Dick Clark
The ‘oldest teenager in the World’ died yesterday. Dick Clark cultural icon and a very unlikely socila revolutionary died at the age of 82 from a heart attack.
An amazing entrepreneur and radio announcer he bestride the middle road of entertainment like a colossus. He let black musicians sing the songs they made and not completely let the white version get all the air time as was done on other programs. He also let white and black teenagers dance together – at the time an almost revolutionary act.
His mix of easy going middle of the road pop presentation was not to everyone’s taste especially in the age when the baby boomers were getting into freedom of expression. But wearing a tie for men and the women in nicely made skirts regularly tapped into the conventions of middle America. An America which eat their TV dinners to the beat of late 20th Century music and laughed at out takes from well known TV shows.
His ability to create popular programs based on very simple formats made him very wealthy. Programs from Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve to $10,000 Pyramid became regular and consistent TV programs which all the family could enjoy.
He also got involved in other business ventures such as restaurants and theatres. He was controversially a subject of Micheal Moore’s ”Bowling For Columbine” in which he refused to answer questions about the nature of his employment practices and whether he has exploited the poor and disenfranchised, paying mostly women extremely poor wages for 80 hours a week shifts.
He did have a stroke in 2004, but kept on working even though the illness affected his ability to speak clearly. The reason for him working in a medium that needs clarity of speech was that he loved what he did and he needed to do what he always did. He said…”Last year I had a stroke. It left me in bad shape. I had to teach myself how to walk and talk again. It’s been a long, hard fight. My speech is not perfect but I’m getting there.” This was seen as an inspiration to other stroke victims.
In the end he enjoyed what he did and created a place for himself in the heart of American entertainment which will always be associated with him personally. To leave the world knowing that your place in history will always be secure is a nice way to go.
Here is one of the many references that will always be associated with Dick Clark it is the line in the song by Chuck Berry Sweet Little Sixteen which goes ‘Cause they’ll be rockin on bandstand, In Philadelphia P.A’ . American Bandstand started in Philadelphia before moving to Los Angeles.
