Bandstand Man Charts Gidget High

Dick Clark Shills Way Into Movies

Hand-In-Hand w/ Columbia for Because They're Young

Because I am inherently cynical (not really), I wanted to know why Dick Clark chose Gidget to be "The First Movie I've Ever Endorsed." Hints weren't obvious, would stay back-of-scene per all of venturing on Clark's part, the guy barely knowing himself what all he owned piece of. The Four Preps weren't a basis, being California rather than Philadelphia based (Clark w/ talons into virtually all music out of Philly). Then I remembered he made a deal around time, or shortly after, Gidget was released, to produce and star in Because They're Young for Columbia. Here would be Clark's big-screen acting debut, and what better way to assure good will than a thumb-upping for Gidget, no sell-out for Dick, as this was one of the better teen-pics for 1959. That year was peak of Clark scooping cream off rock/roll revenues, owning labels, performers, shows on tour, the caboodle. It had to end, and would, when Payola broke in 1960 and forced DC to give up music enterprise beyond American Bandstand and paychecks ABC gave him. Dick testified brilliantly before Senate investigators and got off hook for pay-offs, while others, like smashed-for-good Alan Freed, began slow dance to oblivion.