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MYRNA HOROWITZ

Sadly, the site was informed of Myrna Horowitz's passing away on Wednesday, September 13, 2006. As more information comes in, I will add to this page and will also take the comments at the boards and put them here and comments of others who would like to say something in Memory of Myrna.

Above original photograph was given to me from the personal collection of Ken Kostyra and his sister Nancy LaHa. I think it is fairly rare. I also am sure it was taken on the same day as the larger picture below, as she has the same summer dress, same necklace and same hairstyle. Also, the back of picture said 1960 and the TEEN Magazine where the larger picture appeared in an article was also 1960. The occasion for the big picture and the congo line dance was a party thrown by the singer Freddie Cannon for the Regulars in Philadelphia. Carole Scaldeferri informed me that Myrna was Freddie Cannon's fan club president and the day I visited with Myrna she told me of her friendship with not only Freddie Cannon but his family.

In the years that I watched American Bandstand (mostly 1957 through 1960), Myrna seemed always there and she was a recognized face across America. Everyone applauded her ability to get past her handicap and to go to the show so often and dance. Those memories will remain with us. In 1990s I began an e-mail friendship with Myrna and was subsequently invited to visit her at her home in California--about 60 miles north of Los Angeles. I spent the day talking with her, more about her life then but some talking of American Bandstand. I did not pry and waited for her to volunteer her thoughts or memories. Myrna is the only American Bandstand Regular I ever met, although I am in correspondence with a number of them today. ~ Marsha

I always enjoyed Myrna's energy and carefree happy-go-lucky attitude. She was never too tired to dance, in fact I don't remember her ever sitting out too many dances on the show, and she danced with all the top AB boys. Her handicap did not deter her from doing all the latest dance crazes. I haven't seen her in all these many years, and am happy to retain the memories of that wonderful smile, and kindness to everyone. I know Dick Clark will also be sad to learn of Myrna's passing. He had a great fondness for her stamina." - Frank Ruggerio, American Bandstand Regular.

"I want to say something regarding the passing of Myrna - Myrna was a wonderful and kind friend even after we left Bandstand. We lost contact through the years but when we got back in touch with each other the years faded away and it seemed like we had talked to each other yesterday. I am so sorry for all of us that we have lost such a special friend. I hope she is now in a much better place and having a wonderful time dancing and making the angels laugh." ~ Janet Hamill, American Bandstand Regular in the late 1950s.

"Myrna was a very great person that every kid all over the country watching bandstand could immediately identify with and I feel that in many ways she symbolized our whole generation in her ability to overcome any challenge and her sunshine personality. Her passing is a tragic loss for all of us and actually I still find it all so hard to believe. She was a very great person and an inspiration to all of us." - Joe Cassity ~ Joe Cassity is an American with a law degree who has been living in Taiwan and teaching in the History and Finance Departments. He periodically returns to the US to visit family in Oklhahoma.