE STORIES 'American Bandstand' celebrates 50 years  • Original 'Bandstand' dancers take a step back

DICK CLARK, "AMERICAN BANDSTAND" HOST: You know, the fun thing about Friday night (is), it goes through the '50s but right into the '90s, so no matter what generation you are a member of, you are going to get your taste of memories.

KAGAN: We have been flashing back all morning long. I know you have been talking to some other folks, but we have a lot of "Bandstand" memories, and some we like to admit remembering, and then some -- we even have some people admit that they had Wham tapes.

CLARK: Very good, that puts you in it.

KAGAN: Yes, there we go. Do you remember Wham?

CLARK: Oh, yes. George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley. I mean, that's terrible of me. I should know that.

KAGAN: You should, but Jacqui Jeras, our weather person, probably shouldn't, and she does, and she's the one who gave us that little bit of information there.

Dick, the other thing we have been doing is having viewers write in some of their favorite "American Bandstand" moments. We thought we would share some with you.

I would love to hear it.

KAGAN: OK, let's go right to it.

Here's one from Kelly. She says, "Not one of my favorite moments, but my most memorable was when my mother and I were watching Boy George make his first appearance. We argued for about 15 minutes on whether he was a male or female."

CLARK: You know, the amazing thing about Friday night's show is we have a lot of debut performances. "American Bandstand" was a platform for hundreds and hundreds of people, not just Michael Jackson, Cher, Madonna and other people like that, but the Jefferson Airplane and The Doors. You are going to see a ton of stuff.

KAGAN: Let me ask you this, when you had these debut acts come on, did you develop a gut over the years, where you would just say, OK, I can tell if this person will really make it?

CLARK: Most of the time I could, Daryn, in those days. When I saw Madonna appear for the first time, I knew she looked different and gave a great act, but it was the audience reaction. You knew right away she would be special.

KAGAN: So it wasn't so much on the artist, but how the audience reacted?

CLARK: And you will see that debut Friday night.

KAGAN: That's part of the special.

CLARK: Yes.

KAGAN: Anyone who you missed, who you said, why did we even book this person, and then we went on to be a superstar.

CLARK: I have been that asked that question a lot, and never found an answer to it. But I do remember distinctly the very first day that we went on the air, and the guests were the Billy Williams Quartet and The Chordettes singing "Mr. Sandman" or something like that. It was a wonderful period.

KAGAN: And for folks that don't know the "Bandstand" story, this started local in Philadelphia, and you had to convince ABC network to put it nationwide. How did you make that pitch?

CLARK: We had 60 percent of the audience in Philadelphia. They said, can it translate? So they gave us a seven-week test. The unbelievable happened. In four weeks, it went to number one. Can never happen again.

KAGAN: We can only hope.

Let's bring in another e-mail and share another memory.

Who else do we have? OK, this is from Chicago, Nic: "My favorite 'Bandstand' moment was when Janet Jackson performed on the show. She was so cute and a great performer. She has grown up and become a HUGE ICON, a beautiful person, outside and inside, and I am one of her BIGGEST FANS."

CLARK: Nic better call everybody he knows and say, watch Friday night, because that performance -- not the full performance, a clip of that you will see a very, very young, young Janet Jackson. She is the cutest little thing.

KAGAN: She of course has evolved quite a bit.

CLARK: Has she ever? You will also see her start off the show with a congratulatory. But the nice thing about the show Friday night is it doesn't belong in any one era. It's the '50s, '60s, '70s, '80s, even the '90s.

KAGAN: As I understand it, you put together a supergroup. There's all these folks performing together. What's that about?

CLARK: It's a supergroup the likes of what you will never see again. Mick Fleetwood and Sheila E. the percussionist, the Chicago horn section is in the middle of it all, the backbone of the group Chicago. Then we got Jerry Springer on guitar and Jim Belushi on harmonica.

KAGAN: Jerry Springer on guitar.

CLARK: And led by Little Richard and the Pointer Sisters doing "Good Golly Miss Molly." It's a highlight.

KAGAN: Well, everybody knows about American Bandstand, and making another appearance Friday night.

Dick Clark, stop by any time. Pleasure to have you with us.

CLARK: Thank you very, very much.

KAGAN: Good luck with the show.