I found this file on the Internet Archive called "Best Of Bandstand 1961," and not paying close attention, I just naturally assumed it was "American Bandstand" and that I would see performances from groups and people like Gene Pitney, Gary U.S. Bonds, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Bobby 'Blue' Bland, The Mar-Keys, and The Velairs, but instead, it's really "Australian Bandstand," and it's full of performers I was pretty much totally unfamiliar with!
That's how it works around here, it's just another Weird Wednesday down in The Dungeon!
The host of the show is a cool cat named Brian Henderson.
Sometimes Brian doesn't even look at the camera when he's giving one of his introductions!
It's pretty obvious that they only had one sponsor!
First up on the show is the disheveled lookin' singer Lonnie Lane performing "Why Why, Bye Bye."
Next up are The De Kroo Brothers, Leon and Doug, who really wanted to be The Everly Brothers.
One of Brian's favourite groups is up next! He thinks they are just "naturally good!"
The Deltones perform a song called "Kansas City," but not the one I'm familiar with.
Then this fellow named Johnny Devlin performs a song I think is called "Charlie Mopps," rhymes with hops, and that's what they are all drinking beer.
Next up is Ian Crawford doing "Lost Weekend." Brian says the colourful moving background looks just as good in black and white, but that's not quite true.
Last of the groups is The Sapphires doing "Sydney Girls."
At the end of the show Brian announces there is a lookalike contest, and the person that looks the most like singer Patsy Ann wins a two week vacation in the Fiji Islands including a flight on a Pan-American 707 Super Jet.
Patsy Ann Noble performs two songs, "Busy Lips," and "It's Always The Way!"
Patsy ditched Australia and headed to America where she became an actress who had a small but very important part of "Star Wars" history, Jobal Naberrie, the Grandmother of Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia! Sadly, that was her last role. Patsy just passed away in January of this year at the age of 76.
3 comments:
Ah yes, Brian Henderson. I grew up watching Australian Bandstand and also seeing Brian read the evening news on Channel 9 here in Sydney. He appeared from 1957 until 2002 and held the record as the longest continuous news reader (continuous service not continuous reading lol).
Pop shows here in Australia in the 60's tended to have hosts that were not exactly cool. They tended to be older men who were, shall we say, a little square?
Anyhow, it was always fun to watch.
cheers from Oz!
Paul
Thanks Paul, I was hoping you'd add some info. Brian definitely comes across as a square, but those were early days, and most people were! It was fun to watch anyway. Reminded me of the first days of The Comedy Channel in the 80's when they didn't quite know what they were doing, except that they were on the air. Good stuff!
Good catch EEGAH! But to be clearer, the MOTHER of Padme Amidala.
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